"Maybe my fairy tale has a different ending than I dreamed it would. But that's OK." ~Kim Kardashian
I'm sure we've all been there before. We're reading a good book, we're excited to see how it all plays out, we have expectations, and then the end flops. It's enough to banish an author from your reading list. All writing is subjective to individual readers' tastes, but in general I think the best endings tie up all loose ends (unless it's a series that leaves questions to be answered in other books) and answer the story question(s) in a satisfying way.
Chapter endings -
Chapter endings should propel readers forward. Whatever you do, be sure to mix things up. Never use the same technique too often or too frequently. That makes it less effective. Here are a few ways to accomplish great chapter endings.
Cliffhangers: End the chapter right in the middle of some outrageous action. Your character might be hanging by her fingertips from an actual cliff, staring down the throat of a gun or any number of scenarios. The idