Here’s the problem with doing a PiBoIdMo blog post at the end of the month:
I was going to write about setting. But Tammi did that.
I was going to doodle. But Debbie already did that.
I was going to send you an Inspiration Fairy. But Courtney already sent you one.
I thought about chicken nuggets. But so did Sudipta.
So, what’s left?
Endings! Big, bold, surprising, clever, tender, awww-inspiring endings!
As we ease into the final stretch of PiBoIdMo, like you, I have a list of ideas. Some I’ve even started writing. But none of them have endings. (Yet.)
Many of us experience the first flush of excitement when a new idea tickles us until we have to put words down on paper. We have an idea! A character! A setting! Maybe we even have conflict! But, if you’re like me, you hope that by the time you hit the 700 word mark the ending will just write itself. But here’s the problem with endings that just write themselves. They’re usually flat.
And no wonder. A great ending is as difficult to write as an opening sentence. And as important.
Here’s what’s on an ending’s “to do list”:
- An ending has to resolve the story problem in a satisfying way (no plot points still hanging);
- It has to have the main character solving the conflict by the last page;
- It should either be predictable enough to emotionally resonate with the reader or unpredictable enough to delight;
- If it’s a humorous picture book it needs to deliver the final punch line;
- And, like a fine wine (or peanut butter fluffernutter sandwich), it needs to linger on your reader’s palette long after the meal in consumed.
So let’s think of how we can use page 32 to offer the perfect ending to your story.
Here are some possibilities:
Surprise Ending
Think beyond the obvious ending and offer the reader a surprise – the opposite of what’s expected. It should still be logical, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. Emma Dodd does that in “What Pet to Get” as does Cynthia Rylant in “The Old Woman Who Named Things.” Both offer surprise endings but do so in very different ways.
Circular Ending
In my picture book OSKAR’S PERFECT PRESENT (2013), Oskar starts his journey looking for the perfect present for his mother. On the first page, he finds it—a perfect rose! But as Oskar makes subsequent trades along his journey home, he is left without a present. On the last page, however, he is reunited with the same rose he traded away at the start of his journey. Circular endings—or those that somehow mirror the opening—are among my favorite endings since they offer closure in an often clever way.
Fulfillment
Sometimes a last page is simply the climax of the story, the fulfillment of the character’s desire. In “When Marion Sang”, Pam Munoz Ryan’s book about opera singer Marion Andresen, Marion is denied to sing on many American stages because she was African American. The last page of the story reads, “. . .and Marian sang.” In my picture book THE BUSY LIFE OF ERNESTINE BUCKMEISTER, Ernestine is the queen of over-scheduled set, and she just wants to play. In the end, she does just that and the final words, “And sometimes she just played,” underscore that Ernestine is fulfilled.
Wordless
And ending can be wordless, relying on a single-spread illustration to close the story. While the ending is wordless, it still needs to be “written” within the visual. This type of ending can be used effectively in both quiet books and humorous books. In a quiet book, the ending visual might be a sunset, an embrace, a child sleeping. In a funny book the last illustration can hint at a visual joke or twist. In my picture book HOLD THAT THOUGHT, MILTON (2012) the final joke is embedded within the illustration which hints that just when the reader thought all was back to normal…it isn’t.
I love working on my endings. It never ceases to amaze me how changing the ending can change the entire feel of the previous pages.
You know when you go to a movie and it finishes? If it’s been a good movie, you want to stay seated in the darkened theater suspended in the magic of the story. You want to draw out the experience just a little longer. A picture book ending should do the same thing for the reader. It should offer the reader that all-important pause (for reflection, a hug, or a giggle) before they close the book.
What kind of endings do you like? What fits best with your story? What kind of ending gives your story a unique slant? Try out alternative endings and see how the mood, the rhythm, the idea of the book changes. And revise until you find your happily ever after…
Linda has spent the past 15 years living in Stockholm, Vienna and now The Netherlands. She lives in a one-windmill town with her husband and 13 year-old daughter and helped to establish the country’s first SCBWI chapter. Her picture book, The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister (illustrated by Suzanne Beaky, Flashlight Press), debuted in October and was noted in the ABC Best Books Catalog 2011. Her next two picture books—Hold That Thought, Milton! (illustrated by Ross Collins) and Oskar’s Perfect Present (illustrated by Alison Jay) will be coming out in 2012 and 2013. And when she’s not working on her beginnings, middles and endings, she’s a public information consultant with the United Nations. Visit Linda at: www.lindalodding.com.
