Epilogues - The Last Word On Your Story

with guest Winnie Griggs

Hello everyone.  Winnie Griggs here and I’m very excited to be back at Seekerville.  It’s always fun to spend time here.  Last time I posted here I discussed Prologues, so I thought this time I would discuss Epilogues.

First a quick definition of what an Epilogue is, as it relates to a work of fiction. 

An epilogue provides a comment, conclusion or depicts consequences of the actions within the story itself and always appears at the end of the story, AFTER the climax.   

So let’s discuss how we know if we even need an epilogue to our story.  The short answer is no.  If you’ve done your work properly, and provided a satisfying climax, your story will not NEED an epilogue to feel complete.  However, there may be a number of reasons why you would WANT an epilogue.

Think of it this way.  Compare it to baking a cake.  If you mix and bake the batter properly so that it comes out light and tasty, and then you top it with a yummy frosting, then the outcome is quite satisfying. However, if you as the baker, sense there is a little something extra you can do to enhance the eating experience, say add some chocolate curls to the top, then by all means do so. 

So let’s talk about when you might WANT to add an epilogue.  Here are a few reasons.

·      To show the ‘Happily Ever After’ in more detail. 
This is probably the most common type of epilogue, especially in the world of romance novels.  If you’ve done your job right, by the time you get to the end of your story, your readers should be totally invested in your characters.  An epilogue is an ideal way to make the jump to sometime in the future to show that the HEA you gave them at the end of your story truly ‘stuck’.

·      To show the consequences of some event or decision made by characters in your story.
Perhaps this is not the kind of story that has a happily ever after, at least not for all of your characters.  In that case, you might want to show the long term consequences of those wrong turns taken by your characters.

·      To tie up any loose ends after the story’s climax.
If for some reason your story called for an abrupt or traumatic ending then there may be some issues relating to the fate of your characters that you want to clarify. 

·      To plant seeds for a sequel
If you already have plans for a follow up story, there may be some teasers you can plant with an epilogue to whet your readers’ appetites.

·      To show some impact on the world of your novel
This would most commonly be used in a story that deals with a political, sociological or world-in-turmoil focus.  In this case you could use an epilogue to show how the characters or events of the story affected the story world itself.

There are other reasons, but these re the most common ones.

All that being said, there are a few good reasons NOT to write an epilogue.

·      To wrap up your story
Your story should be able to stand alone without the epilogue.  If there are loose ends, it is best to find a way to resolve these in the final chapters of your story.

·      Because you as the writer hate to say good-bye to your characters or storyworld.
An epilogue must serve a story purpose, must add something positive to the reader experience to earn its place in your book.  If not, it runs the risk of being deadweight, resulting in having your story end on an anti-climatic note.    

In other words, the epilogue should impart something that adds to the reader’s appreciation of your story, but that depicts something that is clearly beyond the main storyline.

Okay, so you’ve decided that your story could benefit from an epilogue.  So how to do you go about writing one that is effective?

Here are a few DOs and DON’Ts to help with that:

DO 

·      Know your purpose
Whether it is to serve one of the purposes I described above, or some other purpose, make certain you have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish and then focus your words on doing just that.  Which brings us to...

·      Keep it tight
An epilogue should generally be short and simple.  You already had your climax so you don’t want to draw these final notes out.  This is not the time to introduce new characters or conflicts unless, of course, you are planting seeds for a follow-up story.  But again, don’t draw things out.

·      Separate the epilogue from the rest of your story
There should be a definite time break of some sort, the more time the better.  This not only gives the reader a sense of perspective, but it keeps your prologue from feeling like merely the continuation of the previous chapter.

·      Make certain it ‘flows’
Just as in every other scene in your book, your epilogue should flow logically (though not necessarily predictably) from what came before. 

DON’T

·      Avoid being repetitive
Don’t merely mimic what you’ve already depicted in your story’s climax.  If you’re not going to show us something new, then there’s no point in having the epilogue in the first place.

·      Don’t stray to far from your overall theme and tone
Again, this should be recognizable as a part of the novel itself.  The voice of the epilogue should be consistent with the voice of the novel as a whole.

·      Don’t include an epilogue ‘just because’
I’ve said this before but it bears repeating - an epilogue must justify its existence with a firm story purpose.  You want to make certain when your reader closes your book it is with a sigh of satisfaction, not with the vague feeling that the story went on just a little too long. 

In closing, before penning an epilogue for your story, make sure you know exactly why it is needed.  And, as objectively as possible, question the need and ask yourself if it will add any value to your reader’s overall enjoyment of your story.

There you have it, my thoughts on Epilogues.  So what do you think?  Do you agree with the various points I made?  And reasons or tips do you have that I left out? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And since I have a new book out this month, I’ll give a copy of Lone Star Heiress to two folks who leave a comment here.



Click to Buy

Rescuer Turned Husband? 

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower's heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn't dare try again. 

When Turnabout's gossips target Mitch and Ivy's friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn't want to marry for honor, and she doesn't need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love's sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer? 

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace.  She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.

On a fun note - having been born on a Friday the 13^th, Winnie has always considered 13 her lucky number.  This belief was recently reinforced when her 13^th book, Handpicked Husband, won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in - what else - 2013.
Winnie loves to hear from readers.  You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

Epilogues: Love in Action with Guest Blogger Karen Kirst

First of all, I’d like to thank the lovely Seekers for having me here today! While I’ve been a long-time lurker and occasional commenter, this is my first time blogging on this site, and I’m truly excited to interact with all of you.  Since I’m a huge tea lover, I’d like to invite you to enjoy a steaming cup of Earl Grey and chocolate chip scones. 

