Quote:
Originally Posted by neilmarr
ALWAYS use 'The End'. As an editor, I made it a personal rule four decades ago to check the close of a manuyscript before reading. If the last page I had didn't clearly carry the words 'The End', the ms was returned to the author to add it. It's far too easy for closing pages to be accidentally missed otherwise. Neil
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When I first read this, Neil, I thought "that's overkill". My feeling is that, if you read the last page, and don't know that you've got to the last page, then the author has screwed up. (S)he hasn't provided a credible solution to the problems (s)he has created. A well-written book should make one sigh - with happiness for a happy ending, sadly for the other kind - when one has read the last paragraph, and knows that the story is over.
But then I began to reflect. I don't know how many books I've read - especially ones recommended by quality newspaper critics - where I've got to the last page and my reaction has been "and...?". But then, a good publisher wouldn't publish a book like that, would they? Maybe I should take a look at the book list at "Bewrite".
Thought for the day: I wonder if this is the criterion for a classic work? When one gets to the end of, say, "Pride and Prejudice" or "Far from the Madding Crowd" one knows one is there. All the loose ends are tied up in a most satisfactory way. Perhaps this is why I find myself turning more and more to the classics for a good read. And even in a series, each book should end satisfactorily, which doesn't preclude room for further development in the sequel.