71 comments
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November 26, 2011 at 9:03 am
Deb Marshall
Thank you! Beginning to _end_ this was a great post. Going to cut and paste this into a wip I am working on…love the beginning, the middle, but the end is missing “something”. Thanks again. This whole month has been like a picture book master class!
November 26, 2011 at 9:08 am
Lynn
This was so very informative, Thank You! I had not given the endings much consideration yet for my new ideas, so I really appreciate your teaching on this important part of the process.
November 26, 2011 at 9:09 am
Linda Lodding
Aww…thanks, Deb! So glad it was helpful 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 9:12 am
Linda Andersen
For someone who struggled with what to offer, you came up with a very satisfying solution. Thanks so much for the list and examples of different types of perfect endings.
November 26, 2011 at 9:19 am
elizabethannewrites
Oh my, this was good. Thank you for reminding us that crafting a good beginning isn’t “the end” of it.
November 26, 2011 at 9:21 am
Linda Lodding
Thank you Lynn & Linda for your comments! I’ve also learned so much this month for everyone ❤
November 26, 2011 at 9:44 am
Wendy Greenley
Linda, you hit the nail on the head for me. The endings are the hardest part! I wonder if perhaps I haven’t worked the form hard enough in this area. Thank you for laying out a road map to follow on rewrite after rewrite, after rewrite…
November 26, 2011 at 9:52 am
Catherine Johnson
Endings are my favorite, I’d like to experiment more with circular endings. Thanks for the inspiration!
November 26, 2011 at 10:10 am
Julie
Endings are so difficult! I always end up revising them more than any other part of my stories. I suppose that’s apropos since a great ending is what makes people want to start from the beginning again and read the story over.
Thanks for a great post!
November 26, 2011 at 10:17 am
Linda Lodding
Thanks Wendy, Catherine & Julie — ends are so difficult, aren’t they? I find it so interesting how playig around with different endings can change the whole story. It’s a real challenge, isn’t it?
November 26, 2011 at 10:25 am
Patricia Tilton
I love endings, but they aren’t always easy. Liked the idea of the circular ending. Thank you for addressing this subject. Very helpful.
November 26, 2011 at 11:14 am
Linda Lodding
So glad it was helpful, Patricia! Circular endings can be a lot of fun to try!
November 26, 2011 at 10:30 am
Jodi Moore
I’ve always believed that it’s the ending that makes you want to experience the beginning all over again. Fantastic information and inspiration, Linda…like a fine dessert following the end of a fabulous meal – SWEET! Thanks so much for sharing with us, “sis”! Love & hugs, Jodi 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 10:33 am
Linda Lodding
Thanks, Jodi! Funny how we both think of endings in terms of food — LOL!
November 26, 2011 at 10:52 am
Pat Haapaniemi
Great post! So much wonderful information on endings that I’ve never heard before. Thanks for sharing!
November 26, 2011 at 10:58 am
Ellen L. Ramsey
Thanks, Linda–I love your examples, especially the ending of Rylant’s The Old Woman Who Named Things. Sometimes my ideas start with an ending–and I have to figure out how to take the story to that ending. I’ve been thinking about Richard Peck’s “the first chapter is the last chapter in disguise”–relates nicely to thinking about circular endings and fulfillment endings.
November 26, 2011 at 11:11 am
Linda Lodding
I love the idea of working back from the ending, Ellen! I’ll have to try that. And neat quote from Richard Peck. Exaclty what I had in mind!
November 26, 2011 at 10:58 am
Sue Heavenrich
thanks for some good inspiration. I especially like your idea to try on different endings and see how they feel. After Thanksgiving I think I need an ending with a stretchy waistband… and another piece of pie.
November 26, 2011 at 11:13 am
Linda Lodding
A need a reaaaallly stretchy ending too, Sue! LOL!
November 26, 2011 at 11:14 am
Jarm Del Boccio
Your post was exactly what I have needed, Linda! I can create beginnings that draw the reader in, and, maybe even carry him through, but the endings? That’s where I hit a brick wall…and it literally freezes my creative flow of words. Thanks so much for breaking through that wall with your thoughtful resolutions.
