Parting is such sweet sorrow

[Deleted]

So, I'm working on the last chapter of my weird Western, "Ghost Marshal," and I'm realizing I have no idea how I'm going to end it. Sure, I know how the story ends. But what are the last bits of prose that will finish the book? No clue. I'm sure I'll come up with something. I always do.

Do you guys ponder such things, or is it just me? That last sentence seems like it should be just the right punctuation to the book, wrapping up not only the story but the tone and mood.

What are your favorite last lines of your books? Here are mine:

From "Isle Royale": "That night, as darkness wrapped its arms around Isle Royale, the lighthouse once again came to life. To the sound of bagpipes drifting across the water, the bright beam pierced the dark, every searching, ever protecting."

From "Night Touch": "Price and Rachel rode off into the Carpathian forest, heading toward the rising sun. Price wrapped an arm around Rachel and smiled, the breeze blowing freely through his hair. I'm free, he thought. Finally free. Time to start living again."

THE END

[vrabinec]

Then starting home, he walked toward the trees, and under them, leaving behind him the big sky, the whisper of wind voices in the wind-bent wheat. - Capote In Cold Blood

The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky, seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness. Conrad Heart of Darkness

And they walked away together through the hole in the wall, back into the darkness, leaving nothing behind them; not even the doorway. - Neil Gaiman Neverwhere

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2014 20:08:20 GMT -5 vrabinec said:

Then starting home, he walked toward the trees, and under them, leaving behind him the big sky, the whisper of wind voices in the wind-bent wheat. - Capote In Cold Blood

The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky, seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness. Conrad Heart of Darkness

And they walked away together through the hole in the wall, back into the darkness, leaving nothing behind them; not even the doorway. - Neil Gaiman Neverwhere

Ooooh, those are wonderful. I especially like Conrad's.

Here's one of my favorite classics. Guess who (no fair peeking on Google): "Up the road, in his shack, the old man was sleeping again. He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions."

[vrabinec]

That's no fair. We just finished a thread in which I said that was one of the books assigned to me in high school, and I loved it. Though, I confess that I have no idea why the author ended it with that one.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2014 21:32:34 GMT -5 vrabinec said:

That's no fair. We just finished a thread in which I said that was one of the books assigned to me in high school, and I loved it. Though, I confess that I have no idea why the author ended it with that one.

And, oddly, I just today finished editing a book about marlin fishing. 

[Deleted]

I'm a bookend kinda person. I feel like the book has to finish with something pertaining to the title. For example, my last novel is titled: Captured Again. The last chapter ends with the MC using the word 'captured,' (and she's wearing handcuffs in that scene...it's a little steamy.)

[Deleted]

I have no theories on the last line. It's nice if it's good I think if you make the reader smile or laugh, you always win.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2014 23:34:03 GMT -5 @johnlmonk said:

I have no theories on the last line. It's nice if it's good I think if you make the reader smile or laugh, you always win.

Or cry... My readers like a good cry.

[Deleted]

One of my readers said she cried reading my book, but didn't say where. I was to ask for fear I'd be disappointed with the answer. I'm learning I get disappointed a lot with reader reactions Either they're not as enthusiastic as I'd want, or they miss what I was trying to convey (a fault of mine as much as them). I think I need vague, glowing praise. I think I need to stop wasting time and keep writing now...

Cheers

[Rinelle Grey]

Coming up with just the right last line is almost as important as just the right first line. Especially if there's going to be a sequel.

I'm bad at both.

[Suzy]

Apr 18, 2014 21:27:52 GMT -5 @johnchamilton said:

Apr 18, 2014 20:08:20 GMT -5 vrabinec said:

Then starting home, he walked toward the trees, and under them, leaving behind him the big sky, the whisper of wind voices in the wind-bent wheat. - Capote In Cold Blood

The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky, seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness. Conrad Heart of Darkness

And they walked away together through the hole in the wall, back into the darkness, leaving nothing behind them; not even the doorway. - Neil Gaiman Neverwhere

Ooooh, those are wonderful. I especially like Conrad's.

Here's one of my favorite classics. Guess who (no fair peeking on Google): "Up the road, in his shack, the old man was sleeping again. He was still sleeping on his face and the boy was sitting by him watching him. The old man was dreaming about the lions."

I know, I know! It's one of my faves too!

[Suzy]

I usually put in a line of dialogue. In my WIP, that I've just finished. I was dithering for two days about the last line. The epilogue is about a Christmas party.

Someone stands up and proposes a toast to: friends, health, happiness, the hostess, blah, blah. Then one of the guests, (more than a little tipsy)stands up rather unsteadily and says: 'your forgot the most important thing.'
The guy proposing the toast: 'what?'
Drunk, through a mouthful of food: 'love. You mustn't forget love. That's what makes the world go around, dontchaknow?'
THE END

Don't know if it works but that's what I have now.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2014 2:07:23 GMT -5 Suzy said:

I usually put in a line of dialogue. In my WIP, that I've just finished. I was dithering for two days about the last line. The epilogue is about a Christmas party.

