Story endings largely define how the audience feels about the piece.
A terrible ending to a good movie often ends up losing the audience as they feel cheated.
Oppositely, when a terrible movie ends in a good way there is a large redeeming quality to the movie, which makes the audience think the rest of the movie wasn’t that bad.
THIS is the power of a memorable ending.
A piece of advice I’ve received about relationships is;
The way it ended was the way it was
-No idea
The way a relationship ends is a great indicator of how the relationship was.
This can be applied to your writing. A memorable ending makes your story memorable.
Who wouldn’t like their audience to remember their writing?
Elements of Memorable Endings
The role of an ending in any piece of media is to resolve the story in a meaningful way.
An ending offers resolve for the audiences expectation of the story.
This is so important to recognise.
A moving without a memorable ending rubs the audience the wrong way, where they feel cheated that their expecations weren’t met.
For example, there’s a story by Edgar Allan Poe called “The Pit and the Pendulum” in this story a man is inside a pit where a massive razor sharp pendulum is slowly descending into the pit.
Poe’s story sets up a potential ending of the man embracing his death or being driven mad by the idea of his death, giving us symbolism for our attitude towards death.
The way the story ACTUALLY ends is the pendulum is just about to slice the guy in half when the Spanish Inquisition busts through the wall and the pendulum stops.
This is regarded as one of the worst ways to end a story in literary history.
The ending is SO BAD people invented a phrase about it, to avoid it.
It’s called Deus Ex Machina, God from the Machine.
For our ending to be memorable and satisfying we NEED to resolve ALL or MOST of the readers expectations that our story has set up.
In this way the reader feels that they’re given resolve and closure from the world of the text.
Strategies for Crafting Memorable Endings
There are 3 main parts of a memorable ending I want you to consider when writing your endings;
- Foreshadowing and Callbacks
- Leave Room for Interpretation
- Revisiting Themes
Foreshadowing and Callbacks
Crafting the perfect ending is a delicate art, and within this realm, foreshadowing and callbacks stand as the brushstrokes that paint a masterpiece.
Let’s dive into the nuances of these techniques, understanding how they weave a tapestry of cohesion and resonance in the concluding chapters.
Foreshadowing is the act of giving information to your reader that hints at potential plot points later in the piece.
A callback is the opposite, pointing to a plot point, or a piece of foreshadowing.
These two ideas play off one another so when you add callbacks to parts in your novel that the reader remembers their is a sense of cohesion and deep thought that the reader considers your work with.
Be sure to add small details that hint at your ending or how the story concludes and make your ending have callbacks to earlier parts of your novel to create a professional cohesion to your stories.
Leaving Room For Interpretation
In the realm of storytelling, the beauty of leaving certain elements open to interpretation lies in its ability to spark curiosity and foster reader engagement.
Their is an artistry in ambiguity.
Adding ambiguity to your stories ending leaves room for a symbolic recognition of the ending.
When you leave parts of the story unresolved on purpose creates a sense of interest in your reader, an intrigue that WILL stick with your reader for some time.
You should add some ambiguity to your endings as it promotes conversation over your work.
When people talk about your writing, meaningfulness and clarity is added to parts where there wasn’t necessarily that thought put into it.
This is particularly common in any sort of professional critique of a piece.
Leave room for interpretation.
Revisiting Themes
As we approach the final act, the story’s themes take on renewed significance.
Themes act as the narrative’s backbone, providing cohesion and underlying meaning.
When you reinforce your themes specifically in your ending this is an excellent way to conclude those themes adding meaning to what it looks like for the themes to play out.
Make sure you reinforce your themes in your ending in a way that resolves those ideas amongst the other elements we’ve discussed and you WILL create a unique and memorable ending for your story.
In Conclusion . . .
As we draw the curtains on our exploration of crafting memorable endings, let’s recap the essential elements that transform a conclusion into a lasting impression.
The significance of resolution, the indispensable role of closure, and the emotional impact of a carefully constructed ending collectively shape the reader’s final experience.
In essence, an effective ending is not merely the culmination of a story; it’s a lingering echo that resonates in the reader’s mind long after the final page is turned.
It’s the emotional aftermath, the lingering thoughts, and the lasting imprint that defines a truly memorable narrative finale.
Now, dear readers and fellow wordsmiths, it’s your turn to become architects of unforgettable conclusions. Here’s your challenge:
- Reflect on Favorites:
- Take a moment to reflect on your favorite story endings. What elements made them stick with you? Was it the resolution, the closure, or a profound emotional impact? Share your insights.
- Experiment with Endings:
- Writers, this is your call to experimentation! Challenge yourselves to explore different approaches to endings in your own works. Whether it’s through resolution techniques, nuanced closure, or evocative emotions, let your creativity flow.
- Share Your Craft:
- The storytelling community thrives on shared experiences. I invite you to open up a dialogue in the comments section. Share your thoughts and experiences with crafting memorable endings. What challenges did you face, and what triumphs did you celebrate?
Together, let’s unravel the artistry of storytelling endings and build a collective well of wisdom and creativity.
Your stories, insights, and reflections are not just contributions but threads in the intricate tapestry of storytelling excellence.
Happy crafting!
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