tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post4990139521993155629..comments2024-03-27T23:13:43.597-05:00Comments on Prairie Rose Publications: ENDINGS ARE IMPORTANT, TOOLivia J Washburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958199886826207363noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-45701482376084706252017-09-22T11:48:01.547-05:002017-09-22T11:48:01.547-05:00That's different--but you can do it. I'll ...That's different--but you can do it. I'll be interested in seeing it.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-47108735499940895822017-09-22T11:46:18.040-05:002017-09-22T11:46:18.040-05:00I need to read that one! CeliaI need to read that one! CeliaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-80179227897994819372017-09-22T09:34:25.020-05:002017-09-22T09:34:25.020-05:00I'm struggling with an ending right now where ...I'm struggling with an ending right now where it's not the HEA but you can see the HEA from where the story ends. Not only does the last line need to be right but the tone of the whole last few pages need to work, too. Tough. Tough. Tough. Great blog, Celia. Much fodder for thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-84158593383057687802017-09-21T20:34:13.374-05:002017-09-21T20:34:13.374-05:00Celia, I just did it in my book, "It's On...Celia, I just did it in my book, "It's Only Make Believe", is under contract with Fire Star Press, but has not released yet. The wedding has just taken place at the opening of the story, but it all goes south on their wedding night. (Kit Wilding, one of Banjo's sons, and June Wingate, the school teacher are the two lead characters.)Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-72710539247432635292017-09-21T16:39:28.887-05:002017-09-21T16:39:28.887-05:00I thought to check back once more to see if I had ...I thought to check back once more to see if I had any more comments. Oh, and I am so glad I did. I wouldn't have wanted to miss your message. As usual, you give me more to think of than I thought myself.<br />I always want the ending to hold a promise of a fulfilling life together.<br />Who knows what might go wrong? I've thought about a story line in which the HEA happens early on, and Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-1922922360994265752017-09-21T14:37:54.090-05:002017-09-21T14:37:54.090-05:00I have thought about this blog and what you had to...I have thought about this blog and what you had to say about endings for quite sometime before I came back to answer it with my own thoughts on endings.<br />Endings are where the author gets a chance to bring the story, not only a satisfying end, but to a meaningful one as well. As a romance writer I feel compelled to bring my hero and heroine to a happy ending that either has them declare theirSarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-5247554858452226762017-09-21T09:12:50.590-05:002017-09-21T09:12:50.590-05:00Thanks for your observations and comments--well th...Thanks for your observations and comments--well thought out. I have all of LaVyrle Spencer's books saved in paperback form. I still read one of those occasionally,to relive the romance, yes, but also to remember not all writing rules need to be followed all the time. Good plots, and very good endings..but her best is Good Beginnings. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-47702829282076772862017-09-20T22:44:29.059-05:002017-09-20T22:44:29.059-05:00I think I most happy when the ending fits the stor...I think I most happy when the ending fits the story. One of my favorite books was "Calico Palace" by Gwen Bristow. The ending fit the story. I remember reading it, along with "Tea with the Black Dragon" and both stayed with me long after I finished them. Of course these were over 30 years ago, but I've never forgotten them. <br /><br />I did enjoy the post and it has me Renaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-18822429373803771742017-09-20T19:22:39.022-05:002017-09-20T19:22:39.022-05:00Same here. I agree. I'm reading too much and n...Same here. I agree. I'm reading too much and not writing enough!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-37708120833316457192017-09-20T15:17:57.802-05:002017-09-20T15:17:57.802-05:00I also agree that if the ending doesn't comple...I also agree that if the ending doesn't complete all the circles the author opened, it isn't a satisfactory ending. I never know how a book will end, but by the time I've got 90,000 words written, I would hope I would know how to end it correctly. I seriously do not have much time to read right now, but the stories I read for the most part have that perfect HEA.Paisley Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401039126457210324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-25624498498632575152017-09-20T14:41:16.099-05:002017-09-20T14:41:16.099-05:00Kaye--true..the ending to GWTW is pure genius..and...Kaye--true..the ending to GWTW is pure genius..and just think, MM came up with it. <br />Your comment is interesting..it gives me something more to think about.