....Let me backtrack....
I always hate books that sucker punch you or have something HUGE in the last few chapters and then all of the sudden tie everything together in the last two or three chapters. I just need MORE. More of an absolute ending or have the ending actually play out instead of just a suggestion of it. It was almost like maybe the author ran out of steam, didn't know what else to do, just threw their hands up in the air, and walked away from their computer.
But as I am writing one, I'm realizing, that's really just what you have to do. A) You don't want to read about someone crying/freaking out/just plain existing for 10 chapters during the repair/grief/recovery/reconciliation process and then B) once you have your ending, have it drag on for five more chapters to show that the person lives happily ever after/ is exactly the same/ moves on/ or whatever your ending is.
You gotta have something peak at the end of the book otherwise, why would the person trudge through twenty-five chapters just to have nothing happen? You gotta have a peak to pique your reader's interest. Haha.
Just something I am realizing as this sucker comes to a close. I know I've talked a lot about beginning to love a character and wanting to see what happens to them/ understanding what they are experiencing/ having sympathy for them. But its hard to do that as an author (which I totally don't consider myself to be) and have your story maintain your reader's interest if you just have filler everywhere. These are the little things I am learning and starting to appreciate more as I read other novels.
Book update:
27 chapters.
329 pages.
101,239.
Today was successful Starbucks day. And I wasn't even in my creative chair.
4 comments:
Interesting. This is true that you wouldn't really want to read five chapters after the plot resolution. Even if you think you do. You don't really.
I know, I know, I'm a huge fan of the epilogue ending, but...I do like the epilogue where there's one little scene that's described so you get to see that they really are happy years later. Like in the sequel to Love Walked In.
Please, oh please, have an epilogue!!! (And since I'm suggesting it, of course my character will be in it. Ooh- can I have the last line?)
So I'm guessing your book doesn't have a sequel planned? I admit, I'm a sucker for the epilogue too. After investing so much time, energy and thought in the Harry Potter Series, I was so thankful for Rowling's epilogue. Maybe it's corny, but I really wanted to know who ended up together, were they happy, did good triumph in the end...
I could have assumed it, but there was something very satisfying about reading it.
Did you settle on a one syllable girl's name? They keep coming to me if you need more ideas.
I guess I didn't add in the part where I do plan on doing an epilogue. I guess at least two of my readers will be satisfied.
And LA, you can maybe sort of be in it but you certainly won't get the last line. You people sure are greedy.
Katie, yes I did come up with a girl's name! Thanks for the help though!
Oh why oh why didn't Gone with the Wind have an epilogue??!!!!
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