Monday, December 8, 2014

Wrapping it Up

I'm finishing up my NaNo draft - 64k and counting. I've left myself tons of notes along the way about things to add, things to polish, and things to change.

The last few chapters are waiting for me and I have to plow my way through. While I have an idea what's going to happen (the main characters will live and get their HEA), it's the getting there that's tough. 

Endings aren't easy for me. Tying all those plot lines together isn't my strength - probably because I don't plot in advance. One of my MCs is currently in major trouble and the other is oblivious, but closing in.

The next few scenes need to be full of action and emotion. I think I'm good with the emotional part of it all, but the action sequences are more difficult. By focusing on the emotion of the characters going through the actions, my writing is getting stronger, but it's not there yet. I'll probably end up rewriting these chapters a dozen times. *sigh*

How about you, are you good at wrapping it all up at the end of your stories, or is it a challenge for you, too?

33 comments:

Beth said...

It's a challenge for me, too, even when I do have an outline! I have to really work at my endings to make them wrap things up nicely, but in a way that isn't obvious or overly sentimental. Endings, for me, are almost as hard as beginnings!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Endings are the hardest part for me. I now almost always close with a wrapped up subplot (main plot having been wrapped up in the previous chapter). Action scenes are also pretty tough. I just write very short and choppy, use strong verbs, and then finish it up quickly, since it's not my forte. :) Hope it goes well for you and congrats on NaNo!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Oblivious is always fun!
Hope you can wrap it up.
I'm a dedicated plotter and always see the ending first, so beginning is the most difficult for me.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Yes,tying it up and making a satisfying ending is a challenge. Awesome what you've accomplished!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hopefully the emotions will guide you through the right actions.

~Sia McKye~ said...

Congrats on finish Nano!

Endings aren't hard for me but the transition in the middle before I get to the end are. Having to keep the pressure and action flowing. Writing is always work in progress. :-)

Happy writing!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Wow. That's a lot of words. Good for you. The ending usually irons itself out in my mind as the story progresses, but rewriting is fun too.

cleemckenzie said...

64K? In a NaNo month, too. Here's to that and to wrapping up that ending.

I often just write the end first and then try to aim for that as I write the rest of the book. Doesn't always work, but I feel good about having a target.

Belle Wong said...

Congrats on getting to the final few chapters! Endings are, hands down, the hardest part for me. I have been looking at doing more plotting work beforehand because I always seem to end up with so many plot threads and it's so difficult to tie everything together.

Mason Canyon said...

Sounds like you're on the right track and I'm sure you'll be able to pull it all together. Congrats on finishing NaNo.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I usually fly through the last 15 to 20k of my books. The end is my favorite part.

Unknown said...

We are much the same. The endings are my nemesis too. Always find it hard to wrap the story up. Why? Because I don't plot either!

Unknown said...

PS You'd think we'd learn, Jemi! :))

Nas said...

Hi Jemi!

Its great all you have accomplished!

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - I find beginnings easier & I do rewrite those several times too! Glad I'm not alone! :)

Elizabeth - thanks! I hadn't thought of the last bit going to a subplot. Good idea - I'll have to see if that works for this one!

Alex - I wish I could plot! I'm trying, but it's tough :)

Natalie - thanks! Hoping the ending I settle on doesn't require dramatic changes to the story! (sometimes happens :))

Diane - that's what I'm hoping for!

Sia - always, always, Always!

Yvonne - I don't mind the rewrites anymore - they always make something better!

Lee - that's a great idea! Might try that next time!

Belle - exactly! I've tried plotting, and I'm getting better at it, but this NaNo snuck up and surprised me :)

Mason - I hope so!! Thanks :)

Susan - I'm getting better, but they're stil tough for me :)

Wendy - I know!! I've tried a multitude of plotting strategies, but so far, no giant successes! :)

Nas - thanks! Still lots to go :)

JeffO said...

Way to go, Jemi, keep it up!

I rarely know the end when I start. At some point, however, I start to see the shape of it so that by the time I get there, I (mostly) know what's going to happen. Good luck with your ending!

Anonymous said...

I've had CP's and beta readers ask me to rewrite a few of my endings. Half the time they don't. It's not always easy to wrap things up.

DMS said...

Sounds like you have gotten a lot done! Awesome job! The end can be tricky for me, even with the planning I do. I usually end up changing it a few times before it feels right. Good luck!
~Jess

Chrys Fey said...

Way to go, Jemi! I hope you can wrap up your story soon. :) Good luck!

Jemi Fraser said...

Jeff - I sometimes start with the emotions of the ending scene and a glimmer of it. I guess it all depends :)

Medeia - it's really not! And my CPs are the best at helping me out!!

Jess - good to know! Plotting doesn't make it perfect I guess - but it helps :)

Chrys - thanks! Me too :)

Jemi Fraser said...

RR - Thanks! :)

LD Masterson said...

64K? Awesome.

Endings aren't usually a problem for me because I have the ending set before I start. It comes from being a computer programmer - I always start with "What to you need the end result to be?" then write a program that we get me there.

Ava Quinn said...

That's so cool that you won Nano. I'm jealous. I'm such a slow writer, Nano would frustrate me to no end. I desperately wish I could write faster. I'm with you on the emotional aspect of the story. I'm so glad you've acknowledged that you're improving. So many of us (me included) always focus on the negative. So yay you!!! :)

New Release Books said...

Hi Jemi! Dropping by to say Hi!

Anonymous said...

Very cool, and I'm sure you won't have to do nearly as much rewriting as you think. Here's to a very easy time of it, since you've had such a successful journey so far.

Jemi Fraser said...

Ava - thanks! It's sooooo easy for me to focus on the negative too - getting better!

Hi NRB!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

MJ - I like that! Let's hope so!! :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I struggle with endings as well. And I do plot in advance!! I usually have to completely rewrite the ending at least five times, usually a lot more.

Tammy Theriault said...

get 'er done!! sounds like you know what you're gonna do and I hope you succeed girlie!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - glad to know it affects the plotters too! That makes me feel better!

Tammy - thanks - me too!!! :)

klahanie said...

Hey Jemi,

How's it goin', eh? You can stop twiddling your thumbs. Yay and gosh, I have arrived :)

You've done some serious wrapping, Jemi. Just in time to wrap some gifts :)

Seriously, you will get there in wrapping up your story.

Gary :)

Arlee Bird said...

Yeah, wrapping up seems to be a big challenge for me. I still need to wrap up my NANO's from previous years.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Jemi Fraser said...

Gary - definitely time to wrap some gifts!! Glad to see you out and about! :)

Lee - that's it! I think I have 6 nano stories - all finished, but needing that finishing touch! :)