We’ve discussed planning the novel and how to get that amazing first sentence to get the ball rolling, but what happens when you’re near the end but you don’t know how to end it?

Like the beginning of your written piece, the ending is just as difficult to write. You have to be able to tie all the little details in together and have a proper resolution that leaves your reader feeling satisfied and content.

Generally, endings usually entail some kind of message conveyed to the reader, whether its a typical do-not-do-that-or-this-will-happen or a more implicit lesson that is learned when the reader stops and thinks for a while. The final message conveyed to the reader is also resonated by the experiences of the main character.

One of the bigger questions have you ask yourself is whether or not the ending really addresses the complication properly. Unless you plan to make the story of a series rather than a stand alone piece, the complication should be properly fixed by the resolution and ending. There should never be any loose ends when you finish you piece – everything should be wrapped together in a neat little package.

When creating an ending, don’t just make one. In fact, make several. That way, you won’t be restricted to just one, and you can then pick the ending that fits best for your written piece.

Another good idea is to mimic your favourite writers and how they ended their novels. Pick up a book and see how they ended it. Then copy it. Now we’re not saying to plagiarise the piece, we simply mean for you to copy how he ended his novel in terms of grammar and plot progression.

If you require more assistance with your ending, take a look at this article about how to end your novel.

Opportunities and events

Vulture Magazine, a new online publication dedicated to reporting on all the latest news in music, are seeking a columnist to join their team. Check out the listing here.

If you love theatre and an avid fan of local theatre company La Mama, then you’ll be happy to know that the director, Liz Jones, will be making an appearance at the Wheeler Centre on July 10. So if you want to meet the mastermind herself, RSVP to the event here.

For those living in NT, the NT Writers Centre will be hosting their Poetry Lunch on July 3 at Eva’s Cafe. This is a great networking opportunity – more details about the event here.

“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”  ― Frank Herbert