Be A Better Writer--THE MAGIC ENDING

[Cinnamon Bear]

When I read this thread I couldn't think of any of my entries that had magic endings. (Some with weak endings, definitely. )

However, Jan recently critiqued an entry that I placed in the Critique Circle. She pointed out some flaws that are similar to magic endings. Perhaps they could be called "magic middles".

The entry is "Santa Fe Journey"
http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article- ... p?id=46819

In this entry I arranged both the deaths of Emily's parents and that of her cousin. Jan pointed out that this was too much of a coincidence for such a short story. She further pointed out that the aim of these deaths appeared to be to get Emily and Peter together.

"Magical" coincidences resulting in a contrived ending.

Cinnamon Bear

[philippa]

This really is a great learning site. Thanks to Jan and everyone else for contributing.
These Magical Endings and even the Magic Middles have made me try think more professionally- as opposed to 'pie in the sky' . Still the challenge of finding the 'Magic Beginning' is pure fun.
I'm off now to learn where to put a comma.

[tomoral]

Jan, for the old minds like me, could you somehow post a brief synopsis on great beginnings, middles, and endings?

Just the basics of how to begin, fill in, and end a typical good story. If you could put it all together because I have trouble remembering it all. I want to write a good story, and I'm trying to remember how to make it all come together.

Blessings, Lynn

[glorybee]

Jan, for the old minds like me, could you somehow post a brief synopsis on great beginnings, middles, and endings?

Just the basics of how to begin, fill in, and end a typical good story. If you could put it all together because I have trouble remembering it all. I want to write a good story, and I'm trying to remember how to make it all come together.

Blessings, Lynn

When I was teaching high school English, we used something called a "plot graph" to plot the important parts of a story. However, I'm not sure I could do a "brief synopsis"--the parts of that plot graph were the things that I taught all year.

There's already a lesson here on "Great Beginnings"--http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpB ... 67&t=37921

But hoo boy, just about every lesson I've done has to do with the stuff that goes in the middle.

I have a very crazy week and weekend, and I'm not sure that I'll have a new lesson this week. But I'll try to come up with a lesson on that "plot graph" soon, and hope that it answers some of your questions.

[tomoral]

Thank you for all you do for us here, and I appreciate your lessons. I know it is a lot of trouble, so if you don't have time and believe me, I know how precious time is, I will get myself together and read these great teachings over and over. You have helped me tremendously. I have always been so fond of "magic endings" having experienced God's miracles myself, but now I see how they might not be the right thing to do for others.

Blessings, Lynn

[glorybee]

Thanks, Lynn--

But please don't think that you should never write a story about one of God's precious miracles. I have done so myself, and there is certainly a time and a place for those types of stories.

I would encourage you, however, to think of new ways to write a "miracle story," if only from a writerly standpoint. The "happy ending" is not only cliched, but also it is not always how life works. How about putting the miracle in the middle of the story, and then use the rest of the story to say what happened next? How about opening with the miracle, and then taking it from there? There are all sorts of ways that we can structure a story so that it is different from other stories, and I'm always looking for the new, fresh approach.

[dadcard2]

This was a clever article. I liked the way you capitalized SCARF to make the point of an overly strong hint.

[glorybee]

dadcard2, I'm not sure what this comment means. Did you mean to post it elsewhere?

[philippa]

While America sleeps -Aussies rule the cyber waves!
Don't know why I wrote that it just seemed like a good idea at the time.
I like the idea of writing the 'miracle' in the middle as it satisfies all requirements.
Thanks Jan.

[dadcard2]

dadcard2, I'm not sure what this comment means. Did you mean to post it elsewhere?

Actually I was responding to the 'magic ending' lesson; sorry if I got it wrong.

[glorybee]

dadcard2, I'm not sure what this comment means. Did you mean to post it elsewhere?

Actually I was responding to the 'magic ending' lesson; sorry if I got it wrong.

Nope, I "get it" now. I was looking at my post just before yours; I had forgotten about my "SCARF" illustration at the original lesson! My fault, and thank you for your kind words.

[dadcard2]

No problem; I often have trouble getting used to new sites.

[Athayde]

Jan, I loved how you worked out the ending of your original story. You did provided a

new "baby" to Maggie, and great solace to her mom. I didn't expect that. Ingenious!


Thanks for this lesson.