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E is for END: ABCDEs of Writing

4 September 2006 No Comment

Yes, dear writer. Your piece will not be complete without an ending. You probably would hear this advice many times over as you write: Everything should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Once you’ve started, given the background, worked your way through the conflict of the piece in a dramatic way, arrived at the climax, and resolved loose ends - there is no other way to turn to but the end.

And, please remember that the end is what you will leave to your readers. Give them something to remember you by. Do not bore them with too much information, but don’t leave them unsatisfied either. There’s a fine line between these concepts. And yes, it might take some time to master it all in absolute perfection. But no matter how daunting it may be, just think -

“The point is to finish and go on to the next thing.” - John Cheever

Creative Writing Project To Consider:
1) Look at your existing writing project. How do you craft its ending? Are you going to make it shocking, sad, happy…? Whatever you do, remember not to make it confusing. Tie up all loose ends! If you have a music box in the beginning of your story, make sure that music box plays on or before your story ends.

2) Now that you’ve reached the end of your piece, leave it alone for a little while. Then, get back to it to see what you can revise/edit.

3) In the spirit of “going on to the next thing” — think of a new writing project now. What’s your new story/poem/essay/article going to be all about?

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