tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post3468315001826932991..comments2023-06-28T06:36:14.559-06:00Comments on Tess Hilmo: Sucky EndingsTesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-23357701322534153442009-06-18T18:03:55.718-06:002009-06-18T18:03:55.718-06:00Thanks for the laugh Amy.
Doula Sex Marky-Mark. T...Thanks for the laugh Amy.<br /><br />Doula Sex Marky-Mark. That's what I'll name my next child :DTesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-11917017291459835782009-06-05T09:22:45.038-06:002009-06-05T09:22:45.038-06:00You forgot one. "Deus es machina". Thi...You forgot one. "Deus es machina". This is when some wild gadget or surprise character we haven't met rides in and saves the day. It literally means something like, God has left the machine.<br />I heard the term at my critique group once. I was sitting way at the end of the table, couldn't hear very well and asked, "Did you say Doula Sex Marky-Mark?"<br />That's what we call it now.Amy Allgeyer Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02918884239971760853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-45971795754365612402009-06-04T16:10:38.565-06:002009-06-04T16:10:38.565-06:00Forgot to say how much I loved the title,How To Av...Forgot to say how much I loved the title,How To Avoid Writing A Sucky Ending. :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-59903818513038603552009-06-04T16:06:57.137-06:002009-06-04T16:06:57.137-06:00I have committed at least three of these offenses....I have committed at least three of these offenses. And I'm glad because it led me down a brighter writing path. In other words, I can write better because of the earlier crap that I wrote! Love the post, Tess. :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-68769500203964985112009-06-04T11:11:09.059-06:002009-06-04T11:11:09.059-06:00I really do like a happy ending, as trite as that ...I really do like a happy ending, as trite as that may sound.superpaigehttp://paige.ericksonfamily.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-66458990804650868612009-06-04T09:59:03.998-06:002009-06-04T09:59:03.998-06:00Loved this post, especially the Scooby Doo comment...Loved this post, especially the Scooby Doo comment. I always thought it was pretty convenient that the villain explained everything at the end of the show (and that's when I was only a kid watching it.)<br /><br />Lynnette Labelle<br /><br />http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.comLynnette Labellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03227593491562480538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-81732733970314763272009-06-04T08:18:12.831-06:002009-06-04T08:18:12.831-06:00Writing the end of the novel was more difficult th...Writing the end of the novel was more difficult that i had ever imagined, but these are some really good points to bare in mind. thanl goodness my novel has finally come to an emotional and hard working end so its just a matter of edit edit edit edit edit, proof read more proof reading and son on!!!! hey! love your blog can't wait to catch up with your postsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-43934600424591908912009-06-04T07:54:14.532-06:002009-06-04T07:54:14.532-06:00I love a good discussion - and I love when not eve...I love a good discussion - and I love when not everyone agrees...it's the philosopher in me. Excellent points, guys.<br /><br />Wendy - you are right. It doesn't have to be a 'happy' ending. My ms ending is not exactly happy. She doesn't get everything she wants - but the murder is solved without being too obvious (I hope) and loose ends are explained. You are so right -- it's all abut balance in those instances.<br /><br />Corey - cool! tweet-on.<br /><br />Michelle- great comment. My first draft of my ms I wrote along the lines of ... 'what do you know, ray?' and then he spills, spills, spills. It took some work to go back and clean it up. Ah, good times. good times ;)<br /><br />Jill - seriously? will you be my friend and come over and plot my novel for me? I'll give you the general premise and you can do the nasty detail work. that would be fantastic!<br /><br />Scott - so true! I loved the start of that novel and was so let down by the ending. It's like her editor said "today's the deadline, finish it or else" and she just wrote 'the end' and called it good.<br /><br />Karen Amanda - sounds like you're ahead of the game. I still use some of these things in my early drafts then have to go back, see them for what they are, and clean them up. Some of us (me) are just slow learners :)Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-89851429566302292692009-06-04T07:38:43.291-06:002009-06-04T07:38:43.291-06:00But, but, but. I'm not always a fan of pretty ...But, but, but. I'm not always a fan of pretty bow endings so I tend not to write those...but there is a balance between a pretty bow and shredded yarn, leaving the reader frustrated...learning that balance.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-27077678790727870072009-06-04T07:24:50.628-06:002009-06-04T07:24:50.628-06:00Great post. I am going to Tweet about it.Great post. I am going to Tweet about it.Corey Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883689227283545602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-14439825214098651032009-06-04T07:07:15.961-06:002009-06-04T07:07:15.961-06:00I wrote a story in high school which I later revis...I wrote a story in high school which I later revised and submitted for creative writing in college. It had(hangs head, stares at floor)the main character wake up and realize it was all a dream. Compounded with the dreaded twist that it might not have been a dream after all. My apologies to my writing professor, who was very kind about that ending, even though it was against his nature, and he was generally a tough enough critic that I cried when I got home.