I read somewhere that one of the best ways to write a story is to write the end first. I can see how that makes sense when you’re writing or putting your outline together and really don’t know where your storyline is going.
So far I’ve always struggled to figure out the end. Perhaps I’m trying too hard. Perhaps the storyline to the ending is what has to keep the reader guessing.
My big question is, do I kill off someone at the end, do I let the antagonist get away. Or do I write a mysterious ending where the reader really doesn’t know what to think of the story afterwards. I’m writing a horror story, so the endings are limitless, which is what makes it so difficult.
I’ll work this through until I can figure it out.
2 responses so far ↓
damyantig // March 16, 2008 at 8:25 am
Well, I have always found the need for a good ending…but then, whenever I know the end, I somehow think that the ending, when I finally write it, comes across a lot contrived. I have gone back to letting my stories write their own endings. Much more natural and painless that way.
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Don // March 16, 2008 at 8:58 am
I agree with you about the story seeming predictable. But then I wonder if it would be predictable to the reader. Of course there’s the chance that the writer just goes straight to the end and not really work hard to take the reader on a roller coaster ride. It’s something I’m still working with.