Getting to The End: How to FINISH a book
By Kathleen McCleary | April 20, 2016 |
Flickr Creative Commons: Speg of the Pigs
For the last four years, I’ve taught creative writing workshops to kids of all ages. And here’s something I’ve noticed: the older the kids (and by “older” I mean 13-18), the longer their stories, and the less likely they are to write a story all the way through to the end.
The kids I work with are some of the most creative, dedicated, enthusiastic writers I’ve met. But as they get beyond simple stories (Bob the unicorn finds a magic ring and learns to fly) and into stories with rich characters and complex story lines, it gets much more difficult to take a story all the way through to its conclusion. The inability to finish a story (and some of the stories my students are working on are 30, or 65, or 150 pages long) plagues writers of all talent levels. The fact is, writing a complete, beginning-to-end work of fiction is a damn hard thing to do. Getting to “The End” is riddled with challenges, including maintaining your enthusiasm for your original story idea through tens of thousands of words and figuring out how to actually create a complete story arc from that wonderful idea that seemed so rich when you began.
But finishing is what distinguishes writers from “maybe-someday”-ers. Finishing a novel or novella is an incredible accomplishment, and something few people ever do. Whether your work is published or not, that finished manuscript is an achievement you’ll have for the rest of your life.
I’m a dedicated “pantser,” but I’ve finished and published three novels. With each book, I reached a point where I was convinced that a) I would never finish; b) that finishing the book was truly impossible; and c) that the fact that anyone in the history of the world had ever finished writing a novel was a wonder up there with the hanging gardens of Babylon and the Taj Mahal (and that took 20+ years to complete). But I finished every book anyway. Here are a few of the tricks that helped me get to that blessed final page:
Figure out your climactic scene, and write to it. With all my books, I had two things: an idea that was the driver of the story, and a rough idea of the climactic scene I wanted to get to before the end of the novel. I had little idea how to get from A to Q (that climactic scene always comes a bit before the true end), but I knew the general direction I was headed in. No matter how lost I got in the middle (and believe me, I started down a lot of dead ends and crooked paths), I knew I had to get my characters to that point where the house burns down and the heroine realizes she doesn’t love the house she loves the life she made there, or the overprotective, anxious mom has to do the one thing she fears most and learns to understand and forgive herself, etc. It may be the climactic scene changes from your original vision once you get there, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you GOT there, and getting from that climactic scene to the final end of the story is much less difficult.
Write a scene that takes place the day after your novel ends.
So you don’t know exactly how your book is going to end. That’s okay. Imagine your main character the day after the book ends. Where is she? What does she look like at this moment? What is she doing? What is he looking at? Is he alone? Who is he with? What is he thinking? Writing this scene—even if it’s just a paragraph or two—should help you think about who your character is after the story of the book is over, which helps you see how your character could/should change during the course of the book, and what needs to happen for that kind of change to take place. Who knows? You may even use this scene one day as the end to your novel.
Write every day. Oh, everybody says this. But it doesn’t mean what you think it does. I didn’t—and don’t—put words on paper every day. But the novel I’m working on (and I only work on one at a time, because I’m a plodding pantser) is part of every day of my life until it’s finished. If I don’t have time to sit down and write, I think about the novel while I vacuum, or go for a walk, or shower. Thinking about my characters and plotting scenes is what I do instead of counting sheep when I have insomnia, and what I do instead of worrying frantically when my adventurous daughter is off hitchhiking around New Zealand (or whatever other worry is foremost). If you let those settings and scenes and characters slip from your conscious (and, even more important, unconscious) mind for too long, you lose them. In the middle of writing my second novel I was washing dishes at my kitchen sink and so immersed in thinking about my book, which took place in the San Juan Islands, that when I turned off the water and looked around my first thought was how nice it was to be home after being away for so long. I hadn’t written a word, but I was immersed in my book and believe me, that immersion turns into writing.
And here’s the part about finishing a novel that I don’t like: You know those characters who have lived with me and taken up all that space in my head and heart and soul for some part of every single day since I first began writing about them? I miss them like crazy when it’s over. I miss them enough that I almost—almost—wish I hadn’t yet reached “The End.”
How do you get yourself through to the end?
