Who else still has a long way to go for the last chapter but still is watching this eagerly for motivation? :D (I mean, I'm writing my 4th draft, but still I'm far from the last chapter so I guess I can say this!)
Oh boi, i am literally in the 1/4 chapter of my novel but i am still watching because the conclusive ending i have thought of might not be satisfying or relieving..
Oof. I'm terrified because I'm on draft 2 and I don't have a first or last chapter yet. Lol. I scrapped my first chapter from my first draft and still haven't figured out what's going in its place. Lol.
Great advice. Initially, I thought I was writing a standalone novel, but as I got farther into it, I realized that I had more to write. So it became a duology. Then, I discovered that I had more history to cover, so I had to write a prequel. So, it basically became a trilogy.
Me too 🤣 I also thought mine was going to be a standalone, but then I came up with a second and then a third. As well when I was writing the first 2 I came up with a prequel and a spinoff. I'm going to self publish them when I've written them all 📖
Thank you for guiding me as I write my book! I'm nowhere near the final chapter, but it's so good to have an idea of what I'm leading up to. Love your content and advice, keep going!
Saw the title and immediately knew this was a pitch for a live training, you did not disappoint 😂 (Not me bitter that I don't have a budget for extra writing courses 😏) Good for you Abbie, been watching for years 😁 As always, great stuff!
My favorite story ending is the way Darth Vader got redeemed at the end of Return of the Jedi. Because he redeemed himself by saving his son and the galaxy, and as a child, Vader was a slave. He put himself into another form of slavery by becoming the emperor's apprentice, when he redeems himself, he not only saves his son, but he gets free from the emperor's control. He also commits one last selfless act, and eliminates his shadow side which always just wanted power. So happy I found your channel! Can't wait for the livestream!
I agree. He redeems himself and validates his son’s faith in the persistence of good / light in people. Love and redemption ‘cause and effect’ each other in an endless cycle of affirmation. Love (especially of family) is even more powerful than the Force. And if that’s true, then every human being has the capacity to be mightier than the most gifted Sith or Jedi to ever ‘live’. It’s a powerful ending. And I loved how the shot of the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Aniken was changed to incorporate the actor who portrayed him in the prequels.
I’m still learning craft but getting closer to taking the leap to start my first manuscript while also continuing to study as I draft 😂. Otherwise - we’ll let’s just say there’s a thin line between planning and procrastinating when it comes to my personal history. I’m getting dangerously close to the wrong side of the line 😂😂😂 Is this your very first manuscript? It looks like I’m talking to you from two months into the future…how’s the first draft going?? 😀 And I assume you know Abbie is once again doing her annual virtual writing retreat for the month of June. She announced today! Doesn’t matter what stage you’re in as far as drafting or editing etc. This sounds like great timing for you! Wishing you all the best on your wip!
@@nikkinewbie6014 Thank you!! I hope your writing is going well too. I haven't gotton too far yet, as I am very slow haha. I refuse to write during writers block because I just end up with awful work and then I delete it. So I always wait till im in the mood to write and thats when I get the best ideas and find it easiest. Best of luck to you on your story
@@stinkthedog1396 Hey thanks! Something I know I will be using is Abbie’s scene card idea / template. It’s part of my method for not getting completely overwhelmed with the idea of writing an entire novel. I’m focusing on getting my “tools” together. I’m starting to create my individual process - using Abbie’s guidance for sure but then augmenting it. Like the scene card idea. I’m going to add on to it with reminders and other things that will help me focus on what the scene is needing to accomplish. I figure if I can keep the goal of the scene in sight, the dialogue, setting and the events taking place should all serve that goal and be easier to write? Like if the goal of the scene is for the hero to convince the heroine to go out on a date with him but the heroine is on the fence about it, then the dialogue is going to be all about him trying to persuade her. If I decide he succeeds then the next scene progresses off that. If she turns him down then that springboards his next strategy. So all that to say, if you’re getting writer’s block, step back and look at the scene goal and determine how it moves the story forward based on what happened before it. Whatever happens in each scene should connect dots between the scene before it and the one after it. Unless you are switching to a subplot. That’s what I think will help me stay unblocked so just thought I’d share. Just keep thinking cause and effect.
I am a ten-year-old aspiring author, and I really thank you SO much for all of the advice you have given me. It saved me from two more drafts and a bucket of tears. :)
Getting more and more professional with each video. This is awesome! I wish all teachers are this passionate about their work. Will definitely benefit all learners. Keeping this one in my list before I get to my book's climax 🙂
I literally decided, yesterday, to cut my writing short because I'm on the last chapter. I got on today, just wrote the first two sentences, then opened up TH-cam to do some quick research and saw you post this I cant believe the timing!! haha
I'm from Portugal and I love your channel. I really like to hear you talking, your voice is relaxing to me. You changed the way I look at stories and now I think more about the stories and the characters that I have fallen in love with, and why I love them so much. Thank you for your awesome content. 😊
Thank You Abbie! I’m challenging myself to write a feature screenplay, which has been the most difficult creative skill I’ve ever attempted. I’m in final edits and character development is haunting me. Yesterday, I stumbled on your channel and it’s pure gold for someone like me seeking knowledge on this vital story telling component. More importantly, it’s presented in a way that’s actually understandable. Thank You! On your Patreon, do you work with the sci-fi genre?
Have you made video on how to write a spin off from a previous book? Example: A small character becomes a main character or protagonist in the next book. I really don't see videos on TH-cam how to write a spin off of a book. I wrote a book where there is a spin off where the mother was the main character in the first book and her son is the main character in the spin off. I left clues in the first book that explains why there will be a spin off. That was the twist ending that there would be a spin off.
Thank you so much for helping me write my book. At first it was extremely daunting, but you helped me and I've learned so much! I'm almost to the end, and this will help a lot. Thank you Abbie! ❤
I’ve written and published my book, but struggled with not feeling proud of it. By watching your videos, I’ve received a lot of validation that I did write a great story. I’ve taken some of your tips and made minute changes to the final draft, making a second edition that is stronger than the first. It’s amazing what a tiny word swap or sentence structure can do to character development and the overall story! I’m so thankful I found you, Abbie.
