Alls Well That Ends Well

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

So I read the first ever Charles Willeford book, and it was excellent until the very end. I mean the last paragraph or so. And I wonder why he settled for a meh end rather than do better.

I mean, the end is plausible and common, but that's its fatal flaw. Most of his later books are redeemed by their endings.

I wonder how much effort writers put into their endings.

 

[49greg]

Don't know about real writers, but there are a few of my stories that have rushed endings. I just got tired and wanted to get rid of the damn thing and sent it on.

I've noticed that with a few of the stories I've read on Lit, as well as with books.

 

[Carnevil9]

I'm frequently disappointed by endings, because I always want to see some sort of twist, something I didn't expect. Guess that's what happens when you are raised on "The Twilight Zone."

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Start with the end.

Man! I waited 5 full years for the right end to come along, and its so simple anyone coulda dreamed it up. But I couldn't and my editor was equally stumped.

Raymond Chandler said, PULL OUTTA GUN WHEN YOURE STUMPED. And that's how it ended. A minor character fired a pistol at the principal character. The bullet forced the character to make a Devil or the Deep Blue Sea choice.

Build your story backwards from a good end.

 

[ElectricBlue]

all's well that ends well

I'm disappointed James, I thought you were going to do over old Will!

 

[secretLace]

For me the ending is something I vaguely see when I start and then if the story is getting too long I loose momentum and in the end realise that it's just too much to write to arrive at my wanted end.

I can imagine this happening to other amateur erotica writers as well. We write in burst of inspiration rather than with a method. Im writing a story now that will be three parts and after the second part is done Im getting a little, not fed up, but at least a little worn out by the story.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

For me the ending is something I vaguely see when I start and then if the story is getting too long I loose momentum and in the end realise that it's just too much to write to arrive at my wanted end.

I can imagine this happening to other amateur erotica writers as well. We write in burst of inspiration rather than with a method. Im writing a story now that will be three parts and after the second part is done Im getting a little, not fed up, but at least a little worn out by the story.

Lets define a few words.

Professionals get paid, amateurs don't. But the crack whore you pay $20 for a blow job isn't certified to give better blow jobs than the woman next door.

Dilettantes are the enthusiastic participants in riots, looting, orgies, and LIT writing. Nothing is required of them but participation.

 

[secretLace]

When I do a distiction between amateurs and professionals I actually don't mean the quality of their writing. Rather the professional has the method and dicipline to "force" him or herself to write while the amateur is more dependent on inspiration.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

When I do a distiction between amateurs and professionals I actually don't mean the quality of their writing. Rather the professional has the method and dicipline to "force" him or herself to write while the amateur is more dependent on inspiration.

Not true as a rule. I know legions of amateurs who almost obsess about their interest.