Writing a book is akin to embarking on an epic voyage. It’s a journey that begins with the birth of an idea, followed by a string of narratives, characters, and plots that form the skeleton of your literary universe. As you meticulously weave your stories, every beginning, middle, and end matters. However, the ending leaves the most profound impact, often determining how readers remember and value your book. Indeed, crafting a proper ending is not only important, it may even supersede the importance of the opening.
An engrossing beginning is undeniably crucial. It pulls the reader into the book, piques their interest, and propels them into the unfolding story. The ending crowns your narrative and leaves the most indelible impression. The finale of your story holds the power to enhance, transform, or even overshadow the reader’s perception of the entire narrative journey.
A well-crafted ending can elevate a good book to a great one. It is the finale of a symphony, the last brushstroke on a canvas, and the final scene in a play that brings the performance to a close. It can stir emotions, incite contemplation, and spark a deep connection with your audience. Conversely, an unsatisfying ending, regardless of how compelling the rest of the book may be, can leave readers with disappointment or unfulfillment.
Furthermore, in our increasingly interconnected digital world, where readers often share reviews and recommendations, the ending of your book can significantly influence its success. A powerful, satisfying ending can inspire readers to recommend your book, boosting its reputation and reach. This is why the final chapters of your book are just as crucial, if not more so, than its inception. They complete the reader’s journey, rewarding their investment in your narrative and leaving a lingering resonance that echoes far beyond the last page.
The Six Common Types of Story Book Endings: Choosing Your Narrative’s Perfect Finale
Choosing the perfect ending for your book is no easy task. The conclusion must align with the journey you’ve crafted for your readers, provide a satisfying payoff, and leave a lasting impression. To assist in making this crucial decision, here is an exploration of six common types of book endings – Resolved Ending, Unresolved Ending, Ambiguous Ending, Unexpected Ending, Tied Ending, and Expanded Ending. Each has unique qualities, and understanding these can guide you toward the ideal conclusion for your narrative.
Resolved Ending
A resolved ending is one of the most common endings and brings a sense of completion and closure to a story. All the loose ends are neatly tied up, mysteries solved, and characters’ fates clearly outlined. Readers walk away with a firm understanding of what transpired, and there’s little left to the imagination.
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is a classic example of a resolved ending. The romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, riddled with misunderstandings and erroneous first impressions, eventually leads to mutual understanding and love. In the end, their future is clearly outlined: they marry, resolving their romantic tensions and securing their futures.
Similarly, J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” provides a comprehensive resolution. The ring is destroyed, the war is won, and the heroes return home. The final chapters detail how characters live out their days, providing a deeply satisfying closure to an epic saga.
You should choose a resolved ending when your story leans towards traditional structures and when your readers seek a complete and satisfying closure. This type of ending is typically seen in genres like romance, mystery, and crime, where readers derive satisfaction from seeing conflicts resolved, couples united, and mysteries uncovered. If your book promises a definite resolution from the outset – be it a quest, a mystery to solve, or a relationship to unite – it’s crucial to deliver on that promise with a resolved ending.
Unresolved Ending
An unresolved ending deliberately leaves the characters’ fate or the plot’s outcome unknown or unclear. Such endings spark intrigue and discussion among readers, allowing them to ponder the possible outcomes and interpret the story uniquely.
A prime example of an unresolved ending is found in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. The book concludes with the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, mentioning he’s in some mental institution and contemplating returning home, but his fate remains uncertain.
Another instance is George Orwell’s “1984”. It’s unclear whether Winston Smith, the protagonist, continues to live in a state of controlled acceptance of the Party’s doctrine or whether he truly loves Big Brother.
If you want your readers to keep thinking about your book long after they finish it, you should think about utilizing an unresolved conclusion. It works well for narratives in which the journey or the investigation of ideas takes precedence over coming to a definite conclusion. Unresolved issues can also make readers eagerly anticipate a follow-up book. This kind of conclusion frequently appears in literary literature, dystopian stories, and stories that defy expectations because they spark discussion and let readers draw their own conclusions.
