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Alyssa Matesic Profile picture
@AlyssaMatesic
May 30 • 7 tweets • 2 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
A bad ending can give readers a bad impression of your book. The last thing you want is for them to finish the final page & feel unsatisfied.

So how can you tell if your ending is strong enough? Here are 5 Qs to help you make sure your ending is effective (an #amwriting 🧵):
1. Has the conflict been resolved? You hooked your reader w/ an intriguing point of conflict. If they reach the end, it’s b/c they want to see that conflict play out.

Readers want some level of resolution. Your ending doesn’t have to be happy, but it should offer closure.
2. Are loose ends tied up? A bad book ending leaves readers w/ unanswered questions. By the end, all subplots & character arcs should have a sense of finality.
They can be addressed at any point prior to the final scene/pages of your MS, as long as they’re resolved at some point.
3. Has the protag been transformed? How has your MC changed by the end of the book? Ensure your ending completes this arc & shows the results of their journey. Even if they end up back where they started, there should be some sort of journey that brought them back to that place.
4. Is the final sentiment appropriate? Look at the tone of your final paragraph/sentence. What feeling does it evoke? Is it appropriate for the genre & your story?

E.g., leaving the story on a distressed note might work for a thriller, but not so much for a romcom.
5. Does it avoid cliches? Avoid writing an ending that feels overdone or predictable. If you are leaning into a trope of the genre, try to bring something new to the table. Remember that a more subtle ending is just as, if not more, effective.
How to evaluate your book ending:
1. Is the conflict resolved?
2. Are loose ends tied up?
3. Is the protag transformed?
4. Is the sentiment appropriate?
5. Does it avoid cliches?

The ending can make or break the entire book. Make yours the best it can be! #writingcommunity

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More from @AlyssaMatesic

Alyssa Matesic Profile picture
Jun 1
One of the most common novel structures is also one of the trickiest to pull off: the multi-storyline narrative.

Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I see when editing multiple-storyline novels, so you can catch & correct them in your own WIP (an #amwriting 🧵):
1. Switching storylines too frequently. This can make readers feel jostled & keep them from getting invested in the story.

To avoid a sense of whiplash, give readers ample time (at least a full scene) to get immersed in each character/storyline before moving on to the next.
2. Waiting too long btwn storylines. On the other hand, sitting w/ a single storyline for too long creates imbalance & slows down your pacing/plot momentum.

Try to dedicate a near-equal # of pages to ea. storyline. Stay consistent to keep the reader equally engaged w/ each one.
Read 7 tweets
Alyssa Matesic Profile picture
May 25
Even w/ the best story idea, compelling characters & a solid plot, your story won’t resonate if the writing falls flat.

In editing hundreds of novels, I’ve compiled 5 common examples of weak writing I often see, so you can identify & correct them in your own WIP (#amwriting 🧵):
1. Vague character descriptions. Listing adjectives is not the strongest way to convey a character’s persona. We want to see those adjectives in action. SHOW us how your characters think, feel & act. This will make them come alive & feel like layered, authentic human beings.
2. Excessive imagery. Be mindful of lingering too long on descriptions. While many writers do this aiming for more poetic prose, piling too many images can be clunky & obscure your message.

Opt for a single powerful image, metaphor or analogy to convey your point effectively.
Read 7 tweets
Alyssa Matesic Profile picture
May 23
There are a million different ways to plot a book, and figuring out the best way for your plot to unfold can be tricky.

Here’s a framework for evaluating your plot’s effectiveness. Ask yourself these questions to determine if it holds up (an #amwriting 🧵):
1. Is there a clear point of conflict? To keep your reader engaged, your story MUST have a central conflict that they will want to see play out. Use this template: Protagonist wants X, but Y is stopping them.

Ideally, you’ll introduce this conflict within your first chapter.
2. Are the stakes high enough? The conflict must meaningfully impact the protag’s life somehow. Show us the consequences! This creates tension & keeps readers invested.

Add to the previous template: Protagonist wants X, but Y is stopping them; if they fail, Z will happen.
Read 7 tweets
Alyssa Matesic Profile picture
May 16
Here’s one mistake I see in almost every novel I edit: too much narrative distance, or space between the reader & the characters/events in the story.

Here are three ways you could be creating narrative distance & weakening your manuscript – without even realizing it (a 🧵):
1. Recounting events in retrospect. This removes the reader from the present plot action & can feel like an info dump.

Often, the narrative will be more engaging if you show the event as a scene when it actually occurs. Show us the character’s emotional response in the moment.
2. Not illuminating characters’ thoughts. In 1st or close 3rd person POV, we should typically have near-full access to the POV character’s mind. Look at what happens externally & internally/emotionally for your character in each scene. Show how they react & interpret the action.
Read 5 tweets

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