How do you create a triumphant ending? We touched on the why yesterday in “conversations” but today I wanted to put tools to the theory. Just as a reminder: the point of the Final Battle is to convince the reader (and the character) that true character change has taken place by putting it to the test. You are waging an “internal battle” using external elements. I like to use the movie The Patriot because it is an actual battle, but it also clearly illustrates the internal/external final battle of a story. The idea is: armed with the TRUTH, which has caused their epiphany, your character will face their last challenge, that thing they couldn’t do at the beginning of the story that they can no do (or are willing to face) […]
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Conversations with an aspiring author: Building the Triumphant Ending!
“You might be able to write a book in a month, but I’m only on chapter five. I have four kids, you know.” Sally wasn’t wearing makeup today, her blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked like she’d lost some weight, her blue eyes a bit tired. “I spent all weekend spring cleaning my house. I haven’t touched my book in a week. My ending is so far out of site, I’ve forgotten what I’m writing about.” “It’s all right, Sally,” I said and nudged my uneaten bran muffin over to her. “You’ve just forgotten what you’re aiming for. See, if you set out on a journey without a destination, you might get lost or even…discouraged.” She tore off a chunk of the muffin. “So, you’re saying that […]
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Featured Fiction! Shades of Truth by Sandra Orchard
MISSION: HIDDEN IDENTITY Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career. Book 2 in series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line. Excerpt: Kim’s expression hardened. “I was thinking about the damage that rumors of a hit and run by a former resident would […]
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One Thing Marketing … PINhead Authors
Hi. This is Christen from Litfuse Publicity Group. By day, I’m the Nester – keeping the Litfuse Nest in order. By night, I’m like you, an aspiring author. One of my favorite things about starting a new WIP is finding pictures of my characters and settings. I spend hours pouring over magazines trying to find the perfect look for the characters in my head. Currently, I have a file cabinet full of characters sitting in my garage – taking up space. Enter Pinterest. It is my new filing cabinet, per say, for characters (and settings and costuming and etcetera etcetera etcetera). What is Pinterest? I am so glad you asked! Get ready for mind-blowing awesomeness… According to the Pinterest website it is a Virtual Pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and […]
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