Ambiguous Ending
An ambiguous ending intentionally leaves the final outcome in the air, often presenting multiple interpretations. It’s designed to make readers reflect on various possible outcomes and what they might mean.
One popular example of an ambiguous ending is found in “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton. In this short story, a princess must choose whether her lover will marry a woman he despises or face a ferocious tiger. The story ends without revealing the lover’s fate, leaving readers to speculate based on their understanding of the princess’s character.
Another notable example is “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. The protagonist, Jonas, escapes from a dystopian society and goes on a perilous journey to Elsewhere. The book concludes with Jonas finding a sled and hearing distant music, but it’s left ambiguous whether he’s found a better society or hallucinating in his final moments.
You should consider an ambiguous ending when you want your readers to question and contemplate the events of your story. It’s suitable for narratives that provoke thought, discussion, or debate. This type of ending is common in literary and speculative fiction, where exploring complex themes and ideas takes precedence over definitive outcomes. By leaving the conclusion open-ended, you invite readers to engage with your story deeper, pondering its meaning and implications long after they’ve put the book down.
Unexpected Ending
An unexpected ending, also known as a twist ending, occurs when the story concludes in a completely unforeseen way. This type of ending is designed to surprise the reader and add an extra layer of excitement or intrigue to the narrative.
One of the most renowned unexpected endings comes from O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi”. In the story, a young couple independently sells their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to discover that the gifts they’ve bought are accessories for the items they sold. The irony and unexpected nature of the closing give the story its enduring charm.
Another famous example is from “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk, where the narrator and Tyler Durden, two central characters, turn out to be the same person. The shocking twist leaves readers reeling and forces them to reevaluate everything they’ve read.
Choosing an unexpected ending is most effective when you aim to shock your readers or dramatically overturn their expectations. This approach works well in genres like thriller, mystery, horror, and speculative fiction. If properly executed, an unexpected ending can leave readers talking about your book long after they’ve finished it, enhancing its memorability and impact.
Tied Ending
A tied ending, also known as a circular or cyclical ending, brings the story back to where it started or refers to elements introduced in the beginning, creating a sense of symmetry and completion.
An example of this type of ending can be found in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. The novel begins with animals rebelling against human oppressors, dreaming of an equal society. However, by the end, the pigs, who lead the revolution, become indistinguishable from the humans they overthrew, indicating a return to the initial oppressive state.
Another example is “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. The story begins with Bilbo Baggins living a comfortable, uneventful life in his hobbit hole. After a long journey filled with dragons, battles, and treasures, Bilbo finds himself back at his home, appreciating the quiet life more than ever, thus tying the ending to the beginning.
You should use a connected ending when you want to highlight a certain subject or demonstrate your characters’ development. Stories that focus on life cycles, the idea of “coming home,” or the idea that “history repeats itself” benefit the most from this kind of conclusion. A gratifying sense of closure can be found in tied closings, highlighting your characters’ journey.
Expanded Ending
When the story’s major events are through, the characters’ futures are revealed in an expanded ending, giving readers a glimpse into what will happen to them after that. It expands the story beyond its obvious resolution by providing readers with a glimpse of the character’s life in the future.
J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series provides a prime example of an expanded ending. In the epilogue set 19 years later, readers see Harry, Hermione, and Ron sending their children to Hogwarts. This glimpse into the characters’ futures offers a satisfying closure to the series while keeping the magic alive.
Another example is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. The book ends with a reflection on the future of the American Dream, broadening the narrative beyond the characters and events of the book.
Consider an expanded ending if your story or characters have significantly impacted readers and there’s a desire to know what happens to them in the future. This type of closing is often found in series or epic sagas, where readers have spent considerable time with the characters. An expanded ending is also useful when the themes of your book have broader implications that extend beyond the immediate story. It offers a sense of closure while suggesting that the characters’ lives continue, providing a comforting sense of continuity.