November 26, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Loni Edwards
This post is so inspirational to me. I have lots of beginnings, but the endings are the tricky part. Thank you. I am going to print out your tips.
November 26, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Katy Duffield
Thanks, Linda! It’s such a great feeling to feel that you’ve finally found the perfect ending. 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Linda Lodding
I know…love that feeling!
November 26, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Janet O'Neil
Linda, you hit the nail on the head! Good endings take work, and that’s where I’m at on multiple manuscripts. Thanks for the great advice!
November 26, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Dana Carey
Thanks for drawing our attention to the all-important ending, Linda. Great advice!
November 26, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Karen Cheesman
The book trailer on your website is adorable! Can’t wait to read the book.
November 26, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Linda Lodding
Thanks for watching, Karen! My 12 year-old daughter pulled that together for me 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 1:47 pm
angelapenadahle
What a great post on endings Linda! You really nailed it! I love how at the end of this post you compare great movie endings to great book endings and how to tell they are great and all. Just wonderful! I kept thinking. Now that’s how it REALLY is! You smarty, you!
November 26, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Beth MacKinney
Picture books remind me of the Sunday comics. Gotta have a punch line. : )
November 26, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Lori Grusin Degman
Thanks for the great post, Linda! It just sparked idea #45!
November 26, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Linda Lodding
Wow! Idea #45! Way to go, Lori!
November 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Bethany Telles
Linda!! How delightful this was for me! Thank you so very much!!
November 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm
thiskidreviewsbooks
I really liked the beginning of your post (mostly because of your line “I thought about chicken nuggets. But so did Sudipta.”)!
Erik
November 26, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Linda Lodding
I really was thinking about chicken nuggets. Really 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm
My Channel Island Ancestry
Thank you Linda, this post was so useful and such good timing. I have different feedback on one of my manuscripts endings recently. That’s tricky to solve, but also an interesting challenge!
November 27, 2011 at 3:30 am
Linda Lodding
Good luck on finding the right ending! It is a challenge, I know 🙂
November 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Ramona Davey
Thank you Linda, this post was so useful and such good timing. I have different feedback on one of my manuscripts endings recently. That’s tricky to solve, but also an interesting challenge!
(used wrong sign in in previous comment, sorry)
November 26, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Romelle Guittap
I was going to say your post was…
delightful
great
inspirational
wonderful
helpful
informative…but its already been said. Thank you Linda. What a fantastic way to end the PiBoIdMo week!
November 27, 2011 at 3:30 am
Linda Lodding
And thank YOU Romelle, for all the wonderful adjectives! Love ’em!
November 26, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Helen Ross
Hi Linda. A very apt post for the ‘end’ of PiBoIdMo. Great information. Helen
November 26, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni)
Loved the fact that this shows us we aren’t finished until the endings shine.
Thank you Linda! Wonderful post.
November 28, 2011 at 2:43 am
Linda Lodding
*Blush* Thank you, Kim!
November 26, 2011 at 10:08 pm
laurasalas
Thank you! I struggle with endings, and I love your roundup of possibilities.
November 26, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Super post, Linda!
“It never ceases to amaze me how changing the ending can change the entire feel of the previous pages.”
~ Oh so true! ~
November 26, 2011 at 10:52 pm
patientdreamer
Thankyou for reminding us that the ending is just as important as the beginning. Loved how you explained so clearly the differences.
Gosh! there has been so much excellent advice, instruction and wisdom to take in, I am having to print out hard copies of all these posts so I have a complete folder of all the guest blog posts. This is indeed another excellent post.
Thanks again Linda and Tara.
November 27, 2011 at 3:32 am
Linda Lodding
You are so welcome! And I love the idea of printing out all these postings and putting them in a folder for reference. I think I’ll do that too!
November 26, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Sandi Hershenson
What a wonderful post! Nice to give suggestions for endings are some of our initial rough drafts are looking for conclusions. Thank you!
November 26, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Marcela S.
Linda,
Thank you for this great post about “endings”. The ending is such an essential part of a story. Thank you for analyzing several types of endings and for the great examples!
November 27, 2011 at 5:15 am
Mona Pease
Great post near the end of a great month, which won’t end if we write up the ideas we’ve come up with and give them each a perfect ending!!! Thank you!
