JoHoTo #12 The Aftermath
Because obviously no story ends as soon as the conflict is over. Everyone still wants to know...what happened to character X? Has character Y grown
because of this? Is character Z really dead?
And that's where the aftermath comes in.
Usually, the aftermath will have its own entire chapter or even an epilogue, but either way it's a chance for the author to wrap up any loose ends and
give the audience one final look at how the MC has grown since the start of the novel.
The aftermath for serialized fiction is slightly different than for standalone novels in that the final chapter is usually the lead-in for the next book.
("Thank goodness we defeated Dr. Tabasco. But what do you suppose he meant when he said 'Watch out for my cousin Seņor Salsa?'")
Here's what your audience is expecting in the aftermath:
-How is your villain coping after the defeat (assuming he/she is still alive)? Believe it or not, your audience IS curious to find out
what happened after Dr. Tabasco was led away in handcuffs. Has he seen the error of his ways? Did he escape from Condiment Correctional Facility?
Inquiring minds want to know.
-How is your MC handling the victory? Because not all victories are Hooo Yeahhhh! Some are bittersweet, especially if the MC had to
give up something personal (a loved one, a treasured memento) in the process.
-Has your MC really grown as a person since the start of the novel? Again, this is usually revealed in reflective thoughts/conversation
by the MC or in the MC's actions.
-How are the sidekicks holding up? Your audience will no doubt have fallen in love with the MC's BFF or brother or sister or guinea pig,
and if they're any sort of good sidekick, they'll have been with your MC during the showdown. How did it affect them?
-Is life back to the way it was? The answer should always be NO. Something should have been altered in the MC's universe by the actions
of the story, even it's the tiniest detail. The end result of any conflict should be change to the status quo, whether it be for better or worse. Think
of your personal life. Would you really be satisfied if, after you butted heads with someone, nothing had changed?
-What lessons can be learned from this story? I know, I know, we're not supposed to preach as authors, but admittedly, every story is
told with some life lesson in mind (Pregnant teens are people too; True greatness comes from within; Don't feed Gizmo after midnight). If your audience
hasn't picked up on it by now (why not???), this is the perfect time to subtly weave it into the finish.
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