I actually read
this in a big comedy anthology years ago. I was a kid then, and I'm supposedly a writer now, but it's amazing the way a thing like this sticks with you.
Lesson 2-The Ending
All too often, the budding author finds that his tale has run its course and yet he sees no way to satisfactorily end it, or, in literary parlance, "wrap it up." Observe how easily I resolve this problem:Suddenly, everyone was run over by a truck.
-the end-
If the story happens to be set in England, use the same ending, slightly modified:Suddenly, everyone was run over by a lorry.
-the end-
If set in France: Soudaincment, tout le monde etait ecrass par un camion. -finis-
You'll be surprised at how many different settings and situations this ending applies to. For instance, if you were writing a story about ants, it would end "Suddenly, everyone was run over by a centipede." In fact, this is the only ending you ever need use.
I think every story I've ever written has been built around this principle.
# posted by
Gerry Canavan @ 11:57 PM
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