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Mar 6, 2010
Have you ever read a book that held your attention until the final few pages and then... fizzled? Did the ending leave you looking at the back cover with the desire to call Paul Harvey? Did you feel robbed of the "feel good moment" the end of a story should bring? I know I have.
My story is languishing at the moment for want of a good ending. I thought I knew, at least roughly, how my story would end. But as the characters have unfolded and come to life, I realize that my original ending will not do. Not at all. I am roughly one third of the way through a story which has, at this moment, no ending. I have nothing to write towards. I'm flummoxed.
I sit here this morning listening to a Mourning Dove outside my window. Spring is coming with warmer weather and the hope of a good crop of lambs and produce here on the farm. In the grand scheme of life, my book is at best a smudge on the landscape. But it matters to me. And I want it to matter to others. So I need an ending that will make that happen.
What book have you read that ended with a "feel good moment" so powerful you remember it years later? I'd love to know!
My story is languishing at the moment for want of a good ending. I thought I knew, at least roughly, how my story would end. But as the characters have unfolded and come to life, I realize that my original ending will not do. Not at all. I am roughly one third of the way through a story which has, at this moment, no ending. I have nothing to write towards. I'm flummoxed.
I sit here this morning listening to a Mourning Dove outside my window. Spring is coming with warmer weather and the hope of a good crop of lambs and produce here on the farm. In the grand scheme of life, my book is at best a smudge on the landscape. But it matters to me. And I want it to matter to others. So I need an ending that will make that happen.
What book have you read that ended with a "feel good moment" so powerful you remember it years later? I'd love to know!
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3 comments:
I'd have to think about this one for awhile to come up with more answers, as I'm sure there are many. The first that comes to mind is a mystery by Louise Penney. One of those mysteries that has a message more like "literature," you know?
But, Pegg, I think this difficulty with finding the ending is a good sign for your story. Because the characters have taken on a life of their own and are going to lead you in the direction they need to go. Of course, this is coming from a non-author ;) .
I noticed there are no dates on your blog entries. . . hope your neck is back "in whack."
I always start out knowing how I want my stories to end - and yet more often than not, they surprise me at the last moment and throw me a curve. I usually have to write two or three endings to find the right one.
I love feel-good endings! (I found your blog via ChristianWriters.com, hope you don't mind me stopping by). The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers is the one that pops into my head right now with a happy ending.
If you are only 1/3 of the way, I wouldn't be worrying about an ending quite yet. I didn't come up with ending for my work in progress until I was well past 2/3 of the way.
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