Friday, September 3, 2010

When we last left our hero...

Endings are important. This is a universal truth, right? But I'm going to step out a limb and say that the how your chapters end is more important than how your book ends. Why? Because while the end of your book impacts how the readers think about your book in total, it is how your chapters end that will keep your readers reading.

As novelists, we all want to write the book that has the reader saying over the watercooler, "I was up reading until 4 in the morning! I just couldn't put it down!"

My day job is writing serial fiction for a woman's magazine. Each story is three or four parts, 3800 words each. Each part must end in a way that makes the reader want to come back for more. The stakes are high here. The reader has to be so drawn in that they will think about it all week, go to the store, and shell out a few more bucks for the next issue so they can read what happens next.

The cliffhanger (named for the 1930s episodic movies where the hero was literally dangling from a cliff when the credits went down -- check out the Wiki link here) is so important for serials that I write the endings first. When I pitch a new idea to the editor, it is the overall story and the part endings that I pitch. Because if the endings don't work, the serial won't either.

This is a valuable technique for novelists. Every chapter needs to end in a way that makes the reader want to turn the page. Unfortunately, I learned this too late for my last project, where I structured that novel so that each chapter ended when my MC was going to bed. Looking back now, I see that was just an invitation for the reader to put down the book at the end of a chapter. The last thing you want is for your reader to say, "Nothing exciting is happening now, so this is a good spot for me to stop reading."

You don't have to leave your characters dangling off a cliff at the end of each chapter. Not every cliffhanger is mortal peril. It can end with a choice, a question, the prelude to a fight...anything has your reader wondering -- or even better, DEMANDING -- to know what happens next.

And that's why endings are..wait... excuse me a minute, there's an email in my inbox. I don't believe it! It's...



















What does our hero find? Tune in next blog post to find out!

56 comments:

  1. How true! When the chapter ends well you can't wait to get back to the book, I'll read just one more page, just one more page, just one more chapter etc.

    Great advice. Something I think we all know but don't always realize.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Isn't KarenG's bbq great!!!

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  2. This is very true. I once read that every chapter should end with questions still unanswered in the reader's mind so that they'd have something to come back for and find out. Good post.

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  3. Hi, popping in from the bog party and now following you :-)

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  4. YES! In my last rewrite, I made one very simple change, which was to split some scenes over a chapter break. I'd end a chapter right at the rising action of a scene, then pick up with the rest of the scene in the next chapter. Easy peasy with huge pacing payoff.

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  5. I'm so bad at endings - all endings! So I think this is something I need to take on board.

    Oh, and hi! I'm over here from Donna Hosie's party!

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  6. this was a good post. I'm visiting from the virtual parties! But I'm following too,,staking in a good creepy way lol.

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  7. Great post! I found you on KarenG. I'll be back!

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  8. Ha! I think our hero found a love note from an editor (sending positive thoughts your way).

    I love comparing chapters to serialized fiction, and it absolutely holds true - but putting it into practice can be tricky.

    I popped over from the BBQ and am a new follower, so I'll be back! :)

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  9. Hi Jenna. I came over for the BBQ and since I love Shrimp, and Tacos, I figured I'd visit your blog and become your newest follower!

    Nice ta meet ya!

    Today's guest blogger is Emilia Plater!

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  10. A few years ago I tried to write screenplays. One thing you must do before you begin is know the end. The same thing could apply to writing a book. Know the end--of each chapter. They'd be kind of mini plot points. Anything to keep the reader turning pages!

    This is a very instructive and fun post. Loved the "ending".....

