Yay….we have reached the end of our journey – but before I get into this week’ spread, I wanted to announce the name that my Instagram readers came up with for our short story – and I have to say, it’s pretty darn perfect — Mysteries, Deception, and The Full Moon! Ahhhh, I love it!
Ok, now I’d like to introduce you to the Happily Ever After spread where you can make sure that all of your loose ends are tied, that you and your characters are happy (or as happy as they’re going to be) and that your ideal reader will be satisfied with the ending you give them.
Journaling Prompts
Just like last time, I have a few journaling prompts or things to think about before you dive into this spread:
- What happens next, after I type The End?
- How far from my planned ending am I?
- Am I happy with the current ending? Why or why not?
Once you have those thoughts pretty firmed up, move on to the five questions below and find out how things are doing as we near closing the book, so to speak.
The Reading
For us, I feel like Paige has most changed by growing up some. She became more focused, less wishy-washy about what she wants out of life and she now realizes that life isn’t always fair – there’s hard work, difficult choices, and consequences to her actions. I feel like she’s learned that truth isn’t always easy to deal with and one person’s truth affects others – and they might not be in agreement.
Since we are using an antagonistic force, rather than a person, I feel like that morphed from being karmic cycles to more about vision and being in control of one’s own life. This ties in nicely with Paige’s character arc from beginning to end as well.
I need to make sure all of the stuff with her Dad is dealt with so that the audience knows if they’re going to have some kind of relationship after all is said and done – basically that nothing is left unsaid. Because I feel like my ideal reader will want to see Paige becoming more in control of her own life, dealing with grown-up issues as best she can – rather than running, hiding, lying – and being more prepared to deal with adult relationships and problems.
What do you see in the cards? I’d love to know your final thoughts before I take all of this and complete final edits and proofing to make this the best short story ever! I’m going to be taking one whole week off to do this and get the PDF ready and then I’ll be sending it directly to my newsletter on Friday, September 3rd so make sure you drop that email into the red box below to join now!
I also wanted to thank you – this has been so much fun, given me a cool diversion from editing my novel, and a chance to take my new spreads out for a spin. If you have any questions about using tarot in your writing, please let me know below in the comments or send me an email.
The End (First Draft)
I was just about to walk out of my father’s house, for what felt like the last time, when he came rushing out of the back room.
“Don’t leave,” he said. “Not yet, not like this.”
I had the door half way propped open and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Heidi was in the car, and it was running, I knew I couldn’t stay in here much longer. But I also didn’t want to leave with things left unsaid. We had both hurt one another, and leaving now would make things harder later.
I shut the door, turned around, and leaned against the door. Dad and I looked at each other. Him waiting for me to speak, me waiting for him to speak.
Finally he sat down on the couch and said, “I know I’ve said things, mean horrible things, and I think I meant them in the moment but if I could take them back, I would.”
I sat down on teh arm of the chair closest to teh door and sighed. “I know,” I said. I rubbed my arm with the opposite hand. “I said things too.”
“Yes, you did.”
I looked up and saw how broken my Dad actually was. He was teetering on losing it. He had lost Mom to prison and was now about to lose his only daughter because of his inability to deal with change. He had hurt me, caused me to question so many things, but he was my father and without Mom in the picture, was it fair to leave him behind completely?
“I’m sorry,” I said and I meant it. I was sorry for hurting him, for saying things I knew would cut deep. “I have to go, but I don’t want to lose you.”
He smiled, but still looked sad. He nodded and I got back up.
“Don’t be a stranger,” he said not moving from the couch. This was something he used to say to his best friend when he would come to visit from Seattle. Don’t be a stranger meant hurry back, call sometime, send a funny text when you get a chance. Was that all we were going to be from now on?
“I won’t Dad, I promise.” I opened the door and walked out onto the porch. It felt like years since I came home from that first date with Heidi, before Mom was arrested, before any of this happened. The door shut behind me and I walked away from the house and to the car.
Thank you for joining me on this journey — if you are a new subscriber to my newsletter and would like a copy of the finished story – just email me and I’ll send it right over! -Jennifer
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