- Cyril Connolly
Story endings: I find them incredibly difficult.
Some of my writing friends love them; they claim that the ending is sometimes the only thing that’s absolutely clear in the whole novel-writing process.
Not me.
I mean, sure, I have a general idea of where I want my characters to end up, but I stumble over the wording when I get there.
This weekend, for example, I was revising an ending for a novel that’s been about 4 years in the making. I finally got all the plot points worked out, but then I couldn’t decide if I wanted a flip, upbeat ending, or a more serious, God-I-can’t-believe-how-much-I-love-you ending. Either one would work with the tone of the novel, I think.
What do you think makes a good ending, especially in a love story? Do you like to see everything revealed and tied up neatly? Or is it okay if something’s left to the imagination?
Are there any stories you can think of where the ending stayed with you because it was so memorable, or so well done? Or, are there any stories where you felt supremely let down by the ending? (Yes, Marianne, I know: every Nicholas Sparks book. :) )
Oh, and in honor of last night’s new Prison Break episode, a yummy picture of the brothers to enjoy all day long:
1 comment:
I loved the end of "Faking It" by Jenny Crusie -- when the hero proposed by saying, "Marry me Matilda and make me the most confused man on earth."
Yup. That one stayed with me.
And... not ALL Sparks books. I actually tolerated the end of "The Guardian". Didn't love it, but didn't throw the book against the wall. :-)
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