About This Author
Brandiwyn🎶 Author Icon, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.
October Novel Prep Challenge
<< Previous  •  Message List  •  Next >>
Reply  •  Post New
Oct 5, 2023 at 12:17am
#3591377
Re: Oh NO!
Some advice for brainstorming the climax even if you're not quite sure how the story ends:

*Bullet* Some very basic questions: When you were brainstorming your beginning and thinking about your character, what did you identify as your character's desire/want/need? What does your protagonist most need in order to grow? Who or what is standing in the way of them obtaining it, and as the story progresses, how will the come into contact or conflict with the force preventing them from getting what they need? In the end, do they succeed or fail to get it? How do they grow or change because of it?

*Bullet* I will never pass up an opportunity to recommend this video: Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great  Open in new Window.. It's an hour and a half long, it's made by a respected filmmaker, and it makes some absolutely excellent points regarding themes/philosophical stakes as they relate to storytelling and to crafting excellent endings.

*Bullet* I highly recommend "what if" brainstorming! Toss out some wild ideas for the ending and see which ones feel interesting to you. Once you land on one that feels interesting, run with it and see if you can add more detail. Off-the-cuff example: What if the bad guy wins one of the main characters over to his side? Ooooh yes. What if it's the main character's daughter? What if the main character has to face off against her own daughter in the climax? What if the ideological differences between the two of them are reflected in the world around them and/or the villain's motivations somehow? Alas, those are all for a completely imaginary story, but I love what-if brainstorming and highly recommend it for idea-making, whether you're outlining or stuck mid-draft.

- -

"Let me live, love and say it well
in good sentences."
- Sylvia Plath


*MushroomB* *Books3**Books5* "IntercessionOpen in new Window. *Books5**Books2* *MushroomB*
MESSAGE THREAD
Oh NO! · 10-04-23 11:50pm
by Chrys O'Shea Author IconMail Icon
Re: Oh NO! · 10-04-23 11:54pm
by QueenNormaJean snow?forgetit.. Author IconMail Icon
*Exclaim*Re: Oh NO! · 10-05-23 12:17am
by Roseille ♥ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-05-23 12:39am
by Chrys O'Shea Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-05-23 6:54pm
by dogpack saving 4premium Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-05-23 7:40pm
by H❀pe Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-05-23 7:49pm
by dogpack saving 4premium Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 11:56am
by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 11:55am
by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 9:43am
by Nobody’s Home Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 12:08pm
by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 1:45pm
by dogpack saving 4premium Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 11:51am
by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 9:53am
by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 10:15am
by Brandiwyn🎶 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Oh NO! · 10-06-23 10:20am
by Storm Machine Author IconMail Icon

The following section applies to this forum item as a whole, not this individual post.
Any feedback sent through it will go to the forum's owner, Brandiwyn🎶.
... powered by: Writing.Com
Online Writing Portfolio * Creative Writing Online