It's the middle of my story that's killing me, but I've got it all almost figured out in the outline process. 🎉 I'm just sitting here hoping it all comes together once I'm ready to start the chapter writing process 🙏
Pretty insane that you uploaded this as I'm reconsidering the method of ending my first saga. But your questions have me confident that I'm moving in the right direction since I could answer them easily independent of the changes I'm making. The first book that came to mind for favorite ending was the indie comic series *Sweet Tooth* by Jeff Lemire. Without giving too much away, I was satisfied by the fact that I was able to see the protagonist's *entire* life by the end of the 6 volumes. Open endings I feel are very common, but seeing a fully closed ending to the MC Gus' journey felt so cathartic (although the author released a book titled Sweet Tooth: The Return, which I'm unsure if it is a sequel or reboot, so maybe I'll try that someday). I didn't think Sweet Tooth was a masterpiece like most of my friends did but I will say if anything were to convince me of it, it would be the ending.
As part of my book I have two major secret antagonists (brother and sister) who appear in almost every chapter of the book as helpful and supportive to the main protagonist. I currently have planned the last chapter to be what I have been calling “The Final Battle” (the book revolves around a fantasy war). For this last chapter I want a lot of emotion to come through so of course there must be major character death, however I want something unexpected. What I was thinking of doing is making the brother suddenly realize (due to an uncovered truth) that he has been fighting for the wrong side, he tries to convince his sister to join him and fight for what is right but she refuses. To the sister, what is not ally is enemy so she attacks her brother whom she had greatly underestimated the strength of. Accidentally he ends up killing his sister and takes a moment to greave before re-entering the chaos of battle (he does not regret his actions). After everything is settled and the chapter ends I plan on creating an epilogue in which you can see the main characters living out great and successful lives years later, on the very last page I want to describe an unnamed character (which turns out to be the brother) shed a single tear as he looks at an ‘almost forgotten face’, the last sentence would be him saying “you’re supposed to be dead.” And the book ends :) (It’s a two book series) Does this sound like a good ending??
Great Video Abbie, as always. Future video topic idea : redemption arcs. I think it's a good topic, I have a character in my novel series who begins selfish and against the protagonists and evolve throughout the story to end up working with them. But I know I won't make it happen just by claping my fingers so I wanted you to share with us tips with maybe some story examples. ❤
When I write the final chapter, I try to answer all the question the reader wanted. Almost every book I've written I know how it's going to end when I'm writing the first chapter. Dean Koontz is a good writer but I sometimes don't like his ending. This is what I think of some of his endings. "That's It!" All that build up and that's the ending.
I remember reading Dean Koontz's "Fear Nothing" in high school as the ending was absolutely ridiculous. I had no idea how chapter 1 and the final chapter were the same book.
Abbie how did you know this was what I'm currently struggling with? Such a timely video. I gave up on writing my final chapter because I just couldn't do it. I don't know why. I find the rest of the story fine but I'm struggling so much with wrapping things up. I'm not sure if it's because I don't want to let these characters go but the words just won't come to me. So I've decided to just write it in a couple of months when I do my second edit of the rest of the book. Maybe new inspiration will strike me by then?
"Remember, the feeling you leave the reader with on that final page is the feeling they take with them when they go to review your book..." Me, after killing my main character in the last chapter of the first book of the series: haha i'm in danger---
This was such a good video! I struggled majorly with writing plot for long Fanfiction stories and writing endings for them and I wish I could've been watching these videos a decade ago. But now I'm gonna take this insight and use it to write a good ending the next time I write a multi- chapter fanfic. And eventually I will write my own novel too and you are a lifesaver with so much wisdom to offer, truly.
Your videos are such an inspiration to me, All your videos are fascinating, they always inspire, motivate me and tell me to never give up on my author dreams. (ALSO I LOVE HOW U INCLUDE PSYCHOLOGY IN UR VIDEOS) I'm a young writer and Ive always feared what others would think of my book, if they'd like it, disklike it, I've never considered thinking whether I like my own book. I generally used to write my book to please others until I found you. You've opened my eyes up to so much different topics, things, universes, and I'd like to thank you so so much for everything you've done for the writing community, you've inspired so many writers out there who's struggled through their writing phase. I started watching you from the early 2020, during lockdown, and I'm so very proud of how far you've come and helped a lot of writers. Keep up the great work queen, love you, appreciate u so much, you have no idea
I once had a teacher whom said that he often didn't read the ending of a book. He also asked us about "The Lord of the Flies" what we would think of the ending if the last part of the final chapter had been excluded. I have thought about it and think that it might have been more satisfying that way.
My weakness in books that makes me crawl back on Amazon with my credit card for more is that one final line with a mind-blowing plot-twist that’s been foreshadowed throughout the whole book but you couldn’t have seen it coming until you read the book all over again. Sad part is: that pisses off a lot of readers so I’m not sure if I should do it in my own writing 😅
Wow this was perfect timing for me. I'm literally writing my last couple of chapters now! Thanks for the advice, definitely thinking about it as I finish my first draft 😊
When I wrote the first draft of my novel's last chapter I was crying like a baby, as was my main character in the story. "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." (Robert Frost)
Been writing the first in a fantasy slice of life children’s book series for months but hadn’t decided on an ending until now so thank you! You’re helpful as always.
I partook in NaNoWriMo 2022 and actually wrote a novel I liked a lot, the problem was even though the story entered the endgame of events, to this day I still can't figure out how to properly end it. This video helped a lot, thank you!
Love this video!! And my favorite story ending is a strong cliffhanger that makes shocked and makes me want to read the next book, watch the next season or the next movie. I love cliffhangers so much that in my current writing project there will be a cliffhanger at the end.
