Troubleshooting Your Story's Ending

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Welcome! I'm K.M. Weiland, the award-winning and internationally published author of acclaimed writing guides such as Structuring Your Novel and Creating Character Arcs. I mentor authors on story theory, technique, and all the wild and wonderful highs and lows of the writing life!
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Learn how to troubleshoot your story's ending and craft a compelling climax. Tips on character arcs and themes for a satisfying conclusion.
Read transcript here: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The #1 Reason Your Ending Doesn't Work 01:11
What Is the Structural Function of the Ending? 02:57
Analyze Your Story's Structure to Troubleshoot Your Ending 04:21
Analyze Your Story's Theme to Troubleshoot Your Story's Ending 05:48
How to Tell if Your Story's Ending Is Strong Enough 06:47
Can the Climax Be a Sequel Scene? 08:52
Strengthen Your Ending by Having It Mirror Your Beginning 10:24
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How Properly Structured Beginnings and Endings Hold Your Book Together: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Want Readers to Adore Your Book? Learn How to Ace Your Climactic Moment: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Power of Chiastic Story Structure (Especially in a Series): www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Characteristic Moment: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
The Characteristic Moment Belongs at the End of Your Book Too: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
How to Write Character Arcs: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Book - Structuring Your Novel: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Workbook - Structuring Your Novel Workbook: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Book - Creating Character Arcs: kmweilandstore.com/b/bsmu1
Workbook - Creating Character Arcs Workbook: kmweilandstore.com/b/iClB3
Book - Writing Your Story's Theme: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
How the Truth Your Character Believes Defines Your Theme: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
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Video edited by Usvaldo de Leon, Jr.
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BOOKS
For more on archetypes, check out my book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
For more on character arcs, check out my book Creating Character Arcs: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
For more on story and scene structure, check out my book Structuring Your Novel: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
For more on theme, check out my book Writing Your Story's Theme: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
For more on outlining, check out my book Outlining Your Novel: kmweilandstore.com/b/hl4zm
WORKBOOKS
Outlining Your Novel Workbook: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Structuring Your Novel Workbook: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
Creating Character Arcs Workbook: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
GUIDED MEDITATIONS
Archetypal Character Guided Meditations (previews): • Archetypal Characters ...
COURSES
Creating Character Arcs Course: kmweilandstore.com/b/mBoHK
Shadow Archetypes: Writing Complex Fictional Characters: kmweilandstore.com/b/shadow-a...
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Want me to answer your question in a future video? Ask it in the comments below!
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[@tambikhai3601]

I just wrote this in my notebook - I think I'm going to write in calligraphy and frame it: "The inciting even in the beginning, can be looked at as a question that has to be answered in the final chapter." This and really digging deep into my theme is going to make my WIP so much more meaningful. Thanks!

[@fragwagon]

Somehow I was unsubscribed, happy the algorithm showed me this!

[@thinkaskandlearn9685]

Are you a screenwriter? you should screenwrite a historical epic because you are amazing in this field

[@AEmiliusLives]

Love this. I'm particularly insecure about my ending because it is meant to be a disappointment for the protagonist and he almost has to bounce back immediately, because the disappointment leads to this realization. And I'm afraid I won't be able to pull it off and the protag's disappointment will also disappoint the audience. I'm not sure if I should try to foreshadow it or making it somehow predictable to ease the blow, but that'd spoil it completely and I'm not sure what's worse.

[@5Gburn]

I'm sure Kim has a zillion times more insight than I do, but I will say this: Yes, you absolutely must Must MUST foreshadow the ending enough so the reader, looking back, will ask themselves, "How did I not see this coming?" but will have plenty of breadcrumbs that would've clued them in--and which they'll be searching for in their reread. The other thing to think about, in my opinion, is how are you setting up the reader in *tone* from the beginning on? Meaning, does the tone go from happy-go-lucky to deep, dark, and depressing at the end with no clear emotional progression (which would be reflected in the tone)? And if it did accomplish the tone progression downward, would the reader feel completely jarred by the 180 in your denouement (resolution)? or how are you mitigating that switch up? My two cents: Accomplished. Good luck with your story!

[@AEmiliusLives]

@@5Gburn Thank you. I'm trying to define all that right now and your pointers are truly welcome. We'll see how it comes out.

[@pastiche4497]

Hello Mrs. Weiland! Years long student of yours here. Love your stuff. I have a question about writing your own webseries! Got any lessons on that?

[@DaltonKevinM]

I'm a pantser. I create characters and let them loose. They immediately think and act for themselves. Beginnings are easy. Endings are easy. 😠 The middle is like herding cats. That's the problem with self-aware characters; they're running on the same hardware as I am and to prevent them from getting what they want (or realizing they can't have it) before I've reached my word count is a pain.

[@5Gburn]

I love drafting but I have to reverse engineer A LOT on the second draft. I cut about 30k words from my manuscript. It was like pulling teeth. So much coffee. So. Much. 😂

[@edmcnamee5878]

Thank you!

[@immortaljanus]

A great ending should write itself, but it can only do that if your beginning is well built.

[@AndyGersh]

Great stuff, thanks!

[@OlettaLiano]

Outlining is very important for a good ending because it provides clear direction, helps with foreshadowing, ensures consistency, tracks character development, maintains proper pacing, and allows you to identify and fix plot issues early.