Think about your favorite movie. How did it end? If you don’t know, then it’s probably not your favorite movie!
In the same way, there’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours reading a thriller that has a disappointing ending. Of course, the longer this genre has been popular, the harder it is to finish with a surprise twist. In my new heist-thriller, the goal with the ending was to achieve two outcomes – first, to tie up loose ends and, second, to paint a future (and potential sequel) for the characters. “Shock” was not my final intention, but “surprise” certainly was.
I had just posted this blog when I decided to head to our local bakery for something
nice for my wife for morning tea. The radio was playing an interview with Michael Morpurgo – one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors (see pic). Michael was asked if he planned the ending for his books and he replied, “No,” and went on to explain that, for him, writing was an adventure. I can identify with this. My writing has the main plot in my head when I start to outline the place and people who are going to unfold the story, but the ending never comes to me at this early stage. Like Michael, I just want to discover where the writing adventure will lead. My hope is that this technique will be just as exciting for my readers.