I just wanted to throw a quick thank you at ya! Been struggling with the 'dream' of writing a book someday, finally started and then realized.. Wow, I know nothing. I'm Jon snow. I got to your channel because of your playlist, a good playlist really gets me into the right vibe for a character, so the first thank you is for that! Then, I find out you also make videos and give really useful tips!? Second thank you! Then there's /writing/ playlists!? Third thank you! Subbed, really, truly appreciate it!
How do you write a gamechanging plot twist while still keeping character arcs intact? They seem in most cases to invalidate most of the growth in the story, but they're still fascinating all the same.
My superhero novel, which is on its 7th draft, is the first in a series. It kind of has two endings, I guess you could say. One has the protagonist finally bringing down the villain, thus avenging his dead friend. The second, which is extremely foreboding, hints at the main villain of the series finally gathering his interstellar army and returning to Earth to take it over in later books. I'm considering scrapping that second one, but I'm not sure yet.
If you need an example of how to end a book in a series look no further then the 3rd out of 5 in a spin-off series of Percy Jackson called mark of Athena. Context her bf went missing for months because Hera wiped his memory and put him among Roman’s and there Greeks and she had a quest to find the Athena parthnos and after she finds it after her and her bf reunite in the beginning and she almost dies Rick decides to throw them in Tartarus in the final chapter of the book to set up the 4th book which killed me
Thanks, Abbie. You got me thinking about my ending and how to strengthen it. I've been writing from a pretty good outline, and so I've had the freedom to skip around a bit. I have only 4 chapters left to write! I've been editing as I go, so the first editing pass on the completed MS will be developmental: cutting weak scenes and subplots. Cutting weakness good, but I'm running a touch long too, with 66 planned chapters averaging 1,775 words each, or 117,500 words. A bit long, but it's a dark contemporary fantasy, so maybe not crazy long. My dramatic end is in chapters "61 The Black Mo'," which is the final battle between hero (with the heroine helping) and villain. And "62 The Demon's Due," where the demon appears and takes the villain's soul to hell. Wooo hooo! The good guys won. But wait, the hero's badly wounded and passes out from blood loss. The 2nd scene of chapter 62 is the heroine and her grandmother scrambling to patch up the hero and prep him for the long drive to the local hospital. Will he make it? He drifts in and out of consciousness. Chapter "63 The Calvary Arrives" starts with the arrival of the sheriff who's been chasing the villain across 2 states, and a tribal policeman. Evidence for the reality of shape-shifting is given, but will the lawmen accept it? The hero and heroine climb into the ambulance and off they go. The hero's starting to revive. This chapter is about wrapping up loose ends. Chapter "64 They Got Some ’Splainin to Do," takes place in the big hospital. The sun rises and the hero does _not_ shape-shift into a wolf! Yaaaay the wolf curse is broken. In the 2nd scene the heroine's mother and grandmother show up. In scene 3 the sheriff arrives for his wrap up (this scene is not yet written). This chapter pure wrap up. I don't need chapters 65 (not written) and 66 (written). They're just more denouement, and setting up the perfect romance-novel ending. Except I've realized the story is not a romance. So right there I eliminate an estimated 3,900 words. *My New Ending* Chapter 64 will be my new final chapter, but it will need a few tweaks. New chapter title. Scene 1 is fine. Scene 2 can use a bit of that romance-genre ending magic, which I'll steal from chapter 66. *And that's it... for a happily-ever-after novel.* *However, I'm going for a 2nd ending. A twist ending.* In scene 3 when the sheriff shows up for his wrap up with the hero, the subject of the demon will come up. Back in chapter "62 The Demon's Due," the demon tries to recruit the grandmother to be his next servant... why? The hero and heroine have just eliminated a nasty serial killer who's been preying on native American girls. But the demon is not dead. And the demon is seeking a new servant. How did the villain learn to summon the demon and become its servant, and is that knowledge still out there? Back in chapter "26 The Heart of a Predator" the villain tells exactly how he acquired this knowledge. Let's speculate that he told the hero (hero and villain are brothers) before he summoned the demon and became possessed, and so the hero at least has a clue. "Yes," he can tell the sheriff, "the knowledge is out there." When and where will the demon's next servant appear? Will it be next year or 25 years from now? Will it be in North Dakota, or on some other continent? And who will the next servant target... you and your kind? My happy ending leaves the hero, heroine, and their families free, but a shadow hangs over humanity. Don't go out alone after dark.
I'm writing a fantasy romance novel, which I plan to be standalone (with plans for a sequel), and it's about a human and a demon, whose food source is human flesh, falling in love despite all odds. After watching this video I'm not sure whether I should end it with a cliffhanger leading into the "sequel" (basically making it a duology or even a trilogy since I have a lot of ideas locked up here) or if I should end it with a sweet scene between them but make it clear that their story isn't over. It's a little cornering to add a cliffhanger because then I HAVE to write this "sequel" ASAP and I have to stick with the idea I left the reader with, but at the same time, I'm not sure this book should have an entire series in the first place, even if I have enough ideas to make the story go on. The main idea of them GETTING into the relationship would already be over by the end of the first book, then the other books would be the "happy ever afters don't actually exist, i'll have you know" sort of thing, lots of problems arising as they continue to question their life choices. Maybe just a book and a sequel, and if people like it enough, ANOTHER sequel if that's how it works? Honestly looking for advice.. based on what I've said, which route do y'all think I should take?
I needed this video, I'm on my final leg of the story, and I needed pointers on how to write the final chapter. After massively rewriting my previous chapters, I had uploaded my recent chapter and I am now at the part where the "A-ha" moment takes place and the final confrontation is going to go down, but I don't want to rush the final chapter(s)
I am recently planning to end on one of my mystery thriller book i'm working on so i can focus more on my fantasy medieval book anf i'm so glad i found this channel so i can able to figure put how to make the ending for this! ❤
As always, great advice Abbie! I have added to my writing toolkit. I am not quite at the ending of my book but I can be reassuring to have an idea of how the story should end. My favourite story ending is from the movie Shutter Island, where all of what we have been seeing is put into a whole new perspective, and thus, with two different possibilities. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really like to be challenged and the unexpected, so this 100% made it for me!
