Writing Your Ending First

A number of fiction critics have pointed out the sorry endings to many of Stephen King’s novels. They admit these novels were exciting, interesting, intriguing, and mysterious—until the end. Some complain that these endings don’t ring true—that they’re unimaginative, outlandish, unlikely—even irritating. Perhaps this occurs because King is a pantser, and when he reaches the point where the story needs to end, he’s not prepared to write the climax, to tie up the loose ends.

King is not alone in writing unsatisfying endings. When I finish reading a novel that baffles me with an ending that’s dubious or improbable, I go away unsatisfied. I think, “Hmm, that ending didn’t seem right to me,” or “Yeah, but what about this or what about so and so?”  If the author had composed a draft of the story’s ending first, they may not have been tempted to end the story with a ‘saved by the bell’ event or a doubtful coincidence. 

Writing the ending first gives the author plenty of time to work toward it, consistently writing the story with the ending in mind.  When they reach that last chapter, they can tweak it as needed. This process has numerous benefits, one of which includes pulling the author out of the middle-of-the-book doldrums. Having a fairly clear vision of the ending can keep an author from falling prey to the dreadful middle lull.

Amanda Patterson (of Writers Write) proposed seven good reasons for writing the ending first: 

1. If you know who the characters are at the end of the story, you’ll know how much you should reveal about them at the beginning. 
2. You will be forced out of the backstory ditch and into the story the reader wants to read.
3. Hindsight is amazing. When you’re looking back, you know when the problem began and can think through the ‘what ifs’.
4. You will have something to work towards. Instead of hoping for the muse to show you the way, you can write what the characters need to get them from the beginning to the end—which you already know well.
5. Plotting from the ending backwards saves time because you’ll leave out details that weren’t supposed to be there anyway, saving you from an overwritten first draft.
6. Writing the end may force you out of your comfort zone. This is a way for you to show yourself that you’re serious about being a good writer.
7. The ending is as important as the beginning. Good beginnings get people to read your first book. Great endings get readers to buy your next book.

So, when should you write the ending?  Before you even start writing the book?  Not necessarily.  When you start writing, you have a mixture of both vague and specific ideas for your story.  Whether or not you have a written outline, write the first chapter or section, then pause when you reach some kind of conflict. Stop for a break, walk around the office or your house or the block. Return to your desk and proceed to write the ending of the book. Not the entire last chapter, but several scenes where mysteries are solved, quests are fulfilled, and characters are free to go on their way.

One reason for writing the ending early in your writing process involves motivation.  Once you’ve solved the problem, fixed the relationship, or killed the villain on paper, your mind starts to believe that you really have something—that you can and will complete writing this story or book.  Like the beacon from a harbor, writing your ending early in the process gives you a good idea of where you’re going from the story’s beginning to the finale.

When you complete your first draft, your ending may be different from the one you pre-wrote, but having that first draft of the ending will have added to the confidence you needed to finish the project.

Write on!
Ann