How do you know when you’re finished with your story?
I always cut mine short. I tend to rush through the endings and not take my time the same way I do when I start. Sometimes I think I just wanna be finished. Sometimes I just feel like it’s a good place to end. Things don’t always end smoothly in life. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of times things end abruptly or without warning. But how do we portray that in a story without giving our readers the feeling like we’re cutting the story short?
One way might be to show that while one aspect of the character’s life was cut short and without warning, another aspect went on living, growing, and evolving.
They say all ends bring new beginnings. And I agree but there’s times when some ends bring us to this waiting space. Sometimes it’s strange and eerie. Sometimes it’s that peace you’ve been waiting for. Bur it always feels like the calm before the storm. Life’s interesting, isn’t it,
Ok ok back to how we incorporate abrupt endings into our writing.
Another way to show abrupt ending in a story without cutting it short is by change in tone. Maybe it would go from chaotic and fast paced to a slow unfolding. Find ways to zero in on the little details and allow your tone find a slow pace. I think Henry James’ “Portrait of a Lady” is a slower pace with a slow unfolding. Unlike John Connelly’s “Book of Lost Things” which felt fast paced, as I remember.
I’m sure there’s many ways to do this. And maybe you could incorporate those two ideas into one.
How would you portray and abrupt ending in your story with cutting the story short?
Jayne.press 