Question of the Week: In a novel, what's hardest to write?

This is Ruth writing.

Ann asks: What's hardest to write, the beginning, middle, or end, and why?

For me it's the ending.

When I start the novel I already have the middle.

The beginning is fun to write because it's a challenge to come up with a hook.

The end is tough because when I start writing I don't know what the ending is.

Or if I do know, it seems too pat and I need to bump up the challenge and make it tougher.

Which, incidentally, just about sums up how I handle my life, as well.

"This hike isn't hard enough. How can I make it more of a challenge?"