Someone stands up and proposes a toast to: friends, health, happiness, the hostess, blah, blah. Then one of the guests, (more than a little tipsy)stands up rather unsteadily and says: 'your forgot the most important thing.'
The guy proposing the toast: 'what?'
Drunk, through a mouthful of food: 'love. You mustn't forget love. That's what makes the world go around, dontchaknow?'
THE END

Don't know if it works but that's what I have now.

Oh, that's a great way to wrap it up. Nicely done, Suzy!

[Suzy]

Thank you, John! Well it's romantic fiction, so love plays a big part.

[Rinelle Grey]

Apr 19, 2014 2:07:23 GMT -5 Suzy said:

Drunk, through a mouthful of food: 'love. You mustn't forget love. That's what makes the world go around, dontchaknow?'
THE END

Don't know if it works but that's what I have now.

Read more: thewriterspub.proboards.com/post/12983/edit#ixzz2zKnBeBn6

I like it. I can just imagine it at the end of a movie, as the ending credits roll.

[Deleted]

Endings are hard... a little bit confusing.
There are no ends! Things keep happening after you finish writing, you just aren't documenting it anymore!

I've mostly done short stories until fairly recently. I finished one novel a few years ago that will never see print for a number of reasons (foremost being I would have to include a family tree and creating one is highly impractical) and I believe I ended it with a note from one of the characters requesting the book be kept safe in case his enemies find it.

The one I'm editing right now... I don't really like the last line but my mother (I mostly wrote the book to get her to stop pestering me about writing something for her to read LOL) loves it so I'm keeping it. I'm not too fond of sappy happy endings, though.



Life wasn't perfect – it never would be and I knew that... but it was a lot better than it used to be and at the moment forever just seemed too short to contain my happiness.

[Deleted]

Last line of the final book in The Gastien Series:

Back at their home in the south of France, the painting “Azure” hung above their bed, keeping watch over their spent bodies, the moonlight sparkling and shifting across its luminous surface.

[Suzy]

Apr 19, 2014 13:33:25 GMT -5 @caddy said:

Last line of the final book in The Gastien Series:

Back at their home in the south of France, the painting “Azure” hung above their bed, keeping watch over their spent bodies, the moonlight sparkling and shifting across its luminous surface.

Love that! Caddy, how can you possibly not have been to France? It seems like your spiritual home.

I'm going there next week. To the south of France, a trip that was my Valentines' day gift from my husband.

[Becca Mills]

Apr 19, 2014 7:25:21 GMT -5 @aimless said:

Endings are hard... a little bit confusing.
There are no ends! Things keep happening after you finish writing, you just aren't documenting it anymore!

I've mostly done short stories until fairly recently. I finished one novel a few years ago that will never see print for a number of reasons (foremost being I would have to include a family tree and creating one is highly impractical) and I believe I ended it with a note from one of the characters requesting the book be kept safe in case his enemies find it.

The one I'm editing right now... I don't really like the last line but my mother (I mostly wrote the book to get her to stop pestering me about writing something for her to read LOL) loves it so I'm keeping it. I'm not too fond of sappy happy endings, though.



Life wasn't perfect – it never would be and I knew that... but it was a lot better than it used to be and at the moment forever just seemed too short to contain my happiness.

I like it.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2014 13:40:48 GMT -5 Suzy said:

Apr 19, 2014 13:33:25 GMT -5 @caddy said:

Last line of the final book in The Gastien Series:

Back at their home in the south of France, the painting “Azure” hung above their bed, keeping watch over their spent bodies, the moonlight sparkling and shifting across its luminous surface.

Love that! Caddy, how can you possibly not have been to France? It seems like your spiritual home.

I'm going there next week. To the south of France, a trip that was my Valentines' day gift from my husband.

Ohhhhh! I'm so jealous. I doubt I'll get there in this lifetime, as we have very little money anymore. It makes me very sad to know I'll never visit. It hurts in my gut. However, to answer your question:

I don't mean to go all spiritual or anything, but I believe my last life was there. I do remember it (as I have been to someone who works in this several times). So, in a way, perhaps you are right that it helps to have been somewhere to write or paint about it. Does a previous life count? 

I've informed Dave that next time we are going back to Paris (he's been with me a very long time). I also warned him I am going to be a man (as I prefer that, although this life I was always the perfume, lingerie, make-up type. I'm not butch.).  So, I told him if he wants to be my love interest he either has to be female or gay. Period. Not negotiable. I miss my bite! (and if you know French, you know what that is)