Favorite story ending of all time: The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. It's controversial but I personally love the implications of it. It is both an ending and a setup telling the reader that the story doesn't end there.
Have worked on my book for about a week and am still working on the first chapter, this video still manged to be helpfully (I'm righting this before watching it, beacasue I already know it's gonna be good quality)
Stranger Things 4 was phenomenal. The story was great, the twists were fantastic, and the characters were at their best. Only big issue I have with the season was the ending. The saddest part, they had everything they needed for an A+ ending, just to fumble at the one yard line. I won’t spoil it. Go watch it yourselves if you haven’t already.
The last impression is probably the most important one in the whole book (besides the beginning, to hook the readers to even get to the ending). Thank you for those tips, Abbie! Also, Abbie: Consider writing a series. Me: .. what if you already write a trilogy and, during plotting the basics, get an idea for a follow-up trilogy that could potentially also have a follow-up trilogy, and - 😆😅
Cliffhangers have to be veeeeery well done and believeable in my humble opinion, or else they will just piss me off 😂 I'd hate a cliffhanger that's just there for the cliff's sake
hi abbie! I have a video suggestion: how to make characters not look like a self insert at all. I understand that it's good and important that we put a little bit of ourselves into each character, but there's a character that I'm struggling so much with. he has anxiety and is an introvert like me, but I'm having a hard time making out any traits that differentiate him from me. do you have any tips for that? thanks!
The number of negative reviews I see when you end your book on a cliffhanger makes me think that perhaps a "Happy for now." ending would be better accepted than a straight-up cliffhanger. People feel downright angry and cheated and claim they will never read another work by said author because of this. Cliffhanger be damned. I know that if I see a review that states the book ends in a terrible cliffhanger, I give it a second thought on if I want to start reading it. Then I give it third thoughts. The writing would have to be very VERY good for me to accept an abrupt cut-off. I also admit that it helps if more of the series is already published or will I have to wait years? (looking at you GRRM) If people say. "Oh this book cuts off right as they dive into the battle, Booo!" I will probably still read it if book 2 or 3 etc are already published and available. If not, and the writing isn't great, I know I often DNF a book that ends in a cliffhanger and set it back in my TBR pile until more books are out. (if the writing is really not great then I just DNF forever)
#AskAbbie I have 3 questions 1.What is the 2nd Plot Point called? 2.How do I write a character with PTSD in Deep POV? 3.Can u do Live Trainings for both your TH-cam channel and your Patreon because I don't want to pay for it?
Literally having a small panic attack writing the last chapter right now 😭😭 I don't want it to be over, I'm gonna have to add more during editing draft 1 but omg
My favourite story ending: The neverending Story: The father cries and Bastian realizes, that he could bring him the "water of live". For me as a child this was the moment when I realized, that this was not just another adventure story but a story about growing up and responsinility.
I'm going to finish my book in Marts, probably this week. It's fun you just made a video about the final chapter. I know how it will end, I'm a intuitive writer, so only need a few guidlines but one there always is settle is the ending. But I was hoping you would have talked about how to end end the book. The last half page, is kind of a never ending story for me. There can always come a little more information, are there rules or guidlines when it comes to the last full stop?
It might only be the last in this book. If you struggle, know that it could be never ending and always changing. Your next book might be a continuation of what ends up being a series or something completely different and changing. It might be scary to finish. It might be scary to start something new.
If only I could get to the last chapter haha Perhaps a good question for a #AskAbbie. How do I get past my first chapter? I can write a really great first chapter that compells readers to continue reading and ask for more but after that... It's just getting worse if it gets anywhere at all. For some reason my brain stops working once I finished chapter 1. Even with an outline. Any tips?
As it goes. Last impression is the lasting impression
So true
Who else still has a long way to go for the last chapter but still is watching this eagerly for motivation? :D
(I mean, I'm writing my 4th draft, but still I'm far from the last chapter so I guess I can say this!)
Oh boi, i am literally in the 1/4 chapter of my novel but i am still watching because the conclusive ending i have thought of might not be satisfying or relieving..
Same! 😂
I'm in the first chapter 😂
Can relate, am on chapter 16 of 21 of first draft. Dreading my final chapter.
Oof. I'm terrified because I'm on draft 2 and I don't have a first or last chapter yet. Lol. I scrapped my first chapter from my first draft and still haven't figured out what's going in its place. Lol.
Is it bad that my immediate answer to “what do you want the end to make your readers feel” was “devastated”?
Not bad. Just a certain kind of author. ;)
Not bad, but may mean your readers won't care to read it more than once.
Nope, it means that you're just like me.
Great advice. Initially, I thought I was writing a standalone novel, but as I got farther into it, I realized that I had more to write. So it became a duology. Then, I discovered that I had more history to cover, so I had to write a prequel. So, it basically became a trilogy.
Me too 🤣 I also thought mine was going to be a standalone, but then I came up with a second and then a third. As well when I was writing the first 2 I came up with a prequel and a spinoff.
I'm going to self publish them when I've written them all 📖
same i thought i only needed 10 books i relized i acully needed 24
@@ashleykraning8773 do you mean chapters or book? if book then that's impressive. keep working hard.
Thank you for guiding me as I write my book! I'm nowhere near the final chapter, but it's so good to have an idea of what I'm leading up to. Love your content and advice, keep going!
I am writing a fantasy novel and am planing to use the first sentence of the story also to be the last one. Glad I found this channel.
I always love such endings! All the best!!!
Saw the title and immediately knew this was a pitch for a live training, you did not disappoint 😂 (Not me bitter that I don't have a budget for extra writing courses 😏) Good for you Abbie, been watching for years 😁 As always, great stuff!
My favorite story ending is the way Darth Vader got redeemed at the end of Return of the Jedi. Because he redeemed himself by saving his son and the galaxy, and as a child, Vader was a slave. He put himself into another form of slavery by becoming the emperor's apprentice, when he redeems himself, he not only saves his son, but he gets free from the emperor's control.