    I found you at KarenG's BBQ. Glad I did. I'm now a follower, and hope you'll come over and follow me also.
    Ann

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  11. Hi! Stopping for some BBQ fun and I do believe I will stay awhile. ;) I appreciate solid tidbits of advise and I will remember this, to use at a later time when I find myself writing a chapter book. :) My best to you, enjoy the weekend! Janelle

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  12. Are chapter endings more important than book endings? Personally I don't think so; that last impression casts its light on the entire book before it. But are chapter endings extremely important? I absolutely agree. Maintaining that narrative momentum is a must. Case in point - you've already got me waiting for a sequel post :)

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  13. Jenna, it's been awhile since I visited your blog! Great post on chapter endings. One of my huge weaknesses when writing. I tend to just end "Okay, done with this one, moving on." Not the best way!

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  14. Hello, I dropped by from KarenG's blog party. It's always fun to find other writerly people in the bloggerhood.
    Have a great day. :)

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  15. excellent point about chapter endings--I couldn't agree with you more. That is the way to keep the reader engaged--and look what you did! Great to meet ya, btw! I brought the ice~ ;p

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  16. Thanks everyone for visiting! And if you are here from KarenG's blog bbq, I'll be paying you a visit too (it might take me a while but I'll get there before the end of the weekend).

    Franklin, I agree with you but keep in mind that the end of a book doesn't matter if a reader gives up before getting there!

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  17. That's so true. I pay way more attention to chapter endings. Great blog! I popped over from Karen G's. Nice to meet you! :o)

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  18. Great post! I now pay attention to chapter endings, and remember the types of endings that keep me up at night!

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  19. Beginnings and endings--so important! Great post! Found you in the BBQ and following!

    http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com

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  20. Hi, Jenna! I hopped over from Karen's BBQ to say hello. I love meeting new blog friends. :-)

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  21. Hi Jenna, dropping by from Karen's. You have the same template here as I do on my food allergy blog. Nice choice!

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  22. Great post! I'm a new follower, and found your blog through KarenG's bbq hop. Have a great weekend!

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  23. another new follower found your blog through Karen G's BBq party.

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  25. LOL, love this post, especially the ending!

    It's a Blog Fest Party weekend - thanks for stopping by at mine.

    http://musingsofapennilesswriter.blogspot.com/

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  26. It's quite a cliffhanger ending! That's for sure.

    You have a great blog here. I'm now a follower over from Karen's BBQ

    Clarissa Draper from Listen To The Voices

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  27. Hi. I'm popping over from Karen's BBQ. Nice to meet you! That is such great advice about chapter endings. Thanks!

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  28. What an excellent blog post! I started with the cliffhangers in the middle of my book. As I get ready for another set of rewrites, I'll be ending my scenes a bit more enticingly. I stay up way too late reading books that I can't put down. It would be nice to feel I was robbing someone else of sleep with my own. ;-)

    Popped over from KarenG's BBQ and very happy that I did! Now a follower!

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  29. Miaou? Purrowling in from Karen's BBQ. Would you like some of my tuna?

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  30. Excellent points! And you're a wicked tease "I don't believe it! It's..." I know what you're doing, but ya got me anyway!

    Swinging by from KarenG's BBQ and laughing--we use the same blog template! It's almost like I'm at home!

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  31. What does she find? What does she find!? Guess I'll have to come back to find out. Great post, Jenna. I found you through Donna Hosie's blog party.

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  32. Ahh! What does our hero find?! Haha, great post. Popping over from KarenG's BBQ!

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  33. Here from Karen's BBQ! :)

    What a great post. You're so right - it's something I'm working on now!

    Will I be successful in my quest? Read on to find out... :)

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  34. Good information. I'm a new follower from Karen G's blog hop

    Manzanita
    Wanna buy a duck

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  35. Just making the rounds at Karen's barbeque and thought I'd stop in to say Hi. Your post is sooo true. "Hooky endings" keep readers turning pages.

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  36. Hi Jenna,
    I just hopped over from Simon's blog party. I'm your 90th follower! I recognize some of the faces here: we're fellow bloggers. ;)
    Hope you can make it and visit my blog for writers at:
    www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com
    Cheers!
    Claudia

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  37. am glad I found you at the bbq party I love this blog, i've got a writer's blog too at www.joannastjames.blogspot.com

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  38. ha ha little miss Ditzy forgot to become a follower I'll do it right now before I get distracted again by Handy Manny and yes I mean the kids show sigh

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  39. It was fun hearing from you! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  40. Hi Jenna,

    I'm enjoying the BBQ party and have to say I loved the sound of your shrimp tacos and the peach/mint salsa!

