“The first page of a book sells that book. The last page sells your next book.” –– American crime novelist Mickey Spillane
When you write a novel, you want your readers to be so thrilled by the ending of your story that they immediately buy your next book. And then they tell all their friends about it.
But if your ending flops and your readers are dissatisfied, the only thing they will be telling their friends is: “Don’t buy this book!”
So how do you write an ending to your story that leaves your reader feeling thrilled and fulfilled?
We have a special guest returning to the show today. He is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award and the author of more than 20 books for writers, including the #1 bestseller Plot & Structure. Other books you may be familiar with include Writing Unforgettable Characters, Writing Your Book from the Middle, and The Last 50 Pages.
James Scott Bell, welcome back to the Christian Publishing Show!
Isaac Asimov’s Eureka Phenomenon
Sponsor: The Christian Writers Market Guide
The Christian Writers Market Guide 2021 is the most comprehensive and highly recommended resource on the market for finding an agent, an editor, a publisher, a publicist, a writing coach, or a place to sell whatever you are writing. Wherever you are on the writing spectrum–from beginner to seasoned professional–the Guide will help you find what you are looking for. Over 1,000 curated listings, including more than 200 book publishers, 150 periodical publishers, 40 agents, 200 freelance editors and designers, podcasts, and much more. Includes a denominational index.
You can get it in print or online.
You can listen to this episode How to Write the Last 50 Pages of Your Book with James Scott Bell on Christian Publishing Show.
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These last pages of my book
are quite hard, the truth to tell;
will a reader want to look
deep into the jaws of hell,
a failing battle as falls night,
an unheroic Alamo
where there’s no strength left in the fight…
blimey, mate, I just don’t know.
But maybe there’s just One to read,
and there’s just One I must impress,
and my literary need
is that He sees through vile duress
I kept the faith and end my story
in living, dying, for His glory.