He also commits one last selfless act, and eliminates his shadow side which always just wanted power.
So happy I found your channel! Can't wait for the livestream!
I totally agree!
I agree. He redeems himself and validates his son’s faith in the persistence of good / light in people. Love and redemption ‘cause and effect’ each other in an endless cycle of affirmation.
Love (especially of family) is even more powerful than the Force. And if that’s true, then every human being has the capacity to be mightier than the most gifted Sith or Jedi to ever ‘live’. It’s a powerful ending.
And I loved how the shot of the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Aniken was changed to incorporate the actor who portrayed him in the prequels.
ABBIE!!! I JUST FINISHED PLANNING MY BOOK! THE CHARACTERS, PLOT, STORYLINE, ALL OF THAT! I'M READY TO START MY FIRST DRAFT AND I'M SO EXCITED
I’m still learning craft but getting closer to taking the leap to start my first manuscript while also continuing to study as I draft 😂.
Otherwise - we’ll let’s just say there’s a thin line between planning and procrastinating when it comes to my personal history. I’m getting dangerously close to the wrong side of the line 😂😂😂
Is this your very first manuscript? It looks like I’m talking to you from two months into the future…how’s the first draft going?? 😀
And I assume you know Abbie is once again doing her annual virtual writing retreat for the month of June. She announced today!
Doesn’t matter what stage you’re in as far as drafting or editing etc. This sounds like great timing for you!
Wishing you all the best on your wip!
@@nikkinewbie6014 Thank you!! I hope your writing is going well too. I haven't gotton too far yet, as I am very slow haha. I refuse to write during writers block because I just end up with awful work and then I delete it. So I always wait till im in the mood to write and thats when I get the best ideas and find it easiest. Best of luck to you on your story
@@stinkthedog1396 Hey thanks! Something I know I will be using is Abbie’s scene card idea / template. It’s part of my method for not getting completely overwhelmed with the idea of writing an entire novel. I’m focusing on getting my “tools” together. I’m starting to create my individual process - using Abbie’s guidance for sure but then augmenting it.
Like the scene card idea. I’m going to add on to it with reminders and other things that will help me focus on what the scene is needing to accomplish. I figure if I can keep the goal of the scene in sight, the dialogue, setting and the events taking place should all serve that goal and be easier to write?
Like if the goal of the scene is for the hero to convince the heroine to go out on a date with him but the heroine is on the fence about it, then the dialogue is going to be all about him trying to persuade her. If I decide he succeeds then the next scene progresses off that. If she turns him down then that springboards his next strategy.
So all that to say, if you’re getting writer’s block, step back and look at the scene goal and determine how it moves the story forward based on what happened before it. Whatever happens in each scene should connect dots between the scene before it and the one after it. Unless you are switching to a subplot.
That’s what I think will help me stay unblocked so just thought I’d share. Just keep thinking cause and effect.
@@nikkinewbie6014 Ooo nice tips. Thank you!!
@@stinkthedog1396 Hopefully it helps. As I said I’m still learning myself so take what I say accordingly but if it strikes a chord…cheers!
I'm writing a none serious book to entertain myself and give myself something to do during winter holidays. Abbie's videos are coming in handyy
I’ve been into writing books, comics, shows so on that’s how I first saw this channel
I am a ten-year-old aspiring author, and I really thank you SO much for all of the advice you have given me. It saved me from two more drafts and a bucket of tears. :)
YOU LOOK GORGEOUS ABBIE
Getting more and more professional with each video. This is awesome! I wish all teachers are this passionate about their work. Will definitely benefit all learners. Keeping this one in my list before I get to my book's climax 🙂
I love to end my stories the happy way. Hope and faith rekindled.
I literally decided, yesterday, to cut my writing short because I'm on the last chapter. I got on today, just wrote the first two sentences, then opened up TH-cam to do some quick research and saw you post this I cant believe the timing!! haha
I'm from Portugal and I love your channel. I really like to hear you talking, your voice is relaxing to me. You changed the way I look at stories and now I think more about the stories and the characters that I have fallen in love with, and why I love them so much. Thank you for your awesome content. 😊
also from Portugal :)
@@teresaluissoares459 Olá 🙂Conhece algum canal português do TH-cam (em Portugal) sobre escrever livros?
@Ana Conceição não… desculpe
Every video is great. The thought of ending all the last pages of a series with the hero on the edge of imminent certain death amuses me. 😄
I struggle with endings, so thank you. Great video as always.
Thank You Abbie!
I’m challenging myself to write a feature screenplay, which has been the most difficult creative skill I’ve ever attempted. I’m in final edits and character development is haunting me.
Yesterday, I stumbled on your channel and it’s pure gold for someone like me seeking knowledge on this vital story telling component. More importantly, it’s presented in a way that’s actually understandable. Thank You!
On your Patreon, do you work with the sci-fi genre?
Thank you for guiding me as I land this plane in for a possible second book. Very inciteful options. And you make it interesting.
Have you made video on how to write a spin off from a previous book? Example: A small character becomes a main character or protagonist in the next book. I really don't see videos on TH-cam how to write a spin off of a book. I wrote a book where there is a spin off where the mother was the main character in the first book and her son is the main character in the spin off. I left clues in the first book that explains why there will be a spin off. That was the twist ending that there would be a spin off.
Thank you so much for helping me write my book. At first it was extremely daunting, but you helped me and I've learned so much! I'm almost to the end, and this will help a lot. Thank you Abbie! ❤
I’ve written and published my book, but struggled with not feeling proud of it. By watching your videos, I’ve received a lot of validation that I did write a great story. I’ve taken some of your tips and made minute changes to the final draft, making a second edition that is stronger than the first. It’s amazing what a tiny word swap or sentence structure can do to character development and the overall story! I’m so thankful I found you, Abbie.
Peace be with you 💐💐 may I know the name of your book?
It's the middle of my story that's killing me, but I've got it all almost figured out in the outline process. 🎉 I'm just sitting here hoping it all comes together once I'm ready to start the chapter writing process 🙏
Pretty insane that you uploaded this as I'm reconsidering the method of ending my first saga. But your questions have me confident that I'm moving in the right direction since I could answer them easily independent of the changes I'm making.
