1. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    End of plot in second to last chapter

    Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by ElConesaToLoco, Jul 23, 2018.

    So, here's the situation.

    As of now, I'm writing what is supposed to be the last chapter, in which both the overall plot (The objective the MC set out to achieve in the second half of the book) and the character arcs (Both for him and his daughter) were also supposed to end. Thing is, I'm about 3K words into it and yet to end the plot side of the chapter, and that's even with me kind of rushing it, which means I'm not introducing as much of the MC's thoughts as in previous chapters. If I were to introduce the end of the characters's arcs, I think it would easily reach 5K words, which is around 200 words longer than the current longest chapter in the novel. So:

    1. Would it be better to have everything done in this chapter, or could I have the plot end here (Group fulfills objective and escapes the enemy's headquarters), and leave the personal stuff (Going back to their home with a final revelation from the MC that results in his death) at another (Actual) last chapter.

    Also, take into acount that the novel is mostly character-driven (I'd say it's 60% character and 40% plot).

    2. Sub-question here. Could two chapters be named "Liberation: Part one" and "LiberatiĆ³n: Part two" if they are a direct continuation of each other and share a common theme (One a physical liberation, the other a spiritual liberation)? I'm asking because the current last chapter is named in a very "this is the last chapter" way, but if I move this chapter's name to the next one, then this chapter could become the "part two", as the previous one is named "Liberation".

    Any ideas?
     
  2. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    I don't understand your dilemma. Why must you end everything in this chapter? Spend as much time and words as you need to tell the story - why on earth would you rush the ending, the most important part of the book, arguably?

    Also, there's such a thing called Epilogue that authors sometimes use to sorta wrap things up. I'm not entirely clear on the exact correct use of an epilogue, but do a little research and you should be able to find out easily. An Epilogue is the final "chapter" that happens after everything's been resolved and the story is technically finished. It usually gives the reader a view into the character's future as to how things turned out afterwards.

    Side note: there's really no standard chapter length - it can be as long or short as you like really. I personally prefer to keep each chapter within 10-15 pages, for no particular reason other than that's usually the length of my chapters really, and I like to keep it roughly consistent.

    Seems to me you're creating a problem that really isn't there?
     
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  3. BlitzGirl

    BlitzGirl Contributor Contributor

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    I agree with @Mckk , you should take however long you need to resolve the various plot points. If you want to keep your word count to a specific range, then do that, but don't make yourself feel like you need to finish it off in one chapter, or even two. Epilogues are a good way to put in a denouement type of moment to finish off the emotional aspect of a story.
     
  4. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    There is no "need" to have everything in this chapter. I just feel that there's not much happening after their escape. It's mostly the journey back home, the MC's realization of him being a burden to his daughter, and his decision to end his life. I've already had chapters like that, though, so it isn't completely out of place (Specially for a character-driven story).

    I'm not going to use an apilogue, though, because I've already planned one that happens 30 years into the future, and will show the MC's daughter's life after his death (Proving he was right about being a burden to her).

    So, yeah, thanks. I guess it doesn't really matter if the character arcs end in another chapter. Just wanted to be sure, in case it turned out to be a stupid decision.

    What about the chapter names (Parts one and two)? Does it sound stupid, or does it make sense? I like to name my chapters in a way that they relate to the theme that goes through them. Previous chapter was about saving the MC from a prison, and this one starts with the confrontation with the antagonist, which goes completely different than they spected. They end up "liberating" him from a mental prison of sorts (Dementia + hallucinations + having lived for more than 400 years = he's lost). So, both the MC and the antagonist are liberated, in their own way.
     
  5. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    So, in the original post, you're saying you feel like you're having to rush, to leave out thoughts and character development that you would have liked to include, and worrying that it's getting too long for the chapter. Now you're saying you don't feel like there's much happening and that's why you wanna end it now?
     
  6. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    No, I mean there isn't much happening AFTER this chapter. This chapter is full of stuff (Killing an emperor, getting betrayed, escaping a palace engulfed by flames...). That's why I thought that a chapter dedicated to the journey back home would be too little.
     
  7. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    I still don't get it. So split your current very eventful chapter into two chapters then, so the journey home will be the end of a sequence of exciting events as opposed to its own chapter. It sounds like you're packing too much into your current chapter anyway. What's making you want to squeeze everything into one chapter, just to leave the next chapter with no substance? You're insisting on a certain structure for little reason that I can see.
     
  8. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    Would you say that it's fine to start the last chapter with the group escaping the burning palace, then the post-mission stuff (Talking about their next step), then the actual journey back home and the ending?
     
  9. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I'm struggling with why you're letting the chapter issues, and even the chapter naming issues, drive so much of what sounds like a first draft(?) Why not just write the events, giving them the amount of space you think they need, and then make the chapter decisions?
     
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  10. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    I've always thought that the end shouldn't be too far away from the point where the plot is solved, because the last portion of the book could lose some of it's momentum. Kind of like "Alright, it's done, they've won (Or lost), but now what?; there's still an entire chapter left. What could be so important?".
     
  11. Zerotonin

    Zerotonin Serotonin machine broke

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    Just remember: It's called "falling action" after the climax for a reason. The ending of the story is all about wrapping everything up and, if you need to have a slower chapter to do that, I'm sure readers would be happier to read that than to not have the resolution in general.
     
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  12. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Or "denouement," if you want to be fancy. Basically it's the tying of loose ends, since the climax is more concerned with whatever climatic event is happening. Especially if:

    is happening. When the palace is aflame, there isn't much time to wonder about what happened to the Duke's cousin, or whether the mysterious note the chamber maid found in chapter three ever led anywhere, or whether Raul's subplot fling with Isabella has a chance to blossom further before we fade to black.
     
  13. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    Funny that, between all the names to ever be used in history, Raul was your example. That's actually my name. I think Isabella and I don't have any future together, so that's a closed sublot. It was only there to make me look interesting and give some sneaky backstory throught dialogue. Isabella actually died off-screen and joined an unending list of pointless characters in fiction, and my alarmingly small list of partners.
     
  14. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    Exactly why not...?

    As for your other post where you ask, "What could be so important?" Well, you tell me. You're writing it, so obviously you see some importance in it. If you can't answer your own question, don't write it.

    The truth is, a lot of this would probably be cut in the edit anyway and condensed - a lot of the character thought you feel is being "rushed" probably is genuinely unneeded. But the point is, you can't know any of this until your draft is finished and you've set it aside and then come back with fresh eyes. You can't make these decisions right now. Tell whatever you feel you need to tell, and then cut mercilessly during the edit. Not now.
     
  15. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    But this assumes that all chapters, including the last one, need to be some specific length.

    Maybe you're talking about an epilogue here?
     
  16. ElConesaToLoco

    ElConesaToLoco Active Member

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    I try my best to keep chapter lenght in a specific range, but then again, I've been failing at it since the beginning. At first I thought I would keep it between 3K and 3.5K words per chapter, but I inmediatly realized that many chapters required a greater lenght. Many have ended in the 4K to 4.3K range, with the longest at 4.8K, and the shortest at 3K. Not a big deal, I guess, but I like to maintain a certain degree of consistency. The latest 2 chapters (The plot-heavy ones) have ended with around 3.2K words, so I think they're fine as they are. The last chapter, I assume, will end in the 3.4K to 3.8K range. If I'm right, I think that's a very appropiate lenght. Of course, editing and rewriting will change those numbers, so it's kind of pointless to worry about it right now.
     

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