Summary: Welcome to Part 2 of the Early Accountability podcast discussion of knowing how to end a chapter. With just two months left in this year – and this decade! – it can be tempting to skip ahead and start planning how to begin the new year, but an effective beginning comes only after an effective ending. You can’t commit to new endeavors and goals if you haven’t wrapped up the old ones, and perhaps it would be helpful for us to look at this process through the lens of an author. 1. “Break chapters when your story requires a shift. Changes of place, changes of time and changes of point of view are all excellent places for chapter breaks. Sometimes, our stories necessitate them.” (The Writer’s Digest) – Most people recognize when it is time for a change in their lives: a change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of location, etc. Take a look at what you need to do in your life to close the current chapter and make that change to a new start. 2. “Offer Wisdom: wisdom is a crucial ingredient in all great books; wisdom can be a fantastic way to end a chapter.” (The John Fox) – Often, looking back at the lessons you have learned during this chapter can give you the perspective that you need to understand that you are ready to move on. 3. “Use your chapter endings to look back and to look forward. No, not every problem is resolved, but there will be some closure. Not every chapter will have the same degree of closure as surrounding chapters.” (The Editor’s Blog) – Especially with relationships, it can be difficult to accept that there might not always be closure and you will have to move forward anyway. The Sankofa bird demonstrates the importance of looking back at the knowledge previously learned while still moving forward and applying those lessons to new experiences. 4. “Create an Arrival: Chapters don't have to end at the conclusion of a scene. They can end at the beginning of the next scene. It’s paradoxical, but your endings should be beginnings.” (The John Fox) – Endings are really new beginnings if you embrace the gaps and overlaps in between. A great example of this is graduations being called “commencements”, indicating that the completion of that degree is really the beginning of your next chapter. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Ending a chapter • The art of detachment • Wrapping up and letting go • Being confident in your endings Links: https://thejohnfox.com/2018/07/12-ways-to-end-a-chapter https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/complete-first-draft/3-ways-to-know-when-to-end-your-chapters https://theeditorsblog.net/2012/04/11/dual-duties-of-chapter-endings