Writing an Ending to a Story: Tips to Craft a Compelling Conclusion
Writing the ending of a book is a crucial task that requires as much thought and creativity as crafting the perfect beginning. It’s the final impression you leave with your readers, the lingering aftertaste once they’ve consumed your narrative feast. An ending can make or break a story, giving it a lasting impact or leaving readers dissatisfied. Here, we delve into four strategic ways to end your book: creating a compelling hook, revisiting the central thesis, summarizing the chapters, and closing with a call to action. These tactics can help ensure that your story resonates with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.
Grab the Reader with a Great Hook
Much like the beginning, the ending of your book should be gripping enough to stay in the reader’s mind. A great hook at the end can encapsulate the theme of your story, reveal an unexpected twist, or set the stage for a sequel. The hook should be impactful, giving readers a sense of closure or leaving them longing for more.
One famous example is from the classic novel “1984” by George Orwell. The story concludes with the line, “He loved Big Brother.” After a tale of resistance against a dystopian regime, this ending serves as a chilling reminder of the protagonist’s ultimate surrender, hooking readers with its shocking reversal.
Another example is from “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The novel ends with the line, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” This poetic ending encapsulates the book’s theme of the elusive American Dream and leaves readers pondering long after the book is closed.
Creating a powerful ending hook is all about making your story stick. It can be a profound statement, a sudden revelation, or a thought-provoking question that leaves your readers mesmerized and eager for more.
Restate the Book’s Thesis
Restating the book’s thesis or central idea is an effective strategy, especially for non-fiction, self-help, or educational books. It serves as a reminder of the main message or insight the book aims to impart. This restatement helps to solidify the thesis in the reader’s mind and provides a satisfying sense of closure.
For instance, in “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, the author restates his central premise in the concluding chapters, reaffirming the importance of living in the present moment for personal enlightenment. This restatement reinforces the book’s central message, ensuring it remains fresh in the reader’s mind.
Restating the thesis might encapsulate the book’s central theme or moral in fiction. For example, in “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, the story closes with the unions of Elizabeth and Darcy and Jane and Bingley, restating the novel’s central themes of love, marriage, and societal expectations.
Revisiting your book’s central idea or theme provides a coherent structure and gives readers a clear takeaway message. It neatly ties together the various threads of your narrative, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Summarize the Chapters
A chapter summary, in conclusion, can serve as a retrospective reflection, allowing readers to revisit significant events, appreciate the character’s growth, and understand the overarching story arc. This technique is particularly beneficial for complex narratives with multiple plot lines or characters.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” series employs this strategy brilliantly. In the final chapter, Sam, one of the central characters, returns home and reflects on his and his friends’ epic journey. This retrospective summary allows readers to appreciate the scope and magnitude of their adventures once more, providing a satisfying sense of closure.
Similarly, in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” J.K. Rowling summarizes the major events and sacrifices leading to Voldemort’s downfall. This summary underlines the courage, friendship, and resilience that define the series, offering readers a chance to reflect on the narrative arc.
In non-fiction, summarizing chapters at the end can help to consolidate key learnings or insights, making them more memorable. For instance, self-help or business books often end by recapping the main points from each chapter as a form of revision for the readers.
Call to Action
A call to action at the end of a book encourages readers to actively respond to what they’ve read. It can prompt them to reflect on the ideas presented, apply certain principles to their lives, or explore a topic further. This strategy is particularly effective in non-fiction books but can also be applied to fiction in a more subtle way.
In “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, the book concludes with a strong call to action, urging readers to apply the principles of habit formation and incremental improvement in their daily lives. This call to action reinforces the book’s central message and helps readers transform the insights they’ve gained into tangible action.
In the realm of fiction, a call to action might inspire readers to ponder deeper themes or continue exploring the narrative universe. For instance, in “1984” by George Orwell, the bleak ending prompts readers to reflect on themes of freedom, surveillance, and individuality in their own societal context.
