tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post5713186838687230918..comments2023-09-10T06:13:15.389-04:00Comments on Nine Naughty Novelists: Epilogues: when enough is not enoughkellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13865842550376328393noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-66164291755381912832010-08-23T20:22:30.140-04:002010-08-23T20:22:30.140-04:00Good point, Kelly. I think that's probably the...Good point, Kelly. I think that's probably the ones I like best as well.PG Fortehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00819909187492632526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-31290305395019250562010-08-23T18:59:16.220-04:002010-08-23T18:59:16.220-04:00I love being one of the Naughty Nine. You ladies a...I love being one of the Naughty Nine. You ladies are all so smart and talented.<br /><br />Back to the question about prologues and epilogues. I like 'em. Mostly. When I really like an epilogue: when the romance has happened so fast (like say, in a romantic suspense story) that they haven't actually gotten to that "I love you, marry me, have my babies" point. I want to know it happens, though.kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865842550376328393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-29472594545899127742010-08-23T14:03:15.587-04:002010-08-23T14:03:15.587-04:00I haven't got an epilogue in any of my current...I haven't got an epilogue in any of my current stories, but I do have one planned for my WIP. It jumps ahead about 40 years to the character's future so I can introduce a tie-in character to a contemp book who inspired the WIP in the first place. (A grandmother telling a story about her grandparents' relationship.) <br /><br />I like epilogues for the most part, as long as they are scenes and not static wrap ups of "who is doing what now." If the author can skilfully show us what's going on with the characters instead without making a laundry list, it works a lot better.Leah Braemelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05926632511671914080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-82333620579586700752010-08-23T11:40:50.959-04:002010-08-23T11:40:50.959-04:00I used an epilogue in one of my stories. (Currentl...I used an epilogue in one of my stories. (Currently in some polishing/editing stages before I submit it.) I used it because there was one thread of the story line I wanted to tie up, but it wasn't long enough for its own chapter, but too long to fit on the end of the last chapter of the book.Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-80028958822517061402010-08-23T11:10:39.316-04:002010-08-23T11:10:39.316-04:00I think it's because when you really love a bo...I think it's because when you really love a book, you just don't want it to end. On the other hand, I can definitely see Skylar's point. Especially in a series, a fast leap ahead can be confusing since you know there'll be other stories to be told before the action in the epilogue happens.Meg Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01081153466394828760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-60720973748044984662010-08-23T11:01:12.272-04:002010-08-23T11:01:12.272-04:00Yes. And I think you've hit on exactly on one ...Yes. And I think you've hit on <i>exactly</i> on one of the books I had in mind! When I finish reading a book I really love I always turn to the epilogue with a bit of trepidation. Sure, I want to know how it all turned out...but do I really? <br /><br />Sometimes, I breathe a satisfied sigh of relief. Other times, I wish I'd just been left with a feeling of hope and a vague belief it would all work out just the way <i>I</i> wanted it to.PG Fortehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00819909187492632526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334971464359338872.post-85225458304674644542010-08-23T10:49:02.471-04:002010-08-23T10:49:02.471-04:00I'm in the love/hate camp, too. Love when the ...I'm in the love/hate camp, too. Love when the epilogue provides a cliffhanger to the next book (unless you're going to be waiting YEARS for it to come out) but tend to dislike those that fast-forward into the future to show everyone married with babies (especially if they were wizarding kids in the story). Just as you said--epilogues can be disastrous if they don't jive with what the reader wants to happen for the future of the characters.Skylar Kadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07820959078583565408noreply@blogger.com