Possibilities

Writing a great ending to a story is just as important as a riveting opening that attracts our attention and compels us to mentally linger over the story. Our response may be filled with joy, hope, happiness, or it may lead us to feel uncomfortable, frown, or contemplate the unknown mysteries of life.

I often say in my classes that I don’t believe there’s a predictable formula for every ending.  But, it’s essential to provide an emotional landing place, so the audience can feel a sense that their lives have been made richer for having heard the story. And while that may not be an easy feat, here are three tips to remember.

Find the right moment to end
It’s crucial to realize when it’s time to stop. The trick is to acknowledge mistakes and calamities without reiteration or blame, while at the same time avoiding any saccharine projections into the future.

Don’t end prematurely!
Sometimes the curtain falls with a surprising thud. Beware of premature endings that leave too many threads still unraveled. Crimes should be solved and the world saved from villains.
Most of my students write about themselves or an event in their lives. Focus on what makes a point, has a theme, and requires an enlightened ending, even though a life isn’t over. It doesn’t have to be happy, successful or inspiring.  What’s more important in a coming-of-age story are the resolutions of obstacles overcome, with experience and wisdom for anything that might follow.

Endings are about change
It’s disappointing for a reader to reach the end of a story only to realize that the characters and continuing events are basically at the same point as the beginning. 
Endings are about change. Fiction and narrative nonfiction stories are about overcoming major obstacles, quests, and transformations. The changes may not be all good. The story may be upsetting or depressing. But if no one learns anything and the challenges faced at the outset remain static and identical to those at the end, the story will seem pointless, unsatisfying, and without significance, not to mention the character staid.

Remember stories are about life which is why we respond to them.  Personally, my interest gets piqued by character-driven material— it’s one of the reasons why I love movies. I like to fall for characters featuring ordinary people who succeed in overcoming extraordinary challenges.   

What about you?
Are you working on the ending of a story? I’ll watch for any questions here in comments.