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Suite Scarlett
Martin family birthday breakfasts followed a strict tradition. First, there were Belgian waffles, made by Belinda, the beloved Hopewell Hotel cook. These were served up with an array of toppings: chocolate syrup, fresh lemon whipped cream, stewed strawberries, and powdered vanilla sugar. The air should have been thick with wafflely perfume. Instead, there was an acrid, confusing smell, undercut by a light touch of smoke.
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Writer in Residence
Endings
I’m on deadline today for a short story I’m writing. A bunch of authors were given a photograph and we had to write something inspired by it, NAPLAN-style.
I like the story that’s evolved. It’s kind of creepy and engaging and I like the characters and world and tone. (It feels like The Verve track, Appalachian Springs, which I’ve been listening to on repeat while writing.) But I’m stuck on the final line. I’ve written it twenty times. And the problem is, when the final line isn’t working, it suggests that maybe other things aren’t working further up the chain.
When Temp and I were in Sydney earlier in the week she said that she’s often disappointed by endings. How ‘bout you? What are your fave book endings? What makes for a great ending? And, when you write, are you good with endings or do you suck?
Be good to hear. And send me good vibes. Deadline’s in a few hours.
Tristan.
Just Finished: Paper Towns, John Green (What did y’all think of the ending?)
About to Dive Into: Letters to Leonardo, forthcoming book by Dee White
Watching: Entourage, series 4.
3 Responses to “Endings”
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I loved Paper Towns all the way through till the end. I wasn’t looking for a happily ever after ending, but I think I felt that the ending was going somewhere - and then it just stopped.
Hi Tristan, hope you found your killer final line!
John Flanagan in the Ranger’s Apprentice series does some of the best book endings I’ve seen - they make you cry, they make you laugh, they make you look at the characters in a different way, and they have a heroism and sense of triumph that brings the book together beautifully, without ever being over the top or inappropriate to the story.
One of my all-time favourite authors is Diana Wynne Jones, and I have to say that endings aren’t her strong point! Her books often tie up quite suddenly so that you’re left wanting more.
On the other hand, when I read Terry Pratchett, I always feel as if he is *way* smarter than me because I can’t quite understand what’s going on, but I love how he brings all the elements together and makes it work.
(I can quite often be heard saying out loud ‘Ooh, it’s all coming together!’ when I read a good book. It’s my favourite moment, that goosebumps feeling that you get when you work out what’s really going on.)
Thanks Dee and Zoe for your ‘Endings’ thoughts. Like they say in Hollywood, stories aren’t finished, they’re just abandoned. Sometimes you need to just let go. I’ll have to check out a Flanagan closer. I love that feeling when the bases are loaded and it’s all coming together, too.
Paper Towns is such a cracker that I forgive any momentary misgivings about the ending. When you create a character with the intrigue and luminosity of Margo Roth Spiegelman you can get away with anything, I reckon. I’m jonesin’ for another Green novel now.
Not sure how to end this comment. Just sign off or maybe something snappy? A joke? Maybe something international like an ‘arrivederci’? Damn. Will get back to you. T.