The first book that came to mind for favorite ending was the indie comic series *Sweet Tooth* by Jeff Lemire. Without giving too much away, I was satisfied by the fact that I was able to see the protagonist's *entire* life by the end of the 6 volumes. Open endings I feel are very common, but seeing a fully closed ending to the MC Gus' journey felt so cathartic (although the author released a book titled Sweet Tooth: The Return, which I'm unsure if it is a sequel or reboot, so maybe I'll try that someday). I didn't think Sweet Tooth was a masterpiece like most of my friends did but I will say if anything were to convince me of it, it would be the ending.
As part of my book I have two major secret antagonists (brother and sister) who appear in almost every chapter of the book as helpful and supportive to the main protagonist. I currently have planned the last chapter to be what I have been calling “The Final Battle” (the book revolves around a fantasy war). For this last chapter I want a lot of emotion to come through so of course there must be major character death, however I want something unexpected. What I was thinking of doing is making the brother suddenly realize (due to an uncovered truth) that he has been fighting for the wrong side, he tries to convince his sister to join him and fight for what is right but she refuses. To the sister, what is not ally is enemy so she attacks her brother whom she had greatly underestimated the strength of. Accidentally he ends up killing his sister and takes a moment to greave before re-entering the chaos of battle (he does not regret his actions). After everything is settled and the chapter ends I plan on creating an epilogue in which you can see the main characters living out great and successful lives years later, on the very last page I want to describe an unnamed character (which turns out to be the brother) shed a single tear as he looks at an ‘almost forgotten face’, the last sentence would be him saying “you’re supposed to be dead.” And the book ends :)
(It’s a two book series)
Does this sound like a good ending??
Great Video Abbie, as always.
Future video topic idea : redemption arcs.
I think it's a good topic, I have a character in my novel series who begins selfish and against the protagonists and evolve throughout the story to end up working with them.
But I know I won't make it happen just by claping my fingers so I wanted you to share with us tips with maybe some story examples. ❤
When I write the final chapter, I try to answer all the question the reader wanted. Almost every book I've written I know how it's going to end when I'm writing the first chapter. Dean Koontz is a good writer but I sometimes don't like his ending. This is what I think of some of his endings. "That's It!" All that build up and that's the ending.
I remember reading Dean Koontz's "Fear Nothing" in high school as the ending was absolutely ridiculous. I had no idea how chapter 1 and the final chapter were the same book.
Abbie how did you know this was what I'm currently struggling with? Such a timely video. I gave up on writing my final chapter because I just couldn't do it. I don't know why. I find the rest of the story fine but I'm struggling so much with wrapping things up. I'm not sure if it's because I don't want to let these characters go but the words just won't come to me. So I've decided to just write it in a couple of months when I do my second edit of the rest of the book. Maybe new inspiration will strike me by then?
"I think I'll donate it to Goodwill." 😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
"Remember, the feeling you leave the reader with on that final page is the feeling they take with them when they go to review your book..."
Me, after killing my main character in the last chapter of the first book of the series: haha i'm in danger---
I'm totally going to be referring to this when I reach the end of my WIP! Thank you!!!
Your videos helped me a lot to improve for my first book I published. Thank you so much! Btw, love the necklace 👀🥰💛
I’m literally writing the climax of my book and about to wrap it up. Perfect timing as always!
This is literally perfect timing as I'm starting to reach the end of my first novel!
Best story ending of all time is Gone Girl. Dark, surprising and frustrating in the best way.
This was such a good video! I struggled majorly with writing plot for long Fanfiction stories and writing endings for them and I wish I could've been watching these videos a decade ago. But now I'm gonna take this insight and use it to write a good ending the next time I write a multi- chapter fanfic. And eventually I will write my own novel too and you are a lifesaver with so much wisdom to offer, truly.
You’re so cute, funny. Thank you for your expertise. I’m learning a lot from you. ❤
Your videos are such an inspiration to me, All your videos are fascinating, they always inspire, motivate me and tell me to never give up on my author dreams. (ALSO I LOVE HOW U INCLUDE PSYCHOLOGY IN UR VIDEOS) I'm a young writer and Ive always feared what others would think of my book, if they'd like it, disklike it, I've never considered thinking whether I like my own book. I generally used to write my book to please others until I found you. You've opened my eyes up to so much different topics, things, universes, and I'd like to thank you so so much for everything you've done for the writing community, you've inspired so many writers out there who's struggled through their writing phase. I started watching you from the early 2020, during lockdown, and I'm so very proud of how far you've come and helped a lot of writers. Keep up the great work queen, love you, appreciate u so much, you have no idea
I once had a teacher whom said that he often didn't read the ending of a book. He also asked us about "The Lord of the Flies" what we would think of the ending if the last part of the final chapter had been excluded. I have thought about it and think that it might have been more satisfying that way.
Abbie, I am working on the last two chapters of my book this and coming week. Perfect timing, thank you :)
My weakness in books that makes me crawl back on Amazon with my credit card for more is that one final line with a mind-blowing plot-twist that’s been foreshadowed throughout the whole book but you couldn’t have seen it coming until you read the book all over again. Sad part is: that pisses off a lot of readers so I’m not sure if I should do it in my own writing 😅
Thank you so much! I’m trying to plan the last chapter for my book right now, and this helped me a lot.
Wow this was perfect timing for me. I'm literally writing my last couple of chapters now! Thanks for the advice, definitely thinking about it as I finish my first draft 😊
Haha your timing couldn't be more perfect, Abbie ❤. I'm looking forward to your live training.
When I wrote the first draft of my novel's last chapter I was crying like a baby, as was my main character in the story. "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." (Robert Frost)
2:40 I never thought, that Abbie would use such edits, your videos are all serious stuff.🤣🤣🤣
Been writing the first in a fantasy slice of life children’s book series for months but hadn’t decided on an ending until now so thank you! You’re helpful as always.