November 27, 2011 at 8:07 am
tinamcho
Thanks, Linda, for this valuable information on endings. I’m going to save this to refer back to, especially when I’m stuck on my own endings!
November 27, 2011 at 9:21 am
Donna Martin
Thank you, Linda, on a timely post. Writers, whether established or as yet unpublished (like myself), can always benefit from useful information like yours in order to strengthen their own writing skills. What a great way to “end” a great month of ideas!
November 27, 2011 at 10:43 am
Penny Klostermann
Thank you for a perfect post to inspire us to write perfect endings.
November 27, 2011 at 11:51 am
Linda Lodding
Thanks, everyone, for your lovely comments! So glad that the information will be helpful when we all start writing up our ideas!. I can just feel the collective creativity of this group!
November 27, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Courtney Pippin-Mathur
Great post! Just what I needed. ‘m always struggling with a proper ending! 😉
November 27, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Jennifer Rumberger
Loved your post about endings. Just as important as the idea itself. Thanks!
November 27, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Mary Meinking
OMG… soooooooooooo glad to see the world famous author (and friend)’s posting today. It was so helpful to look at the different ways to end your stories. It’s never been laid out quite like that for me before. You’re the best Linda! Thanks!
November 28, 2011 at 2:45 am
Linda Lodding
Gee, thanks sooooo much Mary! And thnak you for al the help you’ve given ME over the years with my beginnings, middles AND endings! You’re the best!
November 27, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Marcy P.
I LOVE your post on endings! LOVE IT! A different twist from the others (which, yes, I can imagine is difficult to do at the end of the month) and so practical and useful to where we are (or will be) with our ideas. THANK YOU!
November 28, 2011 at 2:42 am
Linda Lodding
You’re comments just warmed me up on this chilly Dutch morning! Thanks for sharing your sharing your thoughts with me, Marcy, and good luck turning all your ideas into wonderfun beginnings…and endings:)
November 27, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Cathy C. Hall
Ack. Endings and beginnings are so hard!…I wonder if I could be a PB writer who specializes in the middle parts? 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 2:40 am
Linda Lodding
LOL! Cathy! Maybe you I can work together ? — I love beginnings and endings…but the middles scare the heck out of me! 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 5:27 am
Lynda Shoup
Great advice and just what I needed to read. You have given me much more to think about. I know my writing will be better for it.
November 28, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Linda Lodding
Oh, that’s great, Lynda! I’ve also gotten so much out of these postings this month. Now I just need to the time to develop those ideas…from beginning to end 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Betsy Devany
Thanks! You made me laugh and smile, and see the importance of endings. Great post!
November 28, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Linda Lodding
And your comment made me smile 🙂
November 28, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Brook Gideon
Linda,
Just wonderful. Nothing better and more bittersweet than lingering in the ending of a great movie or book! Thank you for the great advice! I’m glad you were one of the last!
November 29, 2011 at 5:24 am
Juliet Clare Bell
Hi Linda, Thanks for the post. I’m really excited about your Alison Jay book. She’s one of my favourite illustrators (I’ve suggested her to several publishers as a potential illustrator but no luck so far -although I’m obviously very happy with the alternatives they’ve come up with!). And I love circular endings -I’m playing with several now that are taking years to germinate but I can’t wait till they really work and I can get them properly written. All the best, Clare. PS I need to finish a manuscript today (to send to my very lovely critique group) and I’ve been playing around with the ending. Still not sure -I’m waiting for that aha! moment…
November 29, 2011 at 6:51 am
Linda Lodding
Thanks for leaving a message, Clare! I was super excited when they paired the OSKAR’s manuscript with Alison Jay. I’ve alwyas loved her work and think her style works perfectly wth OSKAR’s Vienna (turn-of-the-century) setting. And lots of luck with getting to your “a-ha” moment. I’m also waiting for that moment to strike with certain WIPS. OSKAR took years to develop — come to think of it, so did my other books. Contined success with ANNIKA!
November 29, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Sheila O Lindsay
Thank you Linda, this is just what I needed a guide toward a great ending. Great advice! I’ve been stuck for a good ending on my latest project. My original one was flat. Now you’ve given me some direction.
November 30, 2011 at 8:54 am
Linda Lodding
Good luck, Sheila — I hope you find the perfect ending!
November 29, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Cathy Cronin
Great advice on endings and perfect timing now that we all have to take our ideas and write! This will be really helpful.