Wednesday - On Plot - Bad ending -- The gods step in

Another kind of bad ending is the one where none of the characters have a role in the ending. The gods step in and the ending is a big bang up one that leaves the reader shaking their heads. This is generally not a problem for me since I usually know the ending before I begin the story and I also know the beginning.

When a writer comes up with this kind of an ending, and it doesn't necessarily mean the gods really step in. What it means is the writer can't find a way to end the story. They could go on and on past the resolution without having a resolution so they bring in something not planned for and there is an ending. The flood waters come and wash the characters away. A bomb drops and all the characters are gone. The writer dusts off his hands and says that's a wrap.

A wrap or a cheat. An ending doesn't have to be happy or sad. It must be satisfactory. For the ending the be satisfactory clues to the end of the story must be planted throughout the story. When the end happens the reader can sigh and say I suspected that's what would happen.

Leave the gods, the machines or the disasters our of the ending unless you've planted the seeds throughout the story. This will leave the reader feeling satisfied even if the ending is not what they imagined.

Wednesday - On Plot - Endings

Have you reached the end of your current work in progress. Last week we talked about the different kind of endings. Time to become specific.

Circular endings - The end of a story is rather like the beginning. While the beginning sets the problem the ending brings it to a satisfactory conclusion. In the circular ending the final scene mirrors the beginning but with some differenes. The story is wrapped up. The setting may be the same. Even some the dialogue can be the same. The characters in the story end up in the same place as they did when they began the journey. They re-connect with the start but they have changed and the problem is solved. The characters have grown and changed and they return bringing these changes with them. This is often the way of a quest story.

The contrast with the beginning is the key to a circular ending. No slam-bang action ends the story though it may occur right before the ending. The ending has a calm center. If there is no strong tie between the beginning and the end, the circular story will fall flat.

Circular endings can go wrong. One way is being lost in exposition. The writer continues to explain and explain making the reader impatient to see the words The End. The circular ending should show the homecoming, show the new direction for the characters, show how the crisis has changed the characters and bring the characters home.

A second problem is the absence of a real homecoming. The writer stops the story before the final confrontation and leaves the character in a sort of limbo.

Wednesday -- Plotting

Here goes more on plotting. First a bit about foreshadowing. There are writers who do no foreshadowing of events to come and others who foreshadow so much that when the event occurs it is anti-climax. Finding the right balance can take time and skill. With no foreshadowing the event slams the reader and may draw them out of the action. With too much the event that will occur can bring yawns. Remember looking forward to an event can be stimulating but take care not to build up to a let down.

Other ways of making the large scenes in the story have the desired impact on the reader include using a preview scene and using contrast scenes. When using a preview scene show the conflict to come but make the ending of the scene differ from the main ending of the crisis or the black moment. Use hope when the other scene will end in despair or despair when the scene will end in hope. During the build up to a climax, crisis or dark moment make the small scene before the impact scene one with a mood in opposition to the one to come.

Make sure the major scenes have an aftermath where there is change. Don't make matters continue as they have been. Major scenes mean major changes.

Another thing to remember while the story moves along the road that is the plot that motivation matters both the internal and the external. These motivations may be in conflict or in agreement but always keep them in mind as you plan your scenes, major and minor.