Introduction: Wrapping up a novel is often the most challenging part of the writing journey, especially for a pantser like myself. When you’re not following a strict outline, the ending can feel like an elusive target, constantly shifting as the story evolves. However, this flexibility also offers the freedom to explore various endings, ensuring that the conclusion is as dynamic and satisfying as the journey. These are my thoughts as I wrote my first fiction novel. Sorry for the delay, but I had to write the last chapter and epilogue, before I started this. The length of this blog is also a reflection of the importance that the ending has in your novel.
1. Wrapping Things Up: What Makes a Satisfying End?
Resolution of Key Plot Points: A satisfying ending often hinges on the resolution of major plot points. As a pantser, you might find that some threads have taken unexpected turns. It’s essential to review these arcs and ensure that each one reaches a logical conclusion. Whether it’s a climactic battle, a character’s internal growth, or the unveiling of a mystery, these resolutions should feel earned and natural. In my case, I was prepared to write a couple of additional chapters and found my characters had already written the ending for me.
Character Arcs: Characters drive your story, and their arcs should reflect the journey they’ve been on. Whether they’ve grown, regressed, or stayed the same, their development needs to resonate with the reader. Think about what your characters have learned, how they’ve changed, and how their endings reflect these transformations. I also believe that stories should also aspire us to obtain qualities that we may not see in ourselves – courage, integrity, resilience, compassion, wisdom, humility, self-sacrifice, justice, patience and hope. I would like to see myself in characters, I read about, but also what I aspire to as well.
Thematic Closure: Your story likely weaves in various themes—love, power, sacrifice, or redemption. The ending is where these themes should crystallize. By tying them together in the final chapters, you give your story a sense of coherence and completeness, leaving readers with something to ponder after they’ve turned the last page.
Pacing: The pacing of your final chapters is crucial. The story shouldn’t feel rushed, nor should it drag. Striking the right balance ensures that the reader remains engaged until the very end. As a pantser, you may need to adjust earlier chapters to align the pacing with the story’s conclusion, ensuring a smooth and satisfying progression. Believe it or not, I did my major revision work while I was writing the story. This helped me to ensure I was on the right path.
2. Decisions: How to End the Story?
Types of Endings: Choosing how to end your story is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. Here are some options:
- Abrupt Endings: These can work well in certain genres, particularly if you want to leave readers shocked or pondering what just happened. However, they require careful execution to avoid leaving readers feeling unsatisfied and that your novel was a waste of their time.
- Happy Endings: A classic choice, especially in adventure and romance genres. Ensure that your happy ending doesn’t feel forced. It should be the natural outcome of the characters’ struggles and growth.
- Eucatastrophe: Coined by Tolkien, this type of ending involves a sudden, unexpected positive turn in a seemingly hopeless situation. It’s particularly effective in stories with darker themes, offering a glimmer of hope. I tried to accomplish this with my novel. In any case, mine was at least a Happy Ending with a smidgen of Open.
- Bittersweet Endings: These endings combine elements of both victory and loss. They’re powerful because they reflect the complexities of life, where not everything is neatly resolved. In my case, why would you want to read the novel, if it is just a reflection of your own life. I see it as pointless. (My perspective only)
- Open Endings: Leaving some aspects unresolved can be a bold choice, allowing readers to imagine what happens next. This can be particularly effective in mystery and literary fiction. Which I did in my epilogue.
- Circular Endings: Bringing the story full circle, ending where it began, can provide a sense of completeness. This technique often reinforces the themes of fate or inevitability.
3. What to Include with the Ending?
Appendices: For stories with deep world-building, appendices can be invaluable. They offer readers additional insights into the lore, languages, or history of your world. However, they should be carefully curated to enhance the main narrative without overwhelming the reader. I have seen many authors use appendices. I was greatly influenced by Tolkien’s Legendarium – his detailed appendices met a need in me that I didn’t recognize at first. It created one of the classics. I included an appendix in my novel as well, but reduced its size to fit most modern appetites.
Postscripts: A postscript can serve to answer lingering questions or provide a glimpse into the characters’ futures. It’s a way to extend the story without launching into a full epilogue, giving readers a little extra closure. My novel included both.
Preface (Either Real or Literary Device): Whether it’s a reflection by the author or a fictionalized introduction, a preface can frame the story and offer context. Waiting until the end to write a preface allows the writer to be flexible and know which one would be more effective. In my case, as I was writing a Contemporary Historical Adventure Mystery, the fictionalized introduction was the most effective.
4. Final Reflections on the Pantser’s Journey
The Evolution of the Story: As a pantser, my story evolved in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Characters took on lives of their own, plotlines twisted in unexpected directions, and themes emerged that I hadn’t initially planned. Embracing this evolution was key to crafting an organic and engaging story.
Lessons Learned: Through this journey, I’ve learned that flexibility is both a pantser’s strength and challenge. The ability to adapt to where the story leads is essential, but it’s also important to recognize when to bring things to a close. Balancing spontaneity with structure is the ultimate goal. Again, In my case, my characters told me when to end. I really didn’t realized it until I placed the period on the sentence and said, “This is it!”
Advice for Fellow Pantsers: If you’re a pantser, my advice is to trust the process. Let the story lead you, but don’t be afraid to take control when needed. The ending will come, often in ways you didn’t expect, but it will be all the more satisfying for it.
5. Concluding the Series
Tying Back to Parts 1 and 2: This series began with the inception of a story and navigated through the challenges of the middle. Now, as we reach the end, it’s clear that the journey of writing is just that – a journey. Each part of the process is connected, and the end is a reflection of everything that came before.
Looking Ahead: While this post concludes the series, the journey of writing never truly ends. Every ending is a new beginning, whether it’s the start of a new story or a revision of the one you’ve just completed. Keep writing, keep exploring, and remember that every story is an adventure worth taking. Let me know what other topics you might enjoy reading.
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