One Insidious Cause of Disappointing Endings (and How to Fix It)

Your Next Draft

Does your story’s climax solve a problem that’s different from the one you have?
The last thing you want is for the ending of your novel to disappoint your readers.
Yet as an editor, I’ve seen my fair share of disappointing endings.
And in this episode, I’m sharing one of the most common problems I see with endings that just don’t work.
You’ll learn:

• What happens when your story pays off something you didn’t set up
• 4 questions to ask to spot this problem in your story
• How to choose what your story is really about
• How getting clear on your story’s subplot will help you fix a disappointing ending
• And more!

When I’m working with writers, I often say something like this:
“It feels like this story is solving a problem that’s different from the one we have.”
In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what that means—and how you can spot this issue and fix it in your story.
Links mentioned in the episode:

• Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing Scenes

Send me a Text Message!

Support the Show.

Want more editing tips and resources? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

And if you're enjoying the podcast, would you mind leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? That helps more writers find these editing resources. And it helps me know what's helpful to you so I can create more episodes you'll love!
Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »