One of the biggest challenges some authors face is knowing when they’ve reached the end of their book. The process of wrapping up a book requires careful consideration of the narrative's structure, character arcs, and overall goals. Ask any author how they decided where and how to end their book, and you'll receive many different answers.
Some authors know "the end" right from the beginning and plot their story backward. Some "pants" their way through and stop where it feels right. Some have certain goals for their plot or their protagonist's character development that they feel must be reached before the final page. There isn't one right way to figure out how or where to end your book, but a good place to start is to consider the completeness of your manuscript.
To that end, this blog post contains some key points to reflect on before typing "The End."
1. Remember Your Goals
Before anything else, revisit the initial goals you set for your book. What was the story you wanted to tell? What message or themes were you aiming to explore? What did you want your characters to do or where did you want them to go? If your manuscript fulfills the vision you had when you started, that’s a strong indicator that you’re close to completion.
2. Are All the Questions Answered?
A satisfying conclusion often depends on how well you've addressed the questions posed throughout your narrative. Consider if all the major and minor storylines have been resolved:
Have all the mysteries or plot threads been tied up?
Is there closure for the characters and their arcs?
Make sure your reader isn’t left with unnecessary confusion, unless that’s the effect you’re intentionally going for.
3. Did You Hit All the Structural Elements?
Every story, no matter the genre, has key structural elements that provide a framework for the narrative. These include the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Review your manuscript to ensure that these elements are present and fully developed. If there are gaps or weak spots, it might be a sign that your book isn’t quite finished.
4. Are There Missing Details or Facts to Check?
Accuracy and detail are vital to creating a believable and immersive story. Have you fact-checked your manuscript? Are there any gaps in the information that could leave readers scratching their heads? Now is the time to comb through your work for missing details, ensuring that everything makes sense and is consistent with the world you've built.
5. Are the Characters Rich and Multidimensional?
Your characters are the heartbeat of your story. Ask yourself if they’ve been fully developed:
Did they achieve their goals or complete their journey?
Are their motivations clear, and have their decisions been justified?
If any character feels flat or underdeveloped, it may be worth revisiting their arc to ensure the character adds depth and dimension to the narrative.
6. Consistency in Narrative Perspective
Was your story consistently relayed through the chosen narrator’s perspective? Whether you’re writing in first-person, third-person, or any other point of view, consistency is key to maintaining the reader’s trust. Ensure that the narrative perspective has been steady throughout, without any unintended shifts (head-hopping).
7. Descriptive Stepping Stones: Who, What, When, Where, and Why
Lastly, review your narrative for the descriptive stepping stones that guide the reader through your story. Have you adequately answered the who, what, when, where, and why of each scene? These elements help to ground the reader in your world and make the story more accessible. If you find scenes where these basic questions aren’t fully addressed, it might be a sign that there’s more work to be done.
Final Thoughts
Knowing when you’ve reached the end of your book isn’t always clear-cut. It requires a balance between trusting your instincts and methodically checking your manuscript against these key criteria. Take the time to reflect on your goals, your story's structure, and the depth of your characters. When everything aligns, and your manuscript resonates with the story you set out to tell, then you can confidently write “The End.”
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