I'm no where near starting, but I'm planning on starting after my GCSEs
I partook in NaNoWriMo 2022 and actually wrote a novel I liked a lot, the problem was even though the story entered the endgame of events, to this day I still can't figure out how to properly end it. This video helped a lot, thank you!
Love your new look
Abbie, you are the best!
Thank you 🌹
Love this video!! And my favorite story ending is a strong cliffhanger that makes shocked and makes me want to read the next book, watch the next season or the next movie. I love cliffhangers so much that in my current writing project there will be a cliffhanger at the end.
I just wanted to throw a quick thank you at ya! Been struggling with the 'dream' of writing a book someday, finally started and then realized.. Wow, I know nothing. I'm Jon snow. I got to your channel because of your playlist, a good playlist really gets me into the right vibe for a character, so the first thank you is for that!
Then, I find out you also make videos and give really useful tips!? Second thank you!
Then there's /writing/ playlists!? Third thank you! Subbed, really, truly appreciate it!
How do you write a gamechanging plot twist while still keeping character arcs intact? They seem in most cases to invalidate most of the growth in the story, but they're still fascinating all the same.
My superhero novel, which is on its 7th draft, is the first in a series. It kind of has two endings, I guess you could say. One has the protagonist finally bringing down the villain, thus avenging his dead friend. The second, which is extremely foreboding, hints at the main villain of the series finally gathering his interstellar army and returning to Earth to take it over in later books.
I'm considering scrapping that second one, but I'm not sure yet.
If you need an example of how to end a book in a series look no further then the 3rd out of 5 in a spin-off series of Percy Jackson called mark of Athena. Context her bf went missing for months because Hera wiped his memory and put him among Roman’s and there Greeks and she had a quest to find the Athena parthnos and after she finds it after her and her bf reunite in the beginning and she almost dies Rick decides to throw them in Tartarus in the final chapter of the book to set up the 4th book which killed me
Thanks, Abbie. You got me thinking about my ending and how to strengthen it.
I've been writing from a pretty good outline, and so I've had the freedom to skip around a bit. I have only 4 chapters left to write! I've been editing as I go, so the first editing pass on the completed MS will be developmental: cutting weak scenes and subplots. Cutting weakness good, but I'm running a touch long too, with 66 planned chapters averaging 1,775 words each, or 117,500 words. A bit long, but it's a dark contemporary fantasy, so maybe not crazy long.
My dramatic end is in chapters "61 The Black Mo'," which is the final battle between hero (with the heroine helping) and villain. And "62 The Demon's Due," where the demon appears and takes the villain's soul to hell. Wooo hooo! The good guys won. But wait, the hero's badly wounded and passes out from blood loss. The 2nd scene of chapter 62 is the heroine and her grandmother scrambling to patch up the hero and prep him for the long drive to the local hospital. Will he make it? He drifts in and out of consciousness.
Chapter "63 The Calvary Arrives" starts with the arrival of the sheriff who's been chasing the villain across 2 states, and a tribal policeman. Evidence for the reality of shape-shifting is given, but will the lawmen accept it? The hero and heroine climb into the ambulance and off they go. The hero's starting to revive. This chapter is about wrapping up loose ends.
Chapter "64 They Got Some ’Splainin to Do," takes place in the big hospital. The sun rises and the hero does _not_ shape-shift into a wolf! Yaaaay the wolf curse is broken. In the 2nd scene the heroine's mother and grandmother show up. In scene 3 the sheriff arrives for his wrap up (this scene is not yet written). This chapter pure wrap up.
I don't need chapters 65 (not written) and 66 (written). They're just more denouement, and setting up the perfect romance-novel ending. Except I've realized the story is not a romance. So right there I eliminate an estimated 3,900 words.
*My New Ending*
Chapter 64 will be my new final chapter, but it will need a few tweaks. New chapter title. Scene 1 is fine. Scene 2 can use a bit of that romance-genre ending magic, which I'll steal from chapter 66. *And that's it... for a happily-ever-after novel.*
*However, I'm going for a 2nd ending. A twist ending.* In scene 3 when the sheriff shows up for his wrap up with the hero, the subject of the demon will come up. Back in chapter "62 The Demon's Due," the demon tries to recruit the grandmother to be his next servant... why? The hero and heroine have just eliminated a nasty serial killer who's been preying on native American girls. But the demon is not dead. And the demon is seeking a new servant. How did the villain learn to summon the demon and become its servant, and is that knowledge still out there?
Back in chapter "26 The Heart of a Predator" the villain tells exactly how he acquired this knowledge. Let's speculate that he told the hero (hero and villain are brothers) before he summoned the demon and became possessed, and so the hero at least has a clue. "Yes," he can tell the sheriff, "the knowledge is out there." When and where will the demon's next servant appear? Will it be next year or 25 years from now? Will it be in North Dakota, or on some other continent? And who will the next servant target... you and your kind?
My happy ending leaves the hero, heroine, and their families free, but a shadow hangs over humanity. Don't go out alone after dark.
I'm writing a fantasy romance novel, which I plan to be standalone (with plans for a sequel), and it's about a human and a demon, whose food source is human flesh, falling in love despite all odds. After watching this video I'm not sure whether I should end it with a cliffhanger leading into the "sequel" (basically making it a duology or even a trilogy since I have a lot of ideas locked up here) or if I should end it with a sweet scene between them but make it clear that their story isn't over.
It's a little cornering to add a cliffhanger because then I HAVE to write this "sequel" ASAP and I have to stick with the idea I left the reader with, but at the same time, I'm not sure this book should have an entire series in the first place, even if I have enough ideas to make the story go on. The main idea of them GETTING into the relationship would already be over by the end of the first book, then the other books would be the "happy ever afters don't actually exist, i'll have you know" sort of thing, lots of problems arising as they continue to question their life choices.
Maybe just a book and a sequel, and if people like it enough, ANOTHER sequel if that's how it works?
Honestly looking for advice.. based on what I've said, which route do y'all think I should take?