<br /><br />That confessed, I agree that endings are hard to write. When I was working on my MG novel, I had more problems writing the last two chapters than anything else in the book. How do you tie up all the loose ends and bring a satisfying conclusion? And why, oh why, are all the workshops and chapters in writing books about "great beginnings" and character development? Why is no one offering piles of advice about "great endings" and what to do with those characters in the final moments of their stories when they've already changed their ways and improved for the better? (glances around, realizes she was shouting, and humbly sits back down to wait for the reaction of the rest of the room.)Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05192888587472646161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-7738685287503338612009-06-04T06:34:05.095-06:002009-06-04T06:34:05.095-06:00First--I love plotting! Go ahead and throw rotten ...First--I love plotting! Go ahead and throw rotten tomatoes at me.<br />Second--I've been guilty of the Scooby Doo RECENTLY. Ruh-Roh. Go ahead and throw rotten tomatoes...<br />Ha! Ha! <br />Thanks for the breakdown of bad endings. Made me smile.Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-6496993236123755652009-06-04T06:19:57.492-06:002009-06-04T06:19:57.492-06:00The Memory Keeper's Daughter had a crappy endi...The Memory Keeper's Daughter had a crappy ending. Thankfully (yes, the rest of this sentence falls under the heading 'oxymoron') when Lifetime TV adapted the book, they changed the ending and made it far more satisfying. Yes, they did.<br /><br />I had a few of those moments in my early years, but hope I've worked out those kinks. I normally try to tie up all the loose ends. My characters don't, however, all end up with happily ever after. : ) Sometiimes, I leave a character or two still struggling with . . . life. <br /><br />S<br /><br />p.s. got the gift card yesterday. thanks . . .even though i do have to spend it all in one place. ;)Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-11646309821499460472009-06-04T05:26:55.138-06:002009-06-04T05:26:55.138-06:00Considering I haven't been at this writing nov...Considering I haven't been at this writing novels thing too long, I have no "early years" experience. Oh wait, THIS is my early years experience :) I do have a "spill most" moment but its not the ending of the book. <br />And four people have been bugging me for book two so hopefully, that means my ending was a good one. :)kahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-116873544975877772009-06-03T21:40:01.204-06:002009-06-03T21:40:01.204-06:00Joyce: yes, endings are tough - it's finding t...Joyce: yes, endings are tough - it's finding that balance when we are so excited to write 'the end'. I'm sure these are all things of the past for us, however :)<br /><br />MeganRebekah: no machine guns? darn! I like an exciting ending...it can really make me want a sequel. <br /><br />Cindy: isn't it fun to look back at our early writing? My 'out of sight' wasn't too long ago...but I fixed it, thank heavens!<br /><br />T.Anne: I'm still a scooby-doo fan, and I'm sure it has been re-written. We can get away with those things in our earlier drafts, right?<br /><br />LT: Yes! I like the contented sigh ending as well :) Whats the formula for that? Easier said than done, I think.Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-56907404269401742732009-06-03T21:21:05.738-06:002009-06-03T21:21:05.738-06:00I've pulled a "duh" before. Silly, s...I've pulled a "duh" before. Silly, silly me of yesteryore. <br />I hate "yeah, right" endings and "it was just a dream" endings too. I like the *contented sigh* endings and the *when does the next book come out?!* endings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-3743115810535325752009-06-03T21:00:32.679-06:002009-06-03T21:00:32.679-06:00I'm probably guilty of a little of everything....I'm probably guilty of a little of everything. The scooby-doo ending for sure. (rest assured it's been re-written)Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-21145742558391680092009-06-03T20:56:39.578-06:002009-06-03T20:56:39.578-06:00I'm pretty sure I've pulled an "out o...I'm pretty sure I've pulled an "out of sight" and a "yeah, right" in my day. I've read so many books with endings that were disappointing. I hate when books end abruptly or the climax and resolution all happens in one page. And I don't like when there is a cliffhanger ending that has no purpose other than to simply shock the reader. And I sort of don't like sad endings either but at least those can be better justified. Boy, am I <br />picky! :DCindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-8508304601575606902009-06-03T20:52:30.341-06:002009-06-03T20:52:30.341-06:00My problem is finding the balance between exciting...My problem is finding the balance between exciting and over-the-top. No machine guns involved though! :)MeganRebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285116194891827858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599945087910073527.post-64170196940555865002009-06-03T20:37:43.850-06:002009-06-03T20:37:43.850-06:00Endings are rough. I hope my is satisfying while s...Endings are rough. I hope my is satisfying while still leaving it open for the sequel. I don't do any of these things...I hope. Oh boy, I better go reread it to make sure the loose ends are all tied in a nice tidy bow.Joyce Wolfleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078785682731583178noreply@blogger.com