Whether it’s inspiring personal change, encouraging further exploration, or fostering reflection, a call to action can extend the influence of your book beyond its pages, making it a transformative reading experience.
How to Write a Good Ending: Navigating the Do’s and Don’ts
The art of concluding a book is a delicate balancing act. A well-crafted ending can leave readers with a profound sense of closure and satisfaction, while a poorly constructed one can tarnish an otherwise engaging narrative. So, how do you write a good ending? Let’s explore some critical do’s and don’ts to guide you on this journey.
What a Good Ending Should Do:
- Provide Closure: A successful ending wraps up the main plotlines and resolves the conflicts established throughout the book. It offers closure to the readers by tying up loose ends, answering central questions, and concluding character arcs. For example, in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” the misunderstandings and social obstacles are eventually overcome, and the romantic pairs unite, providing readers with a satisfying closure.
- Stay True to the Story and Characters: The ending should be a natural and logical continuation of the events and character developments in the story. An ending that feels forced or inconsistent with the established narrative can leave readers feeling betrayed. A good example of a closing that stays true to its characters is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. The story ends with Scout maturing and gaining a greater understanding of human nature, aligning perfectly with her character development throughout the novel.
- Resonate with the Theme: A powerful ending often circles back to the central theme or premise of the book, reinforcing it in the reader’s mind. In “1984” by George Orwell, the conclusion powerfully restates the novel’s theme of totalitarianism and its dehumanizing effects, leaving readers with a lasting impression.
What a Good Ending Should Not Do:
- Introduce New Major Elements or Plot Twists: A common pitfall is introducing significant new characters, plotlines, or twists in the ending. This can confuse readers and make the ending feel rushed or disjointed. While it’s not wrong to have twists at the end, they should be set up adequately throughout the book. A sudden, unheralded plot twist can betray readers who have invested in the story.
- Rely on Deus Ex Machina: Deus Ex Machina, a term that means “god from the machine,” refers to a sudden or unexpected solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem. This can make the ending feel unearned and unsatisfying. Readers appreciate closings that come from the actions and decisions of the characters themselves, not from an outside force that conveniently solves everything.
- Over-Explain or Moralize: Good endings show rather than tell. Avoid spelling everything out or offering explicit moral lessons. Respect your reader’s intelligence and let them interpret the closing in their own way. A classic example is the ending of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. It’s ambiguous, leaving it up to the readers to decide what happens to the protagonist, thus encouraging deeper engagement and reflection.
A good ending should resonate emotionally with the reader, feel inevitable yet surprising, and bring the narrative to a satisfying close. It should align with the narrative’s logic and the characters’ development, logically tying together the story’s threads. Remember, the ending is your readers’ last contact with your world and characters – make it memorable.
Bringing Your Story to a Memorable Close
Mastering the art of ending a book is a rewarding challenge for every writer. The power of a well-crafted ending resonates long after the final page has been turned, influencing how readers perceive, remember, and talk about your book. A potent ending doesn’t merely conclude a narrative; it emphasizes the theme, illuminates the journey, and often defines the entire reading experience.
Remember, whether you choose a resolved, unresolved, ambiguous, unexpected, tied, or expanded ending, ensure it serves the story you’ve told and the characters you’ve developed. Grab your readers with a memorable hook, reinforce the book’s thesis, summarize the chapters for reflection, and don’t hesitate to prompt a call to action.
One last piece of advice? Always stay true to your story. Resist the temptation to tie up every loose end or introduce last-minute surprises that haven’t been carefully foreshadowed. The most satisfying endings feel both surprising and inevitable, offering closure while staying true to the narrative’s essence.
Ultimately, writing the ending is your final act of storytelling magic—your last opportunity to enchant, provoke, inspire, and perhaps even transform your reader. So make every word count, and bring your story to the impactful close it deserves.
