I was sobbing, reaching for the tissues, blowing my nose loudly and making whimpering noises as I wrote the end of my novel.
After wiping my eyes I quickly nipped onto a Writer’s Facebook group and posed the question – am I the only one who feels like an emotional wreck after writing the end of a story? It seems I am not alone.
Here are some reasons why you might find yourself lying on the floor sobbing your heart out, after writing the final chapter of your story:
- As a writer you live through the eyes of your character so by the end of a good story you both will have been through the literary mill – it is no surprise that you are feeling a bit wobbly.
- If your character ends up in a happier place at the end of your story it can tug at the old heart-strings and you might find that lump rising at the back of your throat.
- You and your character have got to know each other during the drafting process. You like them and they like you. Basically you have started an imaginary friendship in your head and writing the end of the story can feel like your friendship is breaking up. You know that people change, move on with their lives and the same applies to fictional characters.
- You worry that things will never feel the same way again.
- You are worried about change. Starting something new.
Here are some tips on surviving this testing time:
- It is not goodbye. You will still see them again during the re-writing and editing process.
- Let it out. Do what I did and cry it out. I felt a lot better afterwards.
- Share the experience. Start a Facebook conversation or blog about it. I shared my pain with others and once I read that there were other writers out there weeping buckets after writing the end of their stories I felt a lot better.
- Gratitude. Be grateful that you have experienced something wonderful with your character. Not many people get to have a special friendship with someone who doesn’t exist! Sigh!
- Think of the reader. If you are getting emotional during the final scenes than your reader might experience the same feelings too. I am hoping the readers of Roxy will be blinking away some tears…sigh!
- Positive. Think positive – you will start something new again and you will connect on the same level with another character again. Time is a great healer.
Please share your thoughts with me on this important subject – are you currently blubbering whilst writing the end of your draft?
For noting: you can write the end of some novels and feel completely different. Take for example my first bad novel, I hated the thing from start to finish and by the end I was planning a ‘farewell celebration!’ which included a bonfire in my back garden…sigh!
Have a fab day!
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Mine is relief it’s over. Though hearing Roxy is going to finish is worrying and rather tear making.
Thank you TanGental – get ready for those tears 🙂
I also feel a sense of relief. Though that is probably because I am an introvert and extended exposure to other people is draining even when I like them. This is especially true when these people have been bunking in my mind for the past several months if not years.
However, I do have pangs of denial and sadness when I find out that the characters I’ve grown to love created by other people are riding off into the sunset. In this case, I am only drawing solace in the knowledge that we may yet see a new incarnation of Roxy again at some future date.
Hey Allie P – thx for this 🙂
Yes. I’m just at the same stage and crying.. Even worse was the moment when I killed one of my characters. Luckily I live alone because I couldn’t stop crying.for days. I invented the man, I wrote him knowing I was going to kill him off, but I still got upset. I know it’s ridiculous but there it is. I feel better now I’ve confessed. Is there an equivalent to Alcoholics Anonymous for writers?
Hey Paulinebsc – no but if you find one can you let me know 🙂
Oh yes, I’ve been there…
This is grand! Great observation. Happens to me too.
Also congrats on your completion! So great to hear that!
Hey Ellie Maloney – thx 🙂
Interesting question, Lucy. I have the opposite reaction. When I type The End I’m overjoyed, with a happy dance around the living room. That said, when I haven’t read one of my stories in a while, t realize how much I’ve missed them. Congrats on completing the novel. You should celebrate!
Hey Sue – loving the happy dance! 🙂 Does your hubby join you?
No, but my dog does. 🙂
Yay!!! Dance doggy dance!
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t see anything after “wrote the final episode of Diary of Roxy Collins.”
Say it isn’t so Lucy. The story made my Mondays bearable.😢
Two more weeks to go and Monday’s episode will not disappoint!
I have this love hate relationship with Amie – we fight a lot and she sulks when I send her places she doesn’t want to go and then she takes charge. One day I’ll get my revenge. At the end of a book i just feel nervous that everyone will hate it and i’ll get no sales 😦
Your relationship sounds ace! Love this. I will read your book 🙂
I’ve had tearjerker goodbyes mixed together with goodbye already. Usually I’m sick of the story but one character keeps me hanging on, then I SLAM the door and go onto something else. I’m a meany. Sigh.
Congratulations on finishing Roxy. She’s a fabulous character. I’ll miss reading her Mondays. ❤ 😀
Hey Tess – two more episodes to go – Monday’s is epic!
I have to let my characters stick around. They show up on my blog all the time.
Okay, I admit it, I cried–after drafts and edits. It was tears of joy mixed with relief and “now that it’s over, where do I go from here.”
Lol! Go Dionne Bee 🙂 happy Friday!
I’m emotional when I’m writing. I laugh at my humorous moments and cry over the sad ones. I try to end all my books with something that will put a smile on the reader’s face, so I don’t usually have the feeling of wanting to cry with “The End.” I do a happy dance and order pizza. However, there is this odd depression that shows up about a week later, and it’s hard to get back to writing. It happens to me every time.
Congratulations on finishing The Diary of Roxie Collins. I haven’t been here long enough to follow along, but I’m looking forward to reading when you publish. 🙂
Hey thx Maddie Cochere 🙂 Happy Friday BTW
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Here’s a great post that deals with coming to the end of writing your story or novel
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t know. I’ll let you know when I actually complete one of my books. But I am SO happy to hear you were a crying, sobbing wreck because that means you finished! 🎉⭐️🎊
Yes and no….I need to expand Roxy but I now have a structure and a character voice / style. Baby steps for me – sigh!
The journey of a thousand miles started with a baby who grew into a toddler and took his first step then, when he least expected it, got a ring and went on a journey that… Wait.
I like the sound of this journey Lemon Shark 🙂
As Truman Capote said, “Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.” I know I’ve felt it too…
I’m so far behind on Roxie, I must catch up. Happy for you, but understand the sense of loss also.
Thx HeyJude :-))
I felt a real sense of loss when one of my characters died in my novel and the group I was reading my chapters out to – on a weekly basis- also felt bereft because they had become so involved. I will never forget how that felt. It’s a good point to raise.
Arrrrr – I know how you feel. Thx for dropping by 🙂 happy Tuesday
Pleasure! Happy Tuesday to you too 🙂
Now we need a post on how to deal with starting the next novel…staring at a blank document and asking yourself why you insist on torturing yourself once again!
Yes great idea!!! Thx and happy Thurs!!
Reblogged this on Notes from An Alien and commented:
Today’s re-blog may seem like an overreaction from this writer; but, I can attest to similar feelings when I finished my novel 🙂
I was sorry to say goodbye to my characters and then wrote two more books about them because people asked me to. I miss the world that is peopled by my characters more than the people themselves as I always leave them in a good place ( love happy endings!) However, now I am between books I feel like crying. Real life is so dull in comparison.
Yep! I totally agree. Think this is why I am stalling on finishing my book. Thank you for reading 🙂