The Guide Book on Writing FanFiction

Creating a good Conclusion

Like many stories whether they started rough, or good and in the journey becomes really amazing. Every story must come to an end, and we really don't want our stories to end. But, sadly yes they have to end.

So when or how do we know when should it end?

Well the answer to that is when the story has finally reached it's peak. When the main character finally achieves his/her goal and it concludes with a ending.

In Blood and Fire, I ended the story when the main character defeats her foe and the other evil colored King. After that, she becomes queen of her race and marries her lover. Then the final chapter reveals on what the character explains on what happened to the other characters and leaving on a sad, but beautiful ending.

But, I believe that a lot of writers get lost in the ending because they are trying to resolve everything at the last few pages. or else they have way too many endings.

Here's some types of endings that can give you an idea of how your story can end.

Lessons learned. The main character along with the other characters recognize that by overcoming the conflict they have learned something important and it will affect their lives.

Cliffhanger. Ending with a cliffhanger can be done, but you have to do it with care. I honestly don't use cliffhangers as a way of ending the story. But, at the end of one of the chapters because it's easier that way. At the same time, a cliffhanger can end a story to make a sequel. In order to do that all loose ends must be resolved except for one. That one loose end is enough to make the reader's interest to be waiting for a sequel.

Circular. This ending is when the main character returns home to tell of his/her life-changing quest. Often the end scene is similar or the same as the beginning or a certain place that made an impact on the character's life.

Wish or promise. The ending here, is when the main character wishing for a different outcome of the climax or making promises to his/herself that will affect his/her life. However, this ending can be overdone. The promises must be reasonable extensions from the plot that the character can actually carry out.

Reversal. In this ending the main character may have starting out with nothing in the beginning of the story. But at the end they've gain something such as friendship, love, trust, money and such. Or the main character started with nothing and lose it all. 

Bittersweet. In this ending, the main character must make a difficult decision and sacrifice something to obtain something else. These endings work really well, because as in real life, when a conflict is overcome, there is an element of loss along with the victory. The best bittersweet endings require that the main character make a choice among things, all of which are important, and where giving one up will cause him/her significant pain and remorse.

So those are just a few of many type of endings. Now there are some endings that you also need to avoid. Because they will leave the reader frustrated and questioning about what the author was thinking. Here they are again this is only a few, but I picked out ones that are the obvious ones for young writers.

And then I woke up. This ending is the author bailing out on the reader. After writing many pages of an interesting, exciting story, the author has run out of energy or imagination. The waking up to an alarm clock is an example of this.

And then I died. This ending is very similar to the ending above. 

I found out that I'd been dead all along. The speaking from the grave is a very old ending and it stretches the readers willingness to suspend their logic to enjoy the story. There is a limit as to how much a reader is willing to accept, and this exceeds it.