Thanks for your genius, spent a few minutes re-writing my last scene, it’s fantastic, because of your amazing help!
I needed this video, I'm on my final leg of the story, and I needed pointers on how to write the final chapter. After massively rewriting my previous chapters, I had uploaded my recent chapter and I am now at the part where the "A-ha" moment takes place and the final confrontation is going to go down, but I don't want to rush the final chapter(s)
I am recently planning to end on one of my mystery thriller book i'm working on so i can focus more on my fantasy medieval book anf i'm so glad i found this channel so i can able to figure put how to make the ending for this! ❤
As always, great advice Abbie! I have added to my writing toolkit. I am not quite at the ending of my book but I can be reassuring to have an idea of how the story should end. My favourite story ending is from the movie Shutter Island, where all of what we have been seeing is put into a whole new perspective, and thus, with two different possibilities. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really like to be challenged and the unexpected, so this 100% made it for me!
Favorite story ending of all time: The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. It's controversial but I personally love the implications of it. It is both an ending and a setup telling the reader that the story doesn't end there.
Have worked on my book for about a week and am still working on the first chapter, this video still manged to be helpfully (I'm righting this before watching it, beacasue I already know it's gonna be good quality)
Amazing Video as always, you never disappoint us! Rock on.
Harry Potter's ending was amazing. Plus the Hobbit one, and LOTR too.
Stranger Things 4 was phenomenal. The story was great, the twists were fantastic, and the characters were at their best. Only big issue I have with the season was the ending. The saddest part, they had everything they needed for an A+ ending, just to fumble at the one yard line. I won’t spoil it. Go watch it yourselves if you haven’t already.
Hey, I’ve been watching your videos and your videos are so helpful! And ur so pretty I can’t wait to try and buy your books!
The last impression is probably the most important one in the whole book (besides the beginning, to hook the readers to even get to the ending). Thank you for those tips, Abbie!
Also, Abbie: Consider writing a series.
Me: .. what if you already write a trilogy and, during plotting the basics, get an idea for a follow-up trilogy that could potentially also have a follow-up trilogy, and - 😆😅
Thanks Abbie for your knowledge
So good of you to release this video the day I reach my last chapter lol.
U a fed?
OMG! such an insanely good topic!!
Cliffhangers have to be veeeeery well done and believeable in my humble opinion, or else they will just piss me off 😂 I'd hate a cliffhanger that's just there for the cliff's sake
With my second story i ended with a cliffhanger...
Now they are waiting for the third part...😂
a bit unrelated, but Abbie that shade of brown is really popping on you!!
La La Land for me. That ending. THE AUDACITY. Brilliant.
So cool! I had a great ending, but in edit pushed it back and now I have issues!!! 😅
I like your videos very much please have Turkish subtitles option
Thanks a lot Abbie! 💞
hi abbie! I have a video suggestion: how to make characters not look like a self insert at all.
I understand that it's good and important that we put a little bit of ourselves into each character, but there's a character that I'm struggling so much with. he has anxiety and is an introvert like me, but I'm having a hard time making out any traits that differentiate him from me. do you have any tips for that? thanks!
Abbie what if you story is a SQL but it’s about a character that’s related to the character in your first book
The number of negative reviews I see when you end your book on a cliffhanger makes me think that perhaps a "Happy for now." ending would be better accepted than a straight-up cliffhanger.
People feel downright angry and cheated and claim they will never read another work by said author because of this. Cliffhanger be damned.
I know that if I see a review that states the book ends in a terrible cliffhanger, I give it a second thought on if I want to start reading it. Then I give it third thoughts. The writing would have to be very VERY good for me to accept an abrupt cut-off. I also admit that it helps if more of the series is already published or will I have to wait years? (looking at you GRRM) If people say. "Oh this book cuts off right as they dive into the battle, Booo!" I will probably still read it if book 2 or 3 etc are already published and available. If not, and the writing isn't great, I know I often DNF a book that ends in a cliffhanger and set it back in my TBR pile until more books are out. (if the writing is really not great then I just DNF forever)
#AskAbbie I have 3 questions
1.What is the 2nd Plot Point called?
2.How do I write a character with PTSD in Deep POV?
3.Can u do Live Trainings for both your TH-cam channel and your Patreon because I don't want to pay for it?
I've been struggling to wrap up my story. I just keep looking over my rough draft and thinking "Gee, this all sounded better in my head!"
great video abbie, i'm making my first novel and I was wondering how to end it, thanks
THANK YOU THIS HELPED ME-
Literally having a small panic attack writing the last chapter right now 😭😭 I don't want it to be over, I'm gonna have to add more during editing draft 1 but omg
My favourite story ending: The neverending Story: The father cries and Bastian realizes, that he could bring him the "water of live". For me as a child this was the moment when I realized, that this was not just another adventure story but a story about growing up and responsinility.
I'm going to finish my book in Marts, probably this week. It's fun you just made a video about the final chapter. I know how it will end, I'm a intuitive writer, so only need a few guidlines but one there always is settle is the ending. But I was hoping you would have talked about how to end end the book. The last half page, is kind of a never ending story for me. There can always come a little more information, are there rules or guidlines when it comes to the last full stop?
I know its iffy to say so rather than focus on the content but you're so pretty I just cannot
Very true. Cliffhanger endings can be done in a very crass manner. I'm not a fan.
Never thought that i would be a writer
It feels illegal to be this early
Will see more.
Thanks!
It might only be the last in this book. If you struggle, know that it could be never ending and always changing. Your next book might be a continuation of what ends up being a series or something completely different and changing.
It might be scary to finish. It might be scary to start something new.
If only I could get to the last chapter haha Perhaps a good question for a #AskAbbie. How do I get past my first chapter? I can write a really great first chapter that compells readers to continue reading and ask for more but after that... It's just getting worse if it gets anywhere at all. For some reason my brain stops working once I finished chapter 1. Even with an outline. Any tips?
Mines is a cliff hanger 😬 idk how it’s gonna go but I have an idea that’s pretty rough drafty