When a new idea for a book grabs me, I dwell on it for a few days, a few weeks or or a few months in my spare time as I work on the kind of writing that makes money (technical training). However, soon I realize I will forget the scenes that I have dreamed up if I don’t start jotting them down. When I begin to write a novel I know how the characters are going to change by the end. But, I don’t know how this will occur. So, I usually do not know the precise ending.

Each author has their idea of how to create a fictional character, story, setting, and so on. I do not want to duplicate what has already done, so I don’t read much other fiction when writing my own books. My process is to come up with a general outline, and yet remaining flexible. I dwell on my ideas until the first part of the book coalesces in my mind. Then, I start creating a list of scenes with a very short synopsis of each one.

Writing character driven novels means the plot requires adjustments as I create the story. However, I often get ahead of myself and write scenes out completely only to realize later that they must be changed because the events are out of order. As I devise how the story should unfold, I go back and edit earlier scenes to fit with later events. Inevitably, I start moving scenes around, even if they don’t need to be. That is when I create a calendar with important dates for my novel.  

When the book is about fifty percent complete, I try to pin down a precise ending. If I don’t, the plot seems to go on infinitely. I don’t finish stories with everything settled and calm. Nothing seems to be dramatic enough to call it quits. The big event that wraps up the story often changes the world for the main character. They are heading off to college or off to a new country. Only occasionally do they return back to the place they came from to receive praise from people who ignored them in the past. It seems enticing to take my character further into this new world, but I must resist the temptation to do so.

Ending the never-ending story is a challenge that I’ve face with most of my works that are more than short stories. There is always one loose end to tie up before the last word. I’ve learned to identify my major conflict and make sure it is resolved. I’ve learned that all loose do not need to be explained. I can even acknowledge that the main character will never know the answer to certain questions. Leaving parts unknown does not stop the end of a book.