That Feeling When You Finally Write "The End"

I wrote the ending to not just any story but a story I have been working on for a while. Almost 4 years to be exact.

The novel I've been working on is a science fiction story or maybe a little more specific, a technothriller. While it's about the wonder of discovering a new world beyond our own that contains unfathomable technologies, it is also about the dark realization of what happens when obsession and fascination leads to horrifying results. 

There were setbacks related to both typical procrastination and frustrating technical issues, but the time has finally come. 

Book title: Insight

Book blurb:

Donovan Stowe is ripped from his world and into the world of Illumina where the unimaginable is just part of everyday life. His discoveries lead him to a highly advanced tech research facility called Insight. Donovan's unusual fascination with these everyday technologies captures the immediate attention of the formidable Dr. Maddox. Before long, Donovan finds himself caught between projects full of obsession and fascination and desperately searching for a way home.

The initial story idea seems so long ago, that I barely remember what started it. I do know that I wanted it to be about a character who accidentally finds himself in another world that is far more technologically advanced. A world where you dream of living in but once you spend some time there, it isn't the dream you expected it to be. 

As any writer will tell you, especially the ones who've been doing this for a long time, the initial concept for a story will change, sometimes drastically. You might start the story with one idea in mind but over time it unfolds into something entirely different. 

I may have finished my story's ending but I am by no means ready to publish. There are a few plot holes and other missing pieces that I need to conclude. This includes names for some of the technology in my story. 

I also need to decide the fate of one character. (Don't worry! He lives!)

But still! It's a wonderful feeling that every writer deserves to feel! For anyone that has ever written the satisfying last words of a book, you know!

Surprises even I didn't see coming

You know the feeling when you turn the page and your jaw is on the floor in surprise? Writers feel that way too with their own stories! One of the most exciting things about writing is that sometimes a story can surprise even the writer. 

I think one reason I relate to this is because I am more of a pantser than a plotter. For anyone unfamiliar, a pantser is someone that writes the story as they go with little structure. A plotter plans out their story more. A plantser is someone who falls somewhere in between. 

While a plotter sounds like an ideal writer to be as they sound more organized (and probably are!), neither is better than the other. It's all about preference and what works for you! 

A side character played a bigger role than I expected

I created one character simply for a filler role. He was only intended to be there for one task. I also had to give him a name just so a character could acknowledge him. 

Decio. 

He was only going to be in the story for one maybe two scenes. 

You know how that goes sometimes!

And then he started revealing his personality bit by bit as the story progressed. A humorous cynical whose tired of the day in, day out monotony in his life. 

I found him cutting into the story as more than just a filler character. He ended up played a far larger role than just some character I originally intended to write for only one or two scenes.

Characters really do have a mind of their own and sometimes it's best to just let them lead the way! 

I ended up killing off a character

About half way into the story, I knew this character was going to get killed off but I wasn't sure how.

I wrote down a few ideas of how his end would unfold. 

As I wrote, I thought about my antagonist's demise off and on. I am a huge believer that a character should only be killed off if there is significance behind it. In other words, don't start killing off characters just to kill them off to make things exciting. 

I'm sure there are some exceptions to this rule like with horror but I feel that even horror sometimes needs to have justifiable and meaningful character deaths.

Most of the time, it is better to just let your story unfold to help you decide significant events like character deaths. This is what I did. 

I was in the middle of an intense and suspenseful scene in which my antagonist had become overly and dangerously obsessed with technology. Before I realized what had happened the machine malfunctioned and I had just killed off my character!

What happens next?

I wrote the ending but there are a few plot holes that need addressed. The next step is to go back and review and edit my WIP chapter by chapter. This will be both exhausting yet exciting at the same time, if it makes sense to use those two words in the same sentence! 😅

It's inevitable that there will be some or even a lot of cutting out and getting rid of unnecessary filler words and sentences. I'll also be rereading chapters and scenes I've not reread in awhile, allowing me to read my story from a fresh perspective.

It's been a long time coming, and I know it will all be worth it! When I do get my story published, you can bet I will let you know!