CHAPTER TEN

HELPFUL HINT #3

 

 

One of the things I hear the most from writers working into the dark is trouble finding the ending of the book or story.

Or maybe better said, seeing the end of the book or story.

The ending is there. Recognizing it sometimes takes a special trick.

So let me try to ease some of the worry with this helpful hint.

 

 

JUST KEEP WRITING

 

I know that sounds silly, but it actually is the hint.

When you start feeling like your ending should be coming at any moment, but you can’t see it, just keep writing until you bog down.

Then, when you bog down, cycle back about a thousand words and chances are you’ll spot your ending about a page or two back. Then just cut off the stuff you wrote extra after the perfect ending line.

If you don’t spot it, write another three or four pages and do it again.

Now, if you know your ending, of course don’t do this.

But if you are having trouble finding that perfect ending line, just write and then cycle back and you’ll see it.

I know, sounds magical, but it tends to work most times. It’s part of the process of writing into the dark and trusting your subconscious.

Also, back to what I talked about in the beginning of the book: For this to work, you need to have no fear of writing extra.

Writing extra is part of the process and it applies right at the ending. Just cut off the not-needed words and don’t worry about it.

 

 

WRITING TO LENGTH

 

This is a modern world with a thousand ways to publish any book of any length, yet I often hear writers saying they want their next novel to be 60,000 words or some such silliness.

I shake my head and walk away.

When writing into the dark, just let the story be what the story wants to be.

Trying to write to some made-up word length is all critical voice, and that simple idea of wanting a book to be a certain length will pile in the critical voice and shut down the creative voice.

Let the story be what the story wants to be at the length it wants to be.

Trust your creative voice.

Write what you are passionate about or what you enjoy.

And to the length the story needs to be.

 

 

THE LAST KEY

 

To really be successful at writing into the dark, or with any creative fiction writing, you are always better entertaining yourself.

So let me give you a few hints to finish this book up. A few checkpoints to remember.

 

—Entertain Yourself

You are a reader, so write into the dark to entertain yourself. You are writing the story for yourself.

 

—Enjoy the Uncertainty

As a reader, you pick up the book and don’t know the story or the ending. You are reading the book for the journey. There is uncertainty in that journey. When writing into the dark, there is uncertainty in the journey as well. Enjoy it. Welcome it.

 

—Write the Book You Want to Read

If you love a certain type of book or wonder why you haven’t seen a certain type of book you used to love, write it. Back to the first point. Entertain yourself.

 

—Never Write for Anyone But Yourself

Basically, stop writing to market. If you entertain yourself, enjoy the uncertainty, and write the books you want to read, writing into the dark is a joy.

 

 

THANKS FOR READING

 

I sure hope this book helped some, and on your next book you’ll write into the dark. You might be surprised at just how much fun it is.

And how much more productive you are.