The Last Chapter
Most mornings, I go onto the porch to sit and sip my coffee and listen to the birds. It’s my way of easing into the day, like warming up the engine of a car before you drive it. From where I sit, I have a clear view of the yard, the garden, and the pond beyond. There are times when the morning starts out clear, then a fog drifts in, the scene before me obscured by a cloudy haze in a matter of moments. That’s sort of how I felt as I wrote the last chapter of the novel I’ve been working on for ages. Things were a bit murky.
From the very beginning, I’ve known how this story ends. Now that the time had come to pen the final chapter, the details were a little foggy. This may sound funny to those out there who’ve never written a long piece of fiction, but writing the last chapter is intimidating. I don’t just want to finish. I want to finish well. Throughout the process of creating this story, I’ve had my readers in mind. I don’t want to drop the ball just as I cross the finish line. I want everyone who reads the book to feel satisfied after they turn the last page. No loose ends, no plot threads that feel out of place. At the very least, I want to give readers a well-written story that’s fun and fulfilling. Ulitmately, I want to touch their hearts.
In addition, I feel a responsibility to my protagonist, Eddie Jo. I’ve carried her story for a very long time, and I want to do it justice. You may be thinking this odd considering Eddie Jo Johnson isn’t a real person. To that I’ll just say, she may not be a real person, but she has a real message. I don’t think she’d be happy with me if I fail to communicate the point of it all.
So, how could I bring the details of the story’s end into focus? Funny thing about the early morning fog, it doesn’t stay long. I only needed to sit a spell, sip my coffee, and write.
If you’re curious about Eddie Jo’s story, hop on over to my Projects page, then come back here and drop a comment to let me know what you think.