[coffee]
Kathleen McCleary is the author of three novels—House and Home, A Simple Thing, and Leaving Haven—and has worked as a bookseller, bartender, and barista (all great jobs for gathering material for fiction). A Simple Thing (HarperCollins 2012) was nominated for the Library of Virginia Literary Awards. She was a journalist for many years before turning to fiction, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, and USA Weekend, as well as HGTV.com, where she was a regular columnist. She taught writing as an adjunct professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and teaches creative writing to kids ages 8-18 as an instructor with Writopia Labs, a non-profit. She also offers college essay coaching (https://thenobleapp.com), because she believes that life is stressful enough and telling stories of any kind should be exciting and fun. When she’s not writing or coaching writing, she looks for any excuse to get out into the woods or mountains or onto a lake. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband and two daughters and Jinx the cat.
This. All this is exactly the way it is- and from a pantser with two unfinished WiPs on his mind, I thank you for this soul-restoring reflection.
I especially liked the part where you implied you could CHOOSE to think about your book between writing. Hilarious!
What’s your thinking about setting yourself a deadline when you can see the end but still haven’t written to it?
I’m a big believer in deadlines, Will. The most success I had with setting myself a deadline was using NaNoWriMo as means to finishing my third novel. I decided I would write at least 500 words a day for the month of November, and I tracked my daily word count with one of those NaNoWriMo worksheets. I wrote 15,000 words that month, which is huge for me, and it got me over the hump so getting to the end from there was smooth sailing.
Your work in journalism probably helped you get into a “deadline” frame of mind.
That’s totally true, Tina. I work much better with a deadline; without one, I can be the Queen of all Procrastinators. But I never miss a deadline!
Something I’ve found helpful is during one of those “OMG, I’m never gonna finish this and I’m so tired of these characters and this story” valleys, I will often sit down and write a short story about one of my supporting characters or a character in the same world that doesn’t appear in the book. For whatever reason, this seems to always fire my imagination to return to my WIP with renewed enthusiasm.
That’s a great idea, Michael, and a good way to get unstuck and jolt your characters on to the next stage. Love it, thank you.
I love this idea and I’m stealing it. Thanks!
Inside every “dedicated pantser” is a “confident plotter” crying to get out. Re: endings, I’ve found the answer to be smack dab in the middle of the novel, where the Lead faces an assessment, like looking in a mirror, about what the stakes mean to her. Once I know that (and I try to nail it near the beginning of my process) it tells me about the transformation at the end. A scene then suggests itself.
It’s subject to change without notice, of course–both plotters and pantsers agree on that.(I’m also for world peace).
Excellent point. I love the idea of the protagonist examining themselves enough to understand what the stakes mean, and to know that how they choose to act will change them, no matter which course of action they choose. I’m for world peace, too!
Haha! World peace … reminds me of Miss Congeniality :)
Thanks for the tips for getting a novel finished. I agree about keeping your head in the story daily, whether it’s while washing dishes or actually writing.
Thank you for sharing. I needed help ending it all…the WIP, of course. I have a dark cave in my computer where far too many stories hide for lack of endings. I also write long. (I’ll try not to do that here.) I’m in the midst of editing a story that tops out at 156,000 words. The thought of having to cut at least 36,000 words gives me palpitations. Sorry, have to go start my pacemaker. Thanks again for the advice.
But you FINISHED a story, even if it tops out at 156,00 words. Congrats! Happy editing, Mary.
Great piece! Interesting, insightful, and helpful. The trifecta. :) Thanks.
~MM, fellow Virginian
Thank you, MM. This is such a great community; I’m glad you found something helpful in my post.
I worked on a historical novel for years. A good part of that time was spent honing my craft, so I can’t say those years were wasted. But there came a day when I knew I had to set a deadline for myself, or the novel would never be completed.
I had a website nearly ready to go live — with research I couldn’t work into the story — and one day, on a significant anniversary of the historical event, I published the website and announced it on Facebook. I put up a mock image of the novel on the website and pasted “Coming Soon” across it. I didn’t set a specific date, but I had set up expectations, and the pressure was on.
Turns out it was exactly what I needed. The best part about publishing the novel is that other people get to meet the characters that have been in my head for so long and fall in love with them too.
So do whatever it takes, when you know you’re ready, to put that story out there for the world to read!
To quote Maya Angelou — “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
You go, Carmel! What a brave thing to do, to put yourself out there and announce to the world that you were going to get it done. And I agree, it is incredibly gratifying to introduce your characters to the world, and to see how others react. Love that Maya Angelou quote, too!
About once a week while finishing my first published novel last October, I would ask myself if I wanted to continue, given that I could quit at any time (novel writing is not obligatory).
The answer kept coming back, “What else would I do with my time and energy that I would get a greater pleasure out of?”
It took a long time, because I’m slow, but I sit in this chair every day, and every day things moved along a bit, on average, and then it was finished, and published, and now I’m working on the second volume of the trilogy.
