April 23, 2006
Last but not least…
Written by Shirley Karr in Writers and WritingA discussion about intriguing first lines wouldn’t be complete without also discussing last lines.
From the earliest writing classes, we are taught that the first line hooks the reader into that book, and the last line sells the reader on the next book.
I think I’ve struggled with last lines as much or more than the opening lines. With the first book I sold, the opening line remained unchanged through every draft except the final one. I did keep that line, it just moved further down the page. The last line, however, changed more often than I changed my shoes. I confess, the title influenced the last change I made to it. When The Matchmaking Earl was dubbed What An Earl Wants, it seemed appropriate to make the last line: Sinclair threw back his head and laughed. Heedless of the crowd, he pulled Quincy into his embrace. He had everything he wanted, right here in his arms.
The last line should make the reader sigh, smile, laugh, cry, sniffle — and even better is any combination of the above. It should make the reader glad she spent the time and money to buy and read the book when there are so many other things clamoring for her attention and disposable income. It should make the reader impatient for the author’s next book. Often, it echoes back to something else in the story, demonstrates a character’s growth, and should leave the reader confident that these two characters really will live happily ever after together. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one sentence.
For my second book, I was in panic mode for much of the writing. It was the first time I’d written under a contracted deadline — a legally binding document that put a time limit on my creativity. I struggled with the last chapter of Kiss From A Rogue, *thisclose* to the happy-ever-after ending, but that perfect last sentence eluded me. Dates on a calendar are closer than they appear. The clock was ticking away. But I refused to panic any further, and sternly told my Girls Downstairs to just come up with something, anything. You can’t fix a blank page. Apparently the threats worked.
Tony wrapped his arm around her, drawing her close. “If either of you come anywhere near her, I’ll cut your tongues out. No one else is ever going to kiss her again. Except me.” As Tony gave her another long, deep kiss, Sylvia decided that was just fine with her.
Sometimes the last line is also a parting bit of wisdom, hard won by the characters during the course of their growth arc. Take this one from Courting Claudia, by Robyn DeHart: “We have a real marriage, Derrick. We have real love. We know that. Who cares what anyone else thinks?”
Most of my favorite last lines make me smile. But humor taken out of context often loses its punch, so I’ll add a little more than just the last line from one of my favorite contemporary novels, Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie. (Remember that Fred is the bassett hound whose “butt failed to achieve lift-off” when he tried to jump up on the sofa.) Alex has just proposed to Nina. “Fred’s going to be in our wedding?” she said, and he relaxed against her and laughed, and she held him close, completely sure of him and his love. Then he rolled to pin her under him and drive her out of her mind again. “I see Fred as ringbearer,” Alex said in her ear. And six weeks later, so did everybody else.
Now it’s back to my revisions, which are due a week from tomorrow. I think the last line is just fine, but the rest of the last chapter isn’t. Yet.
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Robyn DeHart Says:
I find last lines difficult as well, Shirley. Guess it’s the stuff in the middle I prefer - never have understood why people call it the sagging middle. So much to my surprise there was one of my last lines right in your post. How cool. Thanks! I love how your last lines harken back to your titles - just perfect.
Lois Says:
I’m only a reader, not a writer — so when reading both the first lines post and this one, I realized, that yep, I enjoy a great catchy first line, but I dare say I look forward to a last line that makes me go awwwww. LOL
Lois
Shirley Karr Says:
Me, too, Lois!
Robyn, I’m having trouble making *anything* in the latest book harken back to the title, “Confessions of A Viscount.” My viscount hero is a nice guy. He has nothing he need confess!
The heroine, on the other hand… she’s a spy, and has lots that she could confess. 