Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm not sure whether I'm an outliner or a pantser. This is my first novel. I outlined the first 75% of it. I have no idea how it's supposed to end. I've written half of it. (Yay!) And I'm still not sure how it's going to end. By month's end, I will have run out of outline. Should I be getting nervous now?

What do I do when I run out of outline?

Consider what the most central character's mainmost desire is. From that purpose and complications opposing it, an ending then is the final outcome of that main dramatic purpose and complication. I suspect the ending is already there in the beginning, when the central character sets out his, her, or its main desire.

What do you do when you run out of outline? Keep writing. You might be surprised at how well you can discern what should/needs to happen just by taking your characters this far. Outlines are fantastic but it's also good to learn to break out a little bit and explore.

Here are some good questions to ask yourself to help discover the ending:

What have your characters been fighting for/against this whole time?
What huge, terrible thing will stand in the way of achieving that goal?
What have they learned along this journey that will help them defeat said obstacle?
What personal victories will they achieve?
What sacrifices must be made to achieve said victories?
What do you want the reader to take away from the story (a sense of justice, happiness, poignant reflection)?

These are good places to start. Answering these questions will bring up new questions, whose answers will spark more, and before you know it you'll have your ending. Good luck!!

polymath wrote:Consider what the most central character's mainmost desire is. From that purpose and complications opposing it, an ending then is the final outcome of that main dramatic purpose and complication. I suspect the ending is already there in the beginning, when the central character sets out his, her, or its main desire.

^ This. But if you have to, go for a Deux Ex Machina ending that doesn't really make sense, if only to finish that first draft. You DO NOT have to keep the first ending you come up with. In fact, many authors change their endings, because the first thing we think of is often cliched or too easy. Once we really know what the story is, once it's complete, we can go back and figure out how to make the stakes bigger, the climax bolder, and the resolution more satisfying.

First things first: finish that draft!

Thanks guys. Those are great suggestions. Both my protagonist and antagonist consider themselves the cleverest talkers that ever lived, so I'll be sure to include that conflict in the climax. I'll spend more time meditating on purposes and motivations.

Maybegenius, when I looked at my word count the other day and realized I had about 43,000 words and then looked at my outline and realized I was exactly halfway through, I experienced a joy that's difficult to describe. It compels me to go on.

You know, my endings are usually one of the first things I'm sure of. Sometimes they change a little, but I more often change beginnings than endings. When you envisioned the story, did you have any picture of where it would end up? Sometimes it's easier to work backwards.

But I'm an outliner and a planner, so mabye that's not helpful to those that prefer to wing it.

The images that spurred this novel take place earlier in the story. I read in a Donald Maas book that an author shouldn't go with the first few endings he thinks of, because it will be too predictable, but I imagine that only applies to people who write their stories chronologically.

My thought is that if you are deep in the world and the characters of the novel, the ending should come organically from that. Stick with a resolution that feels true to the themes, character arc, etc. I tried outlining, but I think I write better when I just let it flow.

just come up with the best ending you can and use it. You will get better later! You'll start plotting it out better (either in your head or on paper) all the way to the end, and then the endings will be great.

For now, if you have a good story, I think people will put up with a kind of anticlimactic ending.