If I hadn’t started writing this story back in 2000, it would still be 2016, and I wouldn’t have a book.
I’m very glad I started, very glad I continued.
I’m slow, too, Alicia. Congrats on your first novel! Lots of people start writing stories; not all of them finish. Best of luck with your next book.
I have read two of your novels, Kathleen, and loved them. In fact I think I saw a piece you recently wrote for Parade too. I’m also a pantser and have lived with my characters for years. The book is complete, I’m getting ready to query and my strong feelings? I want others to meet my people, to joy and sorrow with them. I have to let them go on to the next step–with fingers crossed and hope in my heart. Thanks.
Thank you, Beth! Always happy to chat with a fellow pantser (and yes, I write for Parade Magazine every month, too). I look forward to meeting your people; good luck with the querying process and congratulations on completing your novel.
Eerie post. In finishing draft one of my WIP, I took exactly the steps you recommend.
Writing the final scene (the rich reunion of two exes who are still in love) fed the middle. Writing the day-after-the-last-day scene revealed more of what one character’s inner journey would earlier become.
Then a funny thing happened. When my draft one finally reached the pre-written climactic scene, I found that it wasn’t hefty enough. My MC had not yet been sufficiently tested. His arc completed but it didn’t feel one hundred percent earned.
So I added a new scene, a final test in which my MC must give up everything he desires, a proof of the selflessness of his love. (He passes the test.) It turned into my favorite scene, sending my MC’s arc higher than I’d planned.
Jim Bell’s idea of writing from the middle “mirror” moment is great, though for me the discoveries that drive the novel are found at the end. The end is not an elusive, distant city but the engine that drives the journey.
Going forward I won’t be avoiding the ending but eagerly seeking it, like eating dessert first. I then know the meal will satisfy.
Great post, many thanks.
Fascinating to hear about your process, Benjamin. Thanks for commenting. I’ve had that same experience of realizing that the climactic scene I was writing towards wasn’t sufficient, and changed it accordingly. But that’s what makes writing a process of discovery, for the writer and reader. Cheers.
I’m more of a plotter, but I find myself drifting away from a scene by scene layout. I do as you suggest, have the end written down. Not fully written, just the highlights. Then I jot down the major plot points (25%, 50%, 75%). That gives me something to write towards and it doesn’t feel so daunting. I’ve finished somewhere around 8 novels, the last four of which I self-published. I set a deadline for those, which really helped me stay on track (and exhausted me).
Thanks for the post!
The idea of writing 8 novels exhausts me too! Kudos. I like the idea of breaking the book into chunks aimed toward major plot points. Thanks!
I am definitely a pantser, but still do basic character studies that build a snapshot of their lives to inform their response to events. For example, even if she now lives alone in the mountains of Colorado, did she grow up among many siblings in New York to parents who lost all their relatives in the Holocaust?
I absolutely love your suggestion to picture a scene for your character the day after the book ends. I am suddenly excited to write this scene for a book I trunked, but never forgot. Thank you!
I hope you’ll let us know how that scene turns out, and if it pulls that novel out of the trunk permanently ;-) Character studies are a smart idea. I always find the first third of a book is the part I rewrite the most heavily, because I don’t really know the characters well until I’m a ways into the book. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this timely and generous advice. The quality of your suggestions (and the comments) is above and beyond.
Thank you, Noelle. Glad it was timely, and hope your writing goes well.
“Write a scene that takes place the day after your novel ends.” I’ve never thought to do this–such an interesting exercise, thank you.
Also I love that your definition of “write every day” doesn’t mean necessarily *writing* every day, just mentally living in your story’s world. I have a busy work week where I try and write every day but it doesn’t always happen, but I make up for it with marathon weekend writing sessions. But on the days when I can’t fit in the writing, I am most definitely thinking about it and jotting down notes on my phone.
Once I stopped beating myself up about not getting words on paper every day, I relaxed quite a bit and found that the writing came faster and better on the days I could write. Hope the day-after-your-novel-ends exercise is helpful, Mary Kate. Thanks!
Great advice that comes at the perfect time for me. I am on the verge of finishing a WIP, my second novel. (The first was never submitted but was an ideal learning experience. Thanks for calling it an accomplishment!)
I am expanding about three scenes, and then it’s time to send it off into the world. But those three scenes that I left aside because I though they would be so easy? They are so much more difficult than I counted on.
It IS an accomplishment! Sometimes it can be hard to write those final few scenes of a book because it’s hard to know you’re about to say goodbye to people you know and care about and who feel very real. I had such pangs after I finished my third novel that I almost started a sequel (and may still do one some day!) Good luck.
