| When starting out writing books with chapters | | | | emotions. How should the reader feel about the |
| there is one problem that everyone seems to | | | | information that has been presented? How do |
| encounter. That problem is how to end a chapter | | | | you, the author, feel about the information? How |
| -- without losing your reader. | | | | do you feel about the predicted results? |
| So let's deal with how to end a chapter first. | | | | Which version of conclusion you use, or which |
| When writing books with chapters, the whole | | | | combination for that matter, is a choice you as |
| point of a chapter is to organize your information. | | | | writer must make. |
| Think of a chapter as a small argument in the | | | | But no matter which version you choose there |
| overall argument which is your book. | | | | will still be a problem. The conclusion by its nature |
| Because it is an argument of its own, it needs its | | | | tells the reader "Stop reading, I'm finished". Which |
| own introduction and hook and it also needs its | | | | of course, you don't really want to happen unless |
| own conclusion. | | | | this is the final chapter. |
| So part of the answer is that chapters end with a | | | | The way to overcome this is with a paragraph |
| conclusion. But what do you need to include in the | | | | called a transition. |
| conclusion? | | | | The transition is a paragraph which hints at what |
| The first answer is to summarize the chapter. So | | | | is coming. Its task is to keep the reader reading. |
| far in the chapter, you've been making an | | | | In effect it sets up the hook in the next |
| argument or presenting facts that support an | | | | introduction. It can do this in many ways including |
| argument. So what are the key facts? Why are | | | | providing a glimpse of what is coming. In other |
| they important? | | | | words, by tweaking the reader's curiosity. Think |
| The second answer is to extend those facts. | | | | of it as a hook for the hook. Its sole purpose is |
| What do they imply? Why are they important? | | | | to make the reader curious about what will |
| What will happen if you ignore them? What will | | | | happen next. This technique reached its height in |
| happen if you pay attention to them? Predict the | | | | the movie serial where the hero was always |
| future. | | | | facing certain death at the end of week 1. And of |
| The third answer is to make a conclusion. In other | | | | course, having a split second reprieve at the |
| words, make a decision based on those facts and | | | | beginning of week 2. This technique would go on |
| state it. Be strong in your decision. Predict what | | | | for the whole run of the series. |
| will happen if the decision is ignored. Predict what | | | | So when writing books with chapters, the answer |
| will happen if the decision is followed. | | | | to the question of how to end a chapter; is to |
| The fourth answer is to appeal to the reader's | | | | end it with the hook to the next chapter. |