tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878752953637981313.post7142607701916849082..comments2023-10-15T03:16:44.927-06:00Comments on Suspense Novelist: Pending EndingsPeg Brantleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878752953637981313.post-26649812845598659312008-06-17T07:42:00.000-06:002008-06-17T07:42:00.000-06:00Shannon, your comment reminded me of a "cliffhange...Shannon, your comment reminded me of a "cliffhanger" book I'd reviewed. I didn't like being left in the lurch, but guess what? The story has stayed with me so I guess I need to find out what happens next.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I have the same problem with "Three Months Later" epilogues, but I definitely agree on the endings that drag on and on. End it, for crying out loud!<BR/><BR/>Yeah, Susan. That's what I want to write. One of those resonance things. With a smart little twist. Hmmm . . .<BR/><BR/>Anna, you've made me want to work doubly hard to write a piercing ending. <BR/><BR/>Good thing I have a bit of time to work on all of these.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your great thoughts!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878752953637981313.post-24272687543728985992008-06-15T19:44:00.000-06:002008-06-15T19:44:00.000-06:00Another thought to add to your great post here...a...Another thought to add to your great post here...a memorable ending usually brings a message home. (One the author has been weaving through the whole story and now suddenly is there inside you. Not hitting you in the head with a hammer---ending straight in your heart!)<BR/>One of my all-time favorite endings: <BR/>"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known." (Final sentence of A TALE OF TWO CITIES)Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15879750670324293376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878752953637981313.post-57737538608595818802008-06-12T09:42:00.000-06:002008-06-12T09:42:00.000-06:00Peg, thanks for bringing this up. I love endings t...Peg, thanks for bringing this up. I love endings that resonate. Endings that have just a little twist that I didn't see coming but later realize were masterfully set up from the very beginning of the story. To me, that means the author either did a lot of planning or went back after the manuscript was written and revised intelligently.<BR/><BR/>Shannon, you're definitely not alone.Susan Lohrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02359738214722726759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3878752953637981313.post-34730577503619132072008-06-11T20:36:00.000-06:002008-06-11T20:36:00.000-06:00Just my two cents, in case you were looking for it...Just my two cents, in case you were looking for it.<BR/><BR/>I, too, hate cliffhanger endings. I think you are correct in why they are done, but you know what? If the book was engaging enough, I will buy to read the next one.<BR/><BR/>Another pet peeve regarding endings is a book that has a tendency to drag on and on and on to get to the ending and then ends it in 50 words or less. Drives me crazy. Along the same vein, the books that tell the story, the big showdown happens and then it stops. And an epilogue happens 3 months later during the recovery process or whatever happened to the protag.<BR/><BR/>So, my vote is don't do these things. Because I know if I think this, I'm not alone.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955671272497121413noreply@blogger.com