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When "The End" Is In Sight By Ami Hendrickson as seen on www.MuseInk.comFor many writers, the hardest part of a project is the beginning. They sit and stare at the blank page, awaiting inspiration to strike. For others (myself included), the blank page is not the problem. No-- beginnings are relatively easy for me. I'm always eager to start teasing out an idea, to start developing a story and see where it will take me. Endings, however, are another story. Endings are hard. They have to answer all the Important Questions that were raised in the preceding work. They have to tie up any loose ends without seeming pat, trite, or overly coincidental. They have to logically and organically flow from the story. And they have to resound with the audience, because few things will ruin a good story more than a lousy ending. I know I'm not alone in my "ending wrestling." A quick look at most Hollywood theatrical releases will attest that others have the same bete noir. With every "Fade In," I live in great hopes that the perfect "The End" will come. For those of you with similar aspirations, some thoughts on finishing a project seemed in order: You Can't Reach a Goal You Don't Have If you begin a work without a clear understanding of where you want it to end up, chances are it will never be finished. For one thing, you will never know whether or not the project is actually done. Furthermore, without a clear end goal, there is nothing to help you stay focused, and your characters are left to fend for themselves. When that happens, they tend to end up just muddling about, playing things safe, and refusing to get into any sort of interesting trouble. Enjoy Playing God As a project winds to a close, you get to ask yourself all sorts of God-like questions.
Once the project is in its final stages of creation, it is important to ask these questions and others like them. If you ask them before "The End" is visible, however, often the creative process gives way to premature editing, which can lead to a real loss of inspiration. Knowing that you have a complete version of the project to fall back on can free you up to explore various creative options and-- hopefully-- improve the work. Revisit the Past It is not uncommon for characters to develop more distinctive voices and personalities as a project progresses. Once you have spent several weeks with them, you generally know their likes and dislikes, their speech rhythms, and pet words. While you may "know" some of these things at the outset, they can often seem arbitrary or contrived until the characters become more real to you. As I near "The End"-- especially when I'm fighting to make each scene worthy of inclusion-- I find it helpful to take an occasional break and re-read several of the opening pages. I sometimes find character traits I'd forgotten about. More often than not, I discover my characters saying things that are no longer consistent with whom they have become. Revisiting the past can help make their journey more coherent. Remember Your Audience Never forget that the two most important parts of any project are its beginning and end. That is what the audience is most likely to remember. The beginning must drive the entire project and hold the audience's attention. The end must be inescapable, unmistakable, plausible, and satisfying. Ideally, your audience won't be able to predict it, but when it comes, they won't be able to imagine a better means of closure. Botching the ending lets your characters and your audience down, so spend the time it takes to get it right. Agonize over it. Make sure your loose ends are tied up. Make sure your characters remain consistent. Make sure you've explained everything that is necessary. If you wish, leave the door open for another installment. But don't spend so much time being clever, trying to hint at the start of a series or franchise, that you fluff the end. In the end, give your audience what they want-- a reason to read / hear / see the project over and over again. Ami Hendrickson is an award-winning writer, screenwriter, educator, editor, and consultant. She has written for some of the leading horsemen in the world including Clinton Anderson of Downunder Horsemanship, and hunter trainer and judge Geoff Teall. Find out about her latest projects at www.amihendrickson.com, or visit her daily blog at museinks.blogspot.com.
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