vanillabean

I'm revising a short story that I have to hand in tomorrow for my university course. It's all going pretty well except for the ending. My story is about a women who has a brief relationship with a man and follows him overseas only to find that a) she doesn't like the new place he is living and b) their relationship is not serious. I've got her over there but I'm not sure how to bring the conflict to a head before finding the resolution (her leaving).

Does anyone have any advice? I'd really appreciate it.

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cbrmale

If I was writing it, the finale would be based around lots of dialogue and very little prose.

As the story progresses, you probably need ways of subtly illustrating her dislike of aspects of this place and a nagging feeling that things aren't serious through using prose. Looking into her head and telling the readers what she is thinking and worrying about. Little hints, nothing too obvious.

And then set up a scenario for a final full-out discussion or argument or whatever between the two characers that exposes her true feelings, his lack of genuine feeling for her and her announcement of the reasons why she is leaving him and this place. This is the dialogue that the finale is built around.

Maybe followed by a resolution of her departure as she boards a plane on her own.

darthwader

Depending on how serious you want the story to be, you could use the classic 'one step too far' cliche. For example you could have him ask her to cook, then say that it's 'what women do,' just so she get's offended and leaves.

Alternatively, if you have concentrated solely on her feelings, ignoring what the man thinks, you could take an ironic route by having him turn around and say "I don't think that this is working out. I think you should leave."

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Mike C

Light-hearted answer - watch the last couple of episodes of Sex in the City, where exactly what you're describing happened.

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aisha

Please post it if you ever get chance. I'm sure we'd all love to read it.

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vanillabean

Thanks, your suggestions were helpful. I finally managed to hand it in yesterday. Still could use some work but its a lot better than the first draft I did of it. Willl see if I can find a good place on the site to post it.

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bobwriter

Please tell me you have posted the entire thing somewhere. I have to know how it ends. Then sell it somewhere. I can't imagine someone wouldn't buy it.