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I’m having a problem arranging a few final, wrapping-up events at the end of one of my books, King’s Armor. For a quick summery, it is a fantasy which climaxes in a big battle. The MC’s father dies before the battle (with wounds from a previous fight). Also, there is somewhat of a mystery with one of MC’s friends in connection with a mysterious man from the wilds (the man is dead, but a letter from his was delivered to the friend).
Anyway, I know some people say to wrap up all subplots before the climax, but I wanted to leave MC finding out who the man in the wilds was until after the climax, because that way there is still a little suspense that draws you into the last chapter…and there really isn’t much room for a scene like that before the climax because everyone is busy.
But my problem is that in the climax, they have to clean up after the battle and bury MC’s Father…the sadness of everything outweighs the culmination of the mystery and leaves it feeling a little anti-climatic.
I feel like I need to rearrange the ending or something, but am still working on what to do and wondered if any of you have any ideas. 🙂
INTJ - Inhumane. No-feelings. Terrible. Judgment and doom on everyone.
I shall divert mine astonishing mental capacities to the sticky issue. Fear not. I have not abandoned thee. But it may take awhile… 😀
That sounds complicated. Not knowing all the details, it is hard for me to give any concrete advice. I will therefore give you a bunch of random ideas which hopefully will help you with brain storming.
.Could you use the revelation about the mysterious man in the beginning of the chapter to contrast with the grim reality of battle at the end and make it more sad that way?
.Could you build up the drama around the mysterious man, and then never reveal his identity, but make it clear that that will be a topic in your sequel? (Of course then you would have to have a sequel which I don’t know if you plan to, but they say that is a good marketing strategy and I believe it.)
.Can you reveal the identity of the mysterious man before even the battle preparation begins?
.Do you even need a dramatic subplot to cary the reader into the final chapter?
.Can you add another chapter to what is currently your final chapter to reveal the identity of the mystery man?
.Can you leave the mystery man a mystery forever and leave your reader to imagine who he might be?That’s all I can think of for now. Hope it helps.
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
@Daeus I know, the description is a bit vague, but the chapter isn’t good enough to post the whole thing at this point, though I might post part of it after my current correction is done if I still can’t figure out anything (hopefully I can).
Since the man turns out to be the father of another character, the mystery does need to be resolved…and I’m not currently planning a sequel though, because of the allegorical topic, one is possible. The best place, plot wise, for the scene is the last chapter…the only problem is that that isn’t a good place either. 🙂 Still, I have one idea…
And thanks for your suggestions. 🙂
INTJ - Inhumane. No-feelings. Terrible. Judgment and doom on everyone.
Maybe bury the father before the fight? That way it shows the cost first, then the resolution. Think HTTYD 2. Then it ends on a bittersweet note, but you get the bitter before the sweet.
With the mystery man… I don’t think I have enough details to properly recommend a good resolution to that. As far as putting it in place, maybe have everything else fall into place and it would have been a good ending there, then reveal? Just an extra little “Aha” moment at the end, depending on how vital that subplot is to the story.
But, if this mystery man is a big deal, not some nagging side-question, then that wouldn’t work…. I don’t know. It’s hard to articulate all these crazy ideas. 😛@writefury Bury his father before the fight…that is a really good idea. It would have to be a quick funeral, because the enemy is outside the city, but that would help cut down on the last chapter where there are already a few other events. The ‘mystery man’ is more of an ‘Aha’ moment, than a huge subplot, and if I move the funeral, then I can probably fit in a better and extended scene about that. I’ll have to mull over it a bit, but I think that will work. Thanks so much. 🙂
INTJ - Inhumane. No-feelings. Terrible. Judgment and doom on everyone.
@Hope Yay! So glad I could help. 🙂
Well… I thought of some really clever answers, but apparently Daeus and Rosey hacked into my brain and stole them before I had time to post. Oh well. It’s that the job was done that matters, not who did it.
*Sigh* I’m so noble.
😛 Good ideas, guys!
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