Stuck for an ending...

rockbeer

I'm working on a short story at the moment and it's all coming together nicely except the very end. I know exactly what needs to happen, I'm just not sure how to achieve it...

Basically at the end of the story some people (secondary characters) move into a new apartment they've just bought. I need them to find something in their new pad that tells us (the reader) that the previous occupant died in an accident. It really doesn't matter what they find, it doesn't need to be dramatic or anything, could be as simple as a letter or photograph, and it certainly doesn't want to be ghastly or gory. No blood-soaked clothes or corpses. It's also not important what kind of accident it was as any required back story can be built into what goes before. I've played with loads of ideas but just can't come up with anything convincing.

Virtual beers for anyone who can suggest a believable way to finish this thing off.

~Rebel~

rockbeer wrote: »

I'm working on a short story at the moment and it's all coming together nicely except the very end. I know exactly what needs to happen, I'm just not sure how to achieve it...

Basically at the end of the story some people (secondary characters) move into a new apartment they've just bought. I need them to find something in their new pad that tells us (the reader) that the previous occupant died in an accident. It really doesn't matter what they find, it doesn't need to be dramatic or anything, could be as simple as a letter or photograph, and it certainly doesn't want to be ghastly or gory. No blood-soaked clothes or corpses. It's also not important what kind of accident it was as any required back story can be built into what goes before. I've played with loads of ideas but just can't come up with anything convincing.

Virtual beers for anyone who can suggest a believable way to finish this thing off.

First quick thought that occured to me is that they go to light the fire in their new apartment, and find it filled with newspapers (pretty normal occurance in any house i've lived in). They pull out the newspapers, and find a photo of the room they're in on one. Story on the page relates to a suicide/death/fire/whatever you want yourself. Hope this helps!

rockbeer

~Rebel~ wrote: »

First quick thought that occured to me is that they go to light the fire in their new apartment, and find it filled with newspapers (pretty normal occurance in any house i've lived in). They pull out the newspapers, and find a photo of the room they're in on one. Story on the page relates to a suicide/death/fire/whatever you want yourself. Hope this helps!

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, that might work... think I'll have to adapt it a bit though. Can't see how the previous owner would have been able to get the relevant paper into the fire pile if she was already dead. However, if it was in amongst a pile of free local rags clogging up the hallway when they open the door...

Right, no more excuses, now I have to write it.

Thanks again

colmmeister

find a childs letter / diary under loose floor board, daddy/mommy very sick with bad cough (cancer or whatever) ppl find it.

Sea Monkey

Maybe find an monogrammed artificial leg under the christmas tree with a very special message from a long dead friend?:eek:

davyjose

Ghost FTW

Sam Kade

rockbeer wrote: »

I'm working on a short story at the moment and it's all coming together nicely except the very end. I know exactly what needs to happen, I'm just not sure how to achieve it...

Basically at the end of the story some people (secondary characters) move into a new apartment they've just bought. I need them to find something in their new pad that tells us (the reader) that the previous occupant died in an accident. It really doesn't matter what they find, it doesn't need to be dramatic or anything, could be as simple as a letter or photograph, and it certainly doesn't want to be ghastly or gory. No blood-soaked clothes or corpses. It's also not important what kind of accident it was as any required back story can be built into what goes before. I've played with loads of ideas but just can't come up with anything convincing.

Virtual beers for anyone who can suggest a believable way to finish this thing off.

Does the person that comes with the best ending get a share of the profits?

Feelgood

What about a snuff video of the previous occupant?. Also explains why they died?.

elshambo

Dot cotten living next door

a bloke with a sign saying "writers device" around his kneck tells them

the butler did it

the last security video in the panic room showing the auld fella croke on a bit of brocilli (nature's killer)

i died in an accident written out in blood on the floor

the previous couple are still alive and the new couple are dead aka 6th sense

letter from the police telling the house owner he is innocent of his own death as it was an accident

letter from the church saying that they will not be kicking them out of the family plot as it was proven that they died naturally and not as part of a cult mass suicide

accident report sent by pc plod to the house for the family that says "yer da did die so he did in an accident so it was"

letter from the electricitty company telling them that due to the big blow out the house will have to be fully tested before the juice goes back on;)

(dont even try and sue if last one appears elsewhere in a few years!)

rockbeer

Why do I get the feeling some of you aren't taking this entirely seriously?

Special award to Feelgood for the snuff video, sadly I think that's a different story. Might write that one next.

Elshambo, if I knew what a 'kneck' was I might use the 'writer's device' sign

Thanks everyone. It's done now.

elshambo

rockbeer wrote: »

Why do I get the feeling some of you aren't taking this entirely seriously?

Elshambo, if I knew what a 'kneck' was I might use the 'writer's device' sign

The last one is the serious one
as for a kneck, ive been informed that people from the midlands have them