Iona Winter

Endings and goodbyes are things I try to do well. In real life.

In story-writing terms however, I’m not so great at them. Knowing how a story will end feels like trying to be a psychic. Does the process of writing (and rewriting) a story ever end?

Most people (I think) would prefer to avoid endings. They’re often painful, sad or unhappy events where all that unresolved stuff comes right back up to the surface again. WHAM! Right up in your face, and we’re unable to ignore them completely. Sometimes we just need to sit on the floor and sob. Yeah, really sob our guts out…

I’ve made the brave (some might say stupid) decision to move cities. Life in the big smoke has become untenable. Long story short, the pay doesn’t cover the bills. And so I’m off to live beside the sea. Dream location…and significantly reduced bills. BUT it means I have many endings to attend to.

So far, the results are mixed. I’ve gone into the decision with the best intentions, letting people know ‘sooner rather than later’. BUT some people are very unhappy and their responses are painful at best. You know those real ouch moments? Yeah, those ones…

I suppose some of us are more used to change and the resulting upheaval. We’re able to easily meld ourselves into new shapes and forms, seemingly unhindered by the process. BUT the more I think about it, I reckon we’re just excellent at pretending. Endings can be incredibly sad.

I’m approaching ‘rewrite time’ with ‘The Novel’ and still the ending is unclear. I cannot predict where it will end up. Maybe I’m avoiding any potential sadness.

Will there be a happy ending? Or are those completely out of fashion?

How do I convey the mix of emotions I experience in real life?

AND will I sob on the floor, with the lights out when it’s all over?

I have no idea…