Your ending should come when the main character reaches or fails to reach their goal For example, if your character wants to be rich, they could go through various challenges in order to buy a lottery ticket. Do they succeed? If so, end with the moment they hear all the numbers on their ticket being announced.
For example, you might end your story with a scene that presents the aftermath of a major decision that resolved your story’s conflict.
Ask yourself these questions to figure out which type of conflict you’re using: Are the characters in your story fighting against nature? Against each other? Against themselves (an internal or emotional battle)? An example of human-versus-nature conflict would be someone stranded in the woods in the middle of winter. They must find a place to get warm, out of the elements.
You might write, “My grandfather always made a point of expecting me to do the just and fair thing, in any situation. Now that I am a police officer I understand why he felt this was so important. . . "
For example: “Why should we care about Noni and his village?” “Because the warming climate caused the sea levels to rise and flood his village. If we don’t learn from his mistakes and act fast, we could suffer the same fate. "
For example: “Why should we care about Noni and his village?” “Because the warming climate caused the sea levels to rise and flood his village. If we don’t learn from his mistakes and act fast, we could suffer the same fate. "
For example: “I realized all my hard work and long rehearsals had led me to this moment, standing on this incredible stage. . . "
For example: “Denise folded the letter, kissed it, and set it down on the table, next to the money. They would have questions for her, she knew, but in time they would learn, as she had done, to find their own answers. "
For a personal or academic essay, your conclusion could take the form of a final paragraph or set of paragraphs. If you are working on a sci-fi novel, then the conclusion might be an entire chapter or two. Don’t end with common cliche endings, which will disappoint your reader. For example, don’t end your story like this: “A blinding light pierced my eyes, so I lifted my hand to shield them. At that moment, I felt the cocoon of soft blankets around me and the comfort of my pillow. I opened my eyes, realizing it had all been a dream. "
For example, if your story ends with the heroine saving the village from the dragon, you could have a warrior giving over his prized sword to her. Without even having any dialogue, you still show the reader that this is significant.
“Timmy knew the monster was defeated, sinking into the depths of the toilet bowl, but he stood and waited anyway, watching for every spot of brown to disappear, until nothing but a clear, blue calm remained. He did not move until his reflection returned to him in the surface of the bowl’s water. "
“As Sam said goodbye and revved motorcycle, Joe could feel her becoming a memory–taking off in an explosion of sound, then stretching away, a rocket’s arc down the street, until she was nothing more than the aftermath of a firework, a thrilling vision he would always feel lucky to have seen up close. "
For example, if your story begins with a person looking at a leftover piece of cake, but refusing it, end it with the same person looking at the cake (or a different one). If they overcame anorexia, you could have them eat the cake.
For example, Homer’s “The Odyssey” the main character Odysseus attempts to go home a number of times and fails, encountering monsters along the way. Each failure adds excitement to the story, but what he learns about himself ends up being more important. When he does eventually make it home, his accomplishment holds more meaning because of all his failures.
Endings should make sense based on what has happened earlier.
Endings should make sense based on what has happened earlier.
For example, if your characters come across a secret doorway to a fantasy land while looking for their lost dog, return to the dog at the end. Let them visit the fantasy land, then have them find their lost dog at the end.
For example, if your characters come across a secret doorway to a fantasy land while looking for their lost dog, return to the dog at the end. Let them visit the fantasy land, then have them find their lost dog at the end.
For example, your readers might be bored by a character who wakes up, goes to school, comes home, and goes to bed. Let something new and surprising happen. Have her come across a strange package on her doorstep with her name on it.
What new conflicts, for example, now await your heroes now that the monster has been destroyed? How long will the kingdom remain at peace?
