(2 min read.) Today’s creative writing tip can help you add momentum and urgency to your writing. Not sure where to start your story? Try writing the ending first.
Why this Creative Writing Tip Works
For creative work, I’m a huge fan of doing the most important part you can as soon as you can. This habit builds courage and confidence. Plus, it’s a little scary (which is an awful lot of fun.)
The end of your book (or play or movie or poem or memoir) is likely to be the most important part. It’s the moment your whole project has been building towards. Based on the neuroscience of memory, it’s what will stick with your audience the longest. (science fact.) So if anything matters the most in your story, it’s the ending. That probably means you should organize your whole project around it.
But, many writers spend a lot more time and energy on the beginning of their project and arrive at the finish line a little tired or fuzzy. Or they have a great story, but can’t quite satisfy readers with those final moments, so it kind of just peters out or fades to black. Nip that problem in the bud by making your ending first and working towards it.
This is also a great way to shake off “writer’s block” (which is often decision paralysis in a funny hat) and get yourself moving. You aren’t “writing a book” (a vague and large goal.) You have one job: write the last chapter today.
How to Use this Creative Writing Tip
Set a timer for half an hour, and have a good try at writing a first full draft of the end of your piece.
The last five minutes, the last five pages, or even just the closing line.
Even if you’re not sure how your story will end, or aren’t ready to commit to it just yet, give it a try. Try writing your ending. You can try a few times until you hit something you’re happy with.
Once you get a decent draft of it, take a couple of editing passes. (I’ll blog more about this soon but, yes: it’s okay to edit before you finish writing your first draft.)
Revise your ending until you get something you like. It might not be the ending you ultimately use, but treat it like you’re making a little jewel. See if you can make a little piece of writing that you love.
For now, act like this will be the real end to your story.
Now you know where you’re going. It’s time put your whole brain to work on how to get there. What will the audience already need to know to have that ending make sense? What context could make it matter more? How will you lead people to that ending? Let this simple question guide all your further writing choices.
How far away from that ending could you possibly start and still get there?
When Not to Use this Creative Writing Tip
If you know exactly how or where or when you want to start your story, and you’re full of momentum and excitement and are hyped up to write the beginning right now, DO THAT INSTEAD.
Always write what feels right and thrilling (or at least possible) to do next, no matter what advice you hear from me or anyone else!!!!
But if you aren’t sure where to get started, or you really feel like mixing it up, I recommend you try to write your ending. You might not keep it. But just try it… maybe right now?
(Want something else practical? Try 55 Ways to Stop Procrastination.)
xo, megan
There’s no one way to write. There’s only your way. I hope some of my tactics and ideas can help you find it.
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