Great post, Kathleen! I particularly relate to what you say about writing every day. My routine involves devoting the weekends to the mechanical side of writing, whereas I spend the week days doing my other work, but those are probably the most creative days where I discover the most about my story, because I’m forcefully away from it. Come Saturday, I can’t wait to dig in, and I have fresh perspectives when I open the manuscript again.
I wanted to add to your post from a different angle — what it means to finish a book — because I’ve been there three times, but I’ve never actually finished a book. I’ve written a draft to completion, and I’ve revised each of those drafts, but I’ve never actually undertaken the hard work involved in making new drafts (where the story structure can change due to in depth notes from editor / beta readers).
I’m presently doing that with my current novel, with a publishing contract in sight, and to be honest it’s terrifying! I KNOW I can get there. I have a plan and every weekend I tackle my rewrites based on the road map I’ve built from distilling feedback notes. But still, it feels very much like heading into the dark unknown. On one hand, I know that going into this domain will help me emerge with a much stronger novel, and I want to have as strong as debut as possible so I’m going to do the hard work. But on the other hand, there is always the fear that I will mess it all up. Can anyone here relate to that? What I find helpful is reminding myself that this is EXACTLY how I felt when writing the rough draft, and when I got to the end, I marveled at the work I’d done. I’m going to trust the process, and the years of practice put in. I will get to the end, and I will make not only myself happy, but readers as well.
Hey, John. I have had to completely restructure a novel based on editor feedback. IT was terrifying at first, but the novel was SO MUCH richer and better for it. I have also rejected one or two editor ideas because I felt taking the story in that direction wasn’t really true to the characters or spirit of the story. So I’d consider all feedback carefully, especially if several readers suggest the same changes or have trouble with the same issues, and then I’d listen to your gut and your best sense of the story and act accordingly. Good luck!
I can relate to that, big-time, John. I did finish my novel, after 37 book-length drafts (yes). I messed it up so many times in that process, that after awhile I didn’t fear messing it up because I’d done it so many times already! And with that courage came the final draft, when the story structure changed (from 1st person to 3rd) and a minor character became a main character, and the thing exploded and it was so exhilarating! Now I can say I’ve finished a novel, but–more importantly–I can say that I learned how to write one! Now I’m confident that the next one will be better, and the next, and…So don’t fret the fear. It’s necessary.
It seems to take forever, but I see the last scene and I write to it. But how to do that? This is the “takes forever” part for me, but ultimately what I do is know the characters, especially the major ones. Once I truly know them, I just see what they do, and why they do it, and the writing takes care of itself. I make it sound simple, but it’s not simple for me at all. It can take a very long time to get to that point, but once I do, it all goes fantastically fast.
I write character-driven fiction, too, Steven. And you’re right; it can be a long, slow process up front as you get to know the characters. But it does make for very believable fiction, too. Thanks for your comment.
I’m a firm believer in: arrive late, leave early.
Kathleen, I am one chapter, albeit a long one, from finishing the first draft of my third novel. (My second novel, though finished, lies insensate on a barroom floor.) Even though I’m collaborating with another writer on this novel, greatly easing authorial pressure, as the end has approached I’ve been very slippery about the work, leaving it for a week or two at a time without adding a word.
Our original goal was a mid-March finish, and now it’s looking like early May, with the main responsibility for its tardiness my squirming soul. A lot of that wiggle is knowing that when the dang thing is finished, I’ll have to assess its story all over again, to see if it indeed is a novel, and after that, if it’s indeed worth reading. Or revising. I do know that at least three sentences are decent.
Love the idea of writing the scene that takes place after my novel ends. I suspect there will be martinis.
Tom – Having just gone though it, I know that “end-game Resistance” (with a Pressfieldian capital R) is real. I want to remind you that, however fleeting, there is a literary godlike feeling to go with your martini enjoyment ahead. It’s worth it. You’ve got this.
Thanks for another great post, Kathleen!
Vaughn, you are a broad-shouldered soldier (and thus you can carry the martini shaker) in the fight against the Resistance. Thanks for the assist, T.
I LOVE the idea of writing what happens after the book ends. I’ve never thought of that. I too look up sometimes, after staring out the window and trying to figure out what’s happening next in my WIP, and am surprised to find out where I am. I guess that’s a good thing!
Write a scene that takes place the day after your novel ends.” I’ve read lots of columns offering advice on different aspects of writing (including every post on WUB), yet never saw that one. It’s such a good idea! It’s like a road map to The End – a way to remind yourself of the route you plan to take! I love it.
I really like the idea of writing a scene after the end. Thanks for a great post with good tips.