Book Quote by John Irving
“The book works better if I know everything I can about the ending. Not just what happens, but how it happens and what the language is; not just the last sentence, but enough of the sentences surrounding that last sentence to know what the tone of voice is. I imagined it as something almost musical. Then you are writing toward something; you know the sound of your voice at the end of the story. That's how you want to sound in those final sentences: the degree that it is uplifting or not, the degree that it is melancholic or not.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Writing, John Irving, 1995
Understanding a story’s ending shapes the entire narrative, guiding tone, language, and emotional resonance like a musical composition.
In simple terms: Knowing the ending guides the whole story’s tone and language.
Key Takeaway
Plan your ending to set the story’s emotional arc.
Themes
writing
storytelling
tone
structure
music
emotion
Mood
reflective
creative
analytical
Type
literary
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel planning
- scene drafting
- editing
- voice shaping
Key Concepts
Narrative design
musicality
emotional resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does knowing the ending affect your creative process?
- What risks arise from over‑planning the climax?
A Different Perspective
Focusing too much on the ending can stifle organic development.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