<br />Thank you for commenting.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-81515894200677485882017-09-20T14:38:44.849-05:002017-09-20T14:38:44.849-05:00Kit--I don't think I know anyone who writes th...Kit--I don't think I know anyone who writes the ending first..maybe Cheryl..she has multiples way of writing!...No outlines here, either. I can barely make notes. I do use a Time Line though..what came first..this or that? Save a lot of confusion on my part.<br />Thanks.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-86437038167107566632017-09-20T14:36:27.137-05:002017-09-20T14:36:27.137-05:00Exactly, Tracy. That's why a love clinch etc. ...Exactly, Tracy. That's why a love clinch etc. won't work. We need to know a tiny bit more for us to imagine how their lives will be in the future.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-18649059561531537462017-09-20T14:34:50.220-05:002017-09-20T14:34:50.220-05:00Rain--sometimes I think reviewers just like how th...Rain--sometimes I think reviewers just like how they sound-and one I see most often is that the author "rushed" the ending. And yet I've not seen any suggestions on how they'd like us to do that.<br />Thanks for your thoughts. I often learn more from comments that what I wrote in the first place. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-69840271964697963722017-09-20T14:30:56.695-05:002017-09-20T14:30:56.695-05:00Lindsay. We do share one thought..and that is wher...Lindsay. We do share one thought..and that is where the couple suddenly stops bickering and makes love. It's too contrived..and we know the road won't be that easy. But that kind of ending makes you think so. <br />Thanks for your comment!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-51362335940110829612017-09-20T12:57:37.366-05:002017-09-20T12:57:37.366-05:00Celia,
The last book I read that didn't have ...Celia,<br /><br />The last book I read that didn't have a HEA per se, but I enjoyed it anyway was "Hannibal" (sequel to Silence of the Lambs). The author caught a lot of criticism for the ending of the book, but it worked for me. I was satisfied.<br /><br />I need a satisfying ending to a book, which is why I always read the ending of a book first. I do the same with movies. I won&#Kaye Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530735658588595790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-50820478361684142612017-09-20T12:44:22.615-05:002017-09-20T12:44:22.615-05:00Kit,
I always know how my stories end before I wr...Kit,<br /><br />I always know how my stories end before I write them, too. I don't make outlines, either. I write in scenes and weave them together as the story unfolds.<br />Kaye Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530735658588595790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-59805430705375785882017-09-20T11:22:54.236-05:002017-09-20T11:22:54.236-05:00I have to admit I am one of those authors who actu...I have to admit I am one of those authors who actually writes the ending first. Weird, I know, but it really has worked well for me. (I also don't do outlines.) Sometimes, the ending IS the story, and once I know how a book is going to end, it's just the task of getting the story there. For the most part, my endings have some kind of message or moral. Does anyone else approach writing Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09757290836960484604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-40493239751057718412017-09-20T11:03:07.298-05:002017-09-20T11:03:07.298-05:00Endings are vitally important to a story for all t...Endings are vitally important to a story for all the reasons you gave plus they give the reader a glimpse into the future of characters they've come to care about (we hope). TracyGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432297803219920111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-36967559184786945722017-09-20T08:07:48.229-05:002017-09-20T08:07:48.229-05:00I agree with your opinion-- endings matter a lot t...I agree with your opinion-- endings matter a lot to me. I try hard to make sure the books end where they should, and I don't drag them out. That said, I was surprised at one criticism of a book of mine that the reader felt the ending had been rushed. This is a long book, with what I considered to be two endings with an epilogue. I did wonder what that reader had hoped would be at the end. Of Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-90552619149836903542017-09-20T07:57:48.345-05:002017-09-20T07:57:48.345-05:00I agree with your observations re endings. Endings...I agree with your observations re endings. Endings to me are harder than beginnings. That last line - so tricky!<br />I hate endings that feel rushed. Or in a romance where the couple have bickered all the way through and then are suddenly 'loved up'. I like a sense of going forward, of futures.Lindsay Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11513558547686982857noreply@blogger.com