As a Christian fiction author, you want to leave your readers feeling uplifted, inspired and entertained. In short, when they close the cover after reading the final paragraph, you want them to be satisfied. You also want them to want to read more of your writing. Endings are often one of the most challenging parts of a book to write. Why not try meeting this challenge head-on by writing the ending of your novel first?
In life, first impressions are important; this is also true in a novel. If you haven’t captured readers’ attention after the first couple of pages, they’re unlikely going to finish the book. However, authors sometimes overlook the impact a “final” impression can have on readers. Have you ever read a story that you were enjoying until the end, then felt disappointed, let-down and unsatisfied because you didn’t like what the author wrote in the final chapter or paragraphs?
Write the ending of your novel first to gain clarity
When you write a novel from start to finish, there’s a natural flow to the story. At least, there should be. How often, though, do you feel stuck, unsure where to take the plot or how to resolve a conflict to bring the story to a close? Writing the end of your novel first can help you avoid such issues.
Once you’ve determined how your novel will end, you can then go back and develop the characters’ journey. At some point, you might decide to rework the ending you’ve written. That’s okay; it needn’t be set in stone. The idea is to use it as a launch point. Rather than struggling with the question “Where is this all leading?”, you’ll already know where it ends. The question will then become, “What led up to this point?”
A great writing hack for writer’s block
If you have an idea for a novel but can’t seem to get the juices flowing, meaning you’ve encountered writer’s block, then writing the end of your novel first might be just what you need. Sometimes, doing the same thing in the same way, every time you write, becomes too familiar and can cause a lack of creativity.
Deciding how a novel will end before you write its beginning rocks the boat a bit and causes you to use creative thinking skills to fill in the backstory. For example, if you write an ending where a character is breathing his or her last breath, you’ll have to determine how the death came about. Was there an illness, a tragic accident or a crime? Perhaps you don’t want to write the ending first for every novel you create; however, if you’re looking for ways to spark creativity, it’s a useful tool that you might want to try.
