So often, having promised this, I have to keep my fingers crossed that the next chapter is over the page so I don't get so much as a glance at it, and even then I cheat half the time, so I do know about the importance and effectiveness of a good ending for each and every chapter.
And the final sentence of the first chapter of 'Making good' was in my head long before anything else. It's still there and it's still bloody good.
But when I looked at the final sentences of the other thirty-seven, there were really only ten chapters whose final sentence would truly spur the reader on. Some of the rest are okay because of the context, i.e. I'm hoping that the developing situation will suffice, but I don't think I should rely on that completely (said reader might not be so enthralled as I!), and some are definitely of the 'turned over and went to sleep' variety, so one of the (several) things I need to do now is go back and see if, and where, a little page-turning urgency can be inserted so as to be sure of at least keeping the reader awake..
I was alerted to this when, after a bit of blog-hopping, I ended up here - a site I shall continue to follow.
I should also say that if I only ever follow one writing blog it would have to be Emma Darwin's 'This itch for writing' for her empowering - and towering - good sense.
It's not something I've even thought about. But to be honest, I much prefer short story writing, and I think my chapters reflect that.
ReplyDeleteI'll take a look at what mine do and see whether I have any sort of 'read on' tricks that I never noticed.
I think if you write and read it is to a large extent instinctive. I've been reading Ian Rankin since posting this and he certainly does not do 'ka-pow!!'endings every time.
DeleteHaving gone through 'Making good' (and done a two column spreadsheet linking last sentences with the first of the next chapter - how anal is that?!) I've realised too that it is necessary to give value to context, to appreciate that change of scene/subject are necessary and need only to be sufficient to pique interest.
Someone else (Emma Darwin's This itch of writing'?) said readers are generally trusting and I think this is true, provided you've hooked them in the first place. There's been innumerable books where on beginning the next chapter I've thought "Whaaa?" but read on regardless, because I want to knw what's going on.
As if just writing isn't tough enough, there are so many things we are told as writers to remember to do, not the least of which is to keep the hook going. I hope you've nailed it! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa - one of the very best things about Emma Darwin's blog - http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/ - is that she eliminates almost all those 'must do's and empowers the writer to get on with it, with confidence.
ReplyDeleteNot yet nailed - I's struggling with the back story chapter, which is another no,no in some people's eyes, but one that I feel needs to be included.