Wright's Writing Corner: On Endings

Today’s post discusses endings, why Casablanca is a classic, and how we' d rather not read a story that ended “An uncomfortable silence ensued.”:

http://arhyalon.livejournal.com/209525.html

Excerpt:

An ending is like a punch line. It is a thing that pulls
the story together in such a way as to make the experience satisfying.
Usually, an ending is the moment just after the victory when all is
concluded. (Unless you’re me, and you write two full chapters of
post-victory-missing-father-answers-questions stuff. But I don’t
recommend that approach! So, in this case, you might want to do as I
say, rather than as I do.) Normally, endings are more like the old
romance guidelines which said: end the story the very moment that the
couple gets together.

Basically, you write your story. You write your climax. You write what
happens next. Then go back and cut everything after whatever the final
sum-up moment of the climax was, ending at the very moment when the
story is complete.

Again.do as I say, not as I do. Got that? Okay.

Also, I was interviewed this week by intrepid agent extraordinaire
Michael Kabongo. It’s a more amusing interview than most, because he
asked amusing questions:

http://www.agentincite.com/?p=586