How to Beat Writer’s Block? Start with the End

• Hesitation can return at any point of the Story.
• Except if you have a clear trajectory.
• And Writing the End 1st, offers you this trajectory.

Summary – Start with the End

1. Define the End of the Story
   1. Location
   2. Issue
   3. Resolution
   4. Outcome
2. Define the End of each Story part
   1. Write the end of Chapter 3, 6 & 9
3. Define who will each Character End
4. If there are any Groups, define their End
5. Are there any Environments which should disappear?
6. How should they disappear?

• 1 of the core Pleasures of writing is the ability to write uninterruptedly.
• A Storyteller enjoys the Flexibility of a Story.
• The Possibility to Improvise.
• As well as letting the Story Unfold & even Surprise the Storyteller herself.
• Defining the End of a Story allows you to flex your Writing.



The End of the Story

• The End
• The Story should End.
• In order to let another 1 start.
• Write your End in 1 Phrase.
• Including the Location, the Mean & the Outcome.
• Do the same with the 3 Crisis Chapters (Ch. 3, 6 & 9).
• Give an End to each of the 4 Story Parts.
• The End of each part of the Story should orient the Public in the direction of the next 1.
• Chapter 3 should hint at what will happen in Chapter 6.
• Chapter 6 should hint at what will happen in Chapter 9.
• And Chapter 9 should be a preparation for Chapter 10.

• Where does it End?
• Where should your Story End?
• Why did you choose this Setting?
• The Location, helps you define the features of a chapter.
• It is true for every chapter.
• The Atmosphere can be simply defined by its Colors.
• As well as its Climatic features.
• How the weathers act on individuals.
• How does light influence them.
• Which Features make this Location Unique?
• How do you use them?
• You want to make the End as memorable as possible.
• Even if the Event is prevalent on the Location, it supports this Event.

• How does it End?
• What is the Issue?
• Which Final Trial should the Character face?
• How will it influence her?
• How will she react?
• The Last Crisis of the Story will rarely alter the whole Structure.
• It will only be the occasion to create a Definitive Image of you Story.
• The Image which will remain with Public.
• The Resolution of the Scene is, here, crucial.
• It is the implementation of your final Idea.
  • And the last occasion to alter the Story’s rhythm.
• Summarize the Resolution in 1 Sentence.
  • What ends?
  • What is Lost?
  • How is it Lost?
• From the Resolution will emerge the Outcome of the Story.
• This Outcome serves as an Epilogue.

• Why does it End?
• What ends?
• Who’s Story ends?
• The feel of Loss is not obligatory.
• And it can be compensated by a Reward.
• Then End of a Story may be the most fulfilling moment of the Story.
• You can decide when the Story ends.
• Or let the Story itself decide.
• The Story may need to continue.
• How can it continue?
• Is the Lost object unrecoverable?
• How was it Lost?
• Is it possible to replace it with a new object?
• Should there be a Sequel?
• How would you write a Sequel?
• What would be its use?

If you want to know more about story Structures.



The End of each Character

• Where does each Character end?
• What is the last place each Character visit?
• This Location indicate the Role of the Character.
• And its Function in the Story.
• This Character’s story should end once this point is reached.
• Whatever the outcome for the Character herself.
• This Location is the last place the Public will see her through.
• How does it relate to the Character?
• How specific is it to them?

• Why do they end this way?
• Quite similar to the Location there is a last Event to which each Character will participate.
• It doesn’t have to be the End of the Story.
• This last Event should highlight the Character’s Function.
• And her Role if she was part of a Group.
• A Character’s task ends when her Goal is fulfilled.
• If she disappear before accomplishing this Goal there is often a possibility that this Character reappears.
• What was the Character’s Goal?
• Was it achieved?
• In the way the Character intended to achieve it?

• Do the Character Disappear?
• Certain Characters will disappear before the Story’s end.
• Death is not the only way to make a Character disappear.
• She can be struck by an illness or another incapacitating condition.
• Depending of your Genre & Setting specific conditions can be invoked to justified a Character’s end.
• This Disappearance may not be definitive.
• How does the Character Disappear?
• Who was this Character?
• Can she be Found?
• Can she be Contacted?
• Do the Character Die?

If you want to know more about Character’s Evolution.

The End of a Group

• Change
• What are the Constrains on the Group?
• Did they join Voluntarily?
• Were they forced to act together?
• Punctually?
• Can they be Honest towards 1 another?
• Do they behave according to Personal interest?
• Do they behave according to the interest of the group?
• How do they define their common goal?
• How do they move towards this goal?
• How can they reach it faster?
• Are they always attracted to this goal?
• Are they hesitant?

• Deception & Betrayal
• Did the Group separated Consensually?
• How does the relationship end?
• Does it generate Hatred?
• Does it generate Despise?
• What wrong has been done?
• Was something Stolen?
• Was something Broken?
• How do your characters define Betrayal?

• Parting
• How did this one disappear?
• Where did she go?
• Where was she taken?
• How did the loss occur?
• How brutally?
• How instantly?
• How surprising was it?
• Is the Whole group finished?
• How does it end?
• Is it Definitive?
• Is a member of the group dead?
• Did she commit suicide?
• For which reason?
• What would her partners do?
  • Do they want to recover her?
  • Do they want to replace her?
  • Do they want to avenge her?

If you want to know more about Organizations & Teams.



The End of a World

• Even if this Story doesn’t relate this World’s End.
• This World will End.
• Wherever it is in the near future.
• Or in couple year’s time, if you’ve decided to make it a saga.
• Even if you never tell the Story of this World’s End, you must be able to envision it.
• Summarize it in 1 Phrase.
  • What is the new Issue?
  • What are the Stakes?
  • How will the world Resolve?
  • What’s the Outcome?

• How will it End?
• Are there any Revelations?
• Are there any Surprises?
• How Peaceful is the End?
• Does the Story End in a Mundane way?
• How Brutally should it End?
• What is Unexpected?
• How should it be delivered?
• Is there a Catastrophe?
• What happens in the last Scene?
• How does it destroy the Scenery?
• Which kind of Phenomenon is it?
• What’s its origin?
• Could it be reversed?
• Was it Predictable?
• Was it Stoppable?
• Why wasn’t it stopped?
• Who wasn’t it prevented?

• Which new World will emerge from it?
• What is the Aftermath of the Story?
• What’s the state of the Environment after the last Scene?
• Is it still habitable?
• How long will it be until the Environment is restored?
• Can people still live here?
• In which conditions?
• Is it preferable to move?
• Is there a place left to move?
• Is it reachable?
• How can it be reached?
• How dangerous is it?
• What is the new Beginning?
• How will the World be transformed post-end?
• What provoked these transformations?
• What are the effect of these Transformations?
• How will these transformations enhance the World?
• What will the New World look like?
• Who will reach this New World?
• How does this New World develop itself?
• Does it belong to a New Story?
• Which Story?

If you want to know more about Ending a World.