    Great post too - not all chapters need cliffhangers, I'm all for giving the reader a break.

    Happy writing!

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  41. A very useful post, and not something I've typically thought about in novel writing. But yes, it's important that the reader want to go on to that next chapter - we all remember and love best the books that we just can't put down.

    Do you know who was the master of this - Carolyn Keene of the Nancy Drew series! I could never put those thing down! But they were a little to cliffie for adult readers. For us the constant cliffhanger gets annoying because we know we're being worked. So I suppose the trick is to do it subtly so the reader doesn't even know what we're up to.

    Thanks, you've given me lots to think about!

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  42. Came over from the BBG blogfest. Loved this post. It's so true, I love when a chapter ends and I'm all wanting to turn the page to see what happens. And you leave us off on a cliff hanger -- LOL. Nice to meet you! :D

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  43. Hiya :) I popped over from Karens BBQ - I didn't actually know that about the term 'cliff hanger' and I've always loved the serial fiction in magazines! Neat job

    http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

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  44. Popping over from Karen's BBQ to say Hi!

    My favourite books are the ones where I think I'll just read one more chapter and I find myself staying up until the early hours reading.

    I don't think this gets mentioned enough, either. You hear plenty about writing a gripping opening sentence or paragraph but never hear much about how to end each chapter to keep your reader turning those pages. Great post!

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  45. Hi Jenna. Came by via the lovely Karen's blog BBQ! :)

    So true what you say about chapter endings. I also love the haiku on your sidebar - I know that refresh hell so well.

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  46. Over here from KarenG's place -

    I must have done my job with TG, because one of the often things I heard was "I couldn't put it down" - keeping those pages turning is, as you say, so very important. As long as it's not done as a "device" or "tic" where the reader comes to the end and says, "Does the character always have to be left at the brink of disaster!" *laugh* ...

    good post!

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  47. I am so completely overwhelmed by this! Thank you all for coming by and many many thanks for becoming followers. Thanks to KarenG's BBQ party, I have 40 new followers since Friday! Only two more and I have 100!!!

    I am trying to get around to everyone's blog to say hi, but it may take me a few days to do it.

    So thanks again!

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  48. Hi, popping in from the party and now following. Nice to meet you *waves*!

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  49. Hi Jenna! I've come to your blog by way of Karen Gowen's blog hop. Great to find you!

    I'm a short story writer, embarking on my first novel project. Helpful tips like yours really helps me focus in what has become, for me, the hugest challenge of my writing life! Thanks!!

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  50. P.S. The Blogger Gremlins are preventing me from following right now. I'll be back, though! Until then, have a great weekend!!

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  51. Suzanne Collins is an expert at the cliffhanger chapter endings in her Hunger Games trilogy. Very tough to put down...

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  52. Haha, awesome blog ending. I'm your newest follower from Karen's party. :)

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  53. That is so interesting! Thanks for sharing about the serial fiction. :o)

    Anyway, great to find you. I'll definitely tune in for the next episode. (ha, ha.)

    ~ Jackee

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  54. Hey Jenna! Found you on Karen Gowen's BBQ party. Great post. Very true. I'm off to revise my chapter endings now!

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  55. Jenna ~ I just wanted to say thank you for sending West Virginia Andrea over to me!!! That was soooooooo awesome of you! I now only need Mississippi to complete the states. What a fun weekend this has been!

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  56. Karen's BBQ was fantastic... I love visiting other blogs and seeing all the awesome things!

    Chapter endings are so important, I fall into the trap of wanting to go from chapter to chapter until the book is finished, those are the books I share with others.

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