 Have you ever been standing in line at your favorite coffee shop, patiently waiting to order when you discover a total stranger has generously paid for yours?  Or sitting at your favorite restaurant waiting on the check when your server informs you that another patron has paid for your meal?  Well I have, and it felt fantastic!  An unexpected kindness is something you won’t soon forget.  That’s how I see epilogues.  For 200+ pages, I’ve struggled right along with the hero and heroine, shedding tears for her, railing at the hero, so when I get to the end, I feel like I’ve earned the right to see them actually happy together.  Don’t get me wrong, I live for that final scene—the tender apologies, the whispered words of love and commitment, the fireworks-in-the-sky kiss. But the epilogue, that’s the bonus, the last cookie in the bag when you thought your kids ate them all.  As my editor, Emily Rodmell, has said, “Our readers love epilogues.  It gives them a chance to see the happily ever afters in action. It’s like the icing on a cake.” 
    
Epilogues come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be fun and flirty, emotionally intense, crowded with secondary characters or private interludes with the hero and heroine.  They can be long or short or somewhere in between.  And there’s no rule that says they have to center around a wedding ceremony.  Maybe your happy couple is on their honeymoon or renovating their new house.  Maybe your final scene didn’t end with a marriage proposal.  Wouldn’t it be neat to do it up right in the epilogue?  This is the perfect time to show resolutions or dreams-come-true that weren’t possible in the final scene.  What if your heroine has struggled with infertility in the past?  Since you can fast forward into the future, you have the chance to show her joyfully sharing her happy news with her new husband.  Or giving birth to their long-awaited bundle of joy.  Or perhaps your hero was planning to switch careers or start his own business.  You can allude to his success in his new venture. 

I sometimes use the epilogue to give readers a hint about the next book in the series.  Here’s a brief excerpt from my November Love Inspired Historical release, The Husband Hunt, book four in my Smoky Mountain Matches series.  Nathan O’Malley is the hero, Caleb is his younger brother.  The whole family has gathered for a Thanksgiving feast.  The day is nearly done, and Nathan notices Caleb trying to slip away unnoticed. 

He caught sight of Caleb slipping out the kitchen door and followed.

“Hey,” Nathan closed the door behind him, “where are you sneaking off to?”

Caleb pivoted back, kicked up a shoulder.  “Just going to check on the cows.”

“Too much togetherness for one day?” he stepped off the porch and joined him, sensing the nervous energy his brother radiated.  Sorrow overtook him as the truth sunk in.  Caleb was leaving.

“You could say that,” he hedged, his restless gaze scanning the horizon.

“When are you leaving?”

His brows shot up.  “How did you know?”

Nathan settled a hand on his shoulder.  “Wasn’t that hard to figure out.  I’m surprised you’ve stuck around as long as you have.”

“Figured I’d ease the workload for a while after your wedding,” a ghost of a smile crossed his lips, “give you and Sophie time to adjust to married life.”

Nathan huffed a laugh. “Thanks, bro.  I appreciate that.”

“No problem.”

“Are you sure you won’t stay a little longer?”

Caleb’s gaze darkened.  “I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.”

What did that mean?  

Seeing the unspoken question, he continued, “My presence around town bothers Rebecca.  Well, let’s be honest, it bothers more folks than just her.  But she’s the one I’m most concerned about.”

“You can’t let others’ opinions rule your life.  If you’re around more often, seeing you wouldn’t come as such a shock.”

Pulling away, Caleb’s jaw set in stubborn lines.  “I’ve already made my decision, Nate.”
The door opened then, and Sophie joined them, linking her arm with his.

    Copyright [2013] by [Karen Kirst] Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.  

By inserting this conversation, I’ve hinted to the reader that Caleb’s story is next. The reader now knows that Caleb is leaving town and that he has a problem with Rebecca, who I introduced earlier in the story.

I’ll be honest, I usually squeak by the minimum word count requirement, and epilogues are a great way for me to reach it.  But the main reason I include them is that I’m simply not ready for the story to end.  And I’m hoping the reader isn’t either.   

Here’s a brief description of the book I’m giving away today, The Husband Hunt, recently awarded 4.5 stars from Romantic Times.

 

Wanted: A Husband  

Sophie Tanner gave up hoping for Nathan O'Malley's approval—and love—long ago. Getting married is the only way to protect her younger brother and keep her family's Smoky Mountain farm. As much as she'd like Nathan to be the groom, he can't seem to get past their friendship…or their differences. 

Since they were children, Nathan has known Sophie was too impulsive, too headstrong. She's forever rushing into situations without thinking them through, like this scheme to snare a husband in under a month. Nathan always thought he'd  fall in love with someone like himself—sensible, cautious, levelheaded. Sophie is his polar opposite. So why can't he picture anyone else at his side?   

Smoky Mountain Matches: Dreams of home and family come true in the Smoky Mountains.

What are your thoughts?  Are you for or against?  Apathetic?  Or does it depend on the story?  For writers, what influences your decision on whether or not to include an epilogue?


      
Karen Kirst was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she received a B.A. in Speech Communication. A lifelong lover of books, it wasn't until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. The pursuit of her dream would take longer than she first anticipated...years, in fact. In the fall of 2010, she got the happy news that Harlequin Love Inspired Historicals wanted to publish her manuscript-a true blessing from God. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom, and romance writer. She and her husband, along with their three boys, recently said goodbye to military life and are thrilled to be back home in Tennessee. 

You can find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KarenKirst.author

Twitter @KarenKirst or swing by her website www.karenkirst.com for information about her books.

Karen is giving away a copy of her November release, The Husband Hunt, to one commenter. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition!