A story is more than a sequence of events that lead to a crisis and result in a resolution—it is a journey that should invest us emotionally, so that by the time our hero faces the crisis we're hoping for a happy ending for him.
Earlier, I posted about great , building the action through the , and how to write a nail biting . Now I'd like to focus on making sure your conclusion resonates with the reader in a way that is both rewarding and incendiary.
There are a number of ways to finish a story, but depending on what kind of ending you'd like to write, you'll have to ask yourself these questions.
Will my hero succeed in achieving the story goal?
What do I want my hero to learn?
Do I want him to learn from his mistake or his success?
Whether you want a happy outcome or not, your ending will probably fall into one of the four categories.
1. Comedy. The protagonist achieves the story goal and his success results in a positive outcome.
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is able to find the true meaning of humanity and vows to change his ways, becoming a charitable person for the rest of his life.
2. Tragedy. The protagonist fails to achieve the story goal, and his failure results in a negative outcome.
In The Crucible, John Procter is falsely accused of being a witch and is unable to convince the courts of his former lover's jealousy towards his wife. He is forced to falsely confess, but in the end he is unwilling to lie and is hung to die.
3. Tragi-comedy. The protagonist fails to achieve the goal, but his failure results in a positive outcome.
In The Golden Compass, Lyra is unable to save her best friend, but his death results in her discovery of a bridge between worlds.
4. Comi-tragedy. The protagonist achieves the goal, but his success results in a negative outcome.
In The Great Gatsby, Jay uses criminal means to acquire the riches and lifestyle he's sought after in hopes of impressing Daisy, only to lose her and eventually his life.
No matter which ending you create for your hero, make certain you conclude with the same style and voice you've established throughout the story. And remember, even though you may not have a happy ending, the central conflict must be resolved, and loose ends or significant questions should be answered.
I hope you found this helpful. You may want to check out Glen C. Strathy's site. He has excellent tips for plotting, and in particular, nailing your ending.
What are some of the memorable endings of your favourite books?
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Write On
Non-FictionA collection of posts of writing tips and encouragement to help writers get the story out of their head and onto the page. Writing is an ongoing learning experience and whether your a successful novelist or about to pen your first book there's alway...
