Comments on: 4 Tactics to Create Your Novel's Perfect Last Line

By: Sacha Black

Sacha Black — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 14:56:21 +0000

In reply to Lucy Johnson. I think it sounds fascinating. I think It's difficult to say without reading it. It's important to satisfy your readers, which it sounds like you will if they complete their quest. But I'd say, once its done and edited get some writer friends to have a read and see what they think. Fresh eyes always help.

By: Lucy Johnson

Lucy Johnson — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 17:15:49 +0000

In reply to Sacha Black.

Yes – thank you! I’m trying to write a fantasy adventure quest sort of thing, and the characters basically achieve the goal of the first book, but find out that it didn’t work anyway – that’s the best way I can think of describing it without going into a lot of plot detail. They find out that a character they trusted has betrayed them, which is the main part of the reveal at the end of the first book. What do you think? And thanks again for your help!

By: Sacha Black

Sacha Black — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 21:17:33 +0000

In reply to Lucy Johnson.

What genre are you writing in?

I think it depends on a lot of things.

Generally speaking you need to satisfy the reader. If you have lead them on a journey with a particular storyline you need to finish that off, whether that be with a happily ever after or a shocker that’s up to you. But the storyline does need to be complete.

I have a big shock at the end of my first book, BUT all my story lines are rounded off. The shock is really a hook into book two. It’s not something related to the plot lines of book one… So to speak.

Personally I wouldn’t leave a story line from your first book open. But that’s not to say you can’t have a shocking ending – I would research your genre and see how others end books. Search out the ones with cliff hangers.

Does that help?

By: Lucy Johnson

Lucy Johnson — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 21:13:39 +0000

What do you think about big cliff hanger endings at the end of the first book in a series? Sort of ‘Will the hero survive’ sort of thing, or a big shock or reveal at the end of the first book? I’m trying to write a book for the first time and already have the ending mind, but I’m not sure how well it’ll work 🙂

By: Sacha Black

Sacha Black — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:34:09 +0000

In reply to barbtaub.

LOL – well, like I ALWAYS say – rules are for breaking, and seriously – they are. There would never be any new genres or styles of writing or anything interesting. So ignore me! see all these posts are totally selfish! I just do research of sorts for me and then brain fart it onto the page! It’s never applicable to everyone anyway! :p P.S your books look amazing they are on my TBR pile

By: barbtaub

barbtaub — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:31:06 +0000

I have GOT to stop reading these first/last line posts of yours. (OR read them before I actually write.) Because I’ve 100% blown all your tips with my Null City series. Well, since I’m writing the last book now, I guess there’s still a tiny bit of time to fix it. Or not…

By: 5 Tactics to Master Killer Short Story Endings | Sacha Black

5 Tactics to Master Killer Short Story Endings | Sacha Black — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 08:03:17 +0000

[…] written about the last lines of YA dystopian fiction before. I looked at the differences in last lines between first and last books in trilogies. There […]

By: Want The Perfect Hero? Don’t Make These 2 Mistakes | Sacha Black

Want The Perfect Hero? Don’t Make These 2 Mistakes | Sacha Black — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:02:28 +0000

[…] Book 2, is the second book in the testing series. I have talked about the testing briefly before: 4 Tactics to Create Your Perfect Last Line. It is a trilogy, YA (I swear I’ll read something else soon!) and a dystopian novel. Set in a […]

By: Sacha Black

Sacha Black — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 22:06:38 +0000

In reply to carol hedges (@carolJhedges). ooh that IS unusual, I like it. I am obsessed with writers processes and all their different intricacies so I find that fascinating.

By: carol hedges (@carolJhedges)

carol hedges (@carolJhedges) — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 10:16:36 +0000

Very interesting…there are 2 sorts of lastline, as you say..the ‘and he lay there dead’ sort ie. No More Books. And the ‘and he gotup and wondered off into the sunset’ ones. ie More Books. As a writer, I’m probably unusual in that I always write the first and last paragraphs BEFORE the rest of the text. Actually, I can’t write the book UNTIL I have the last line. And yes, a good last line should make you sit back and go ‘aaah! and then turn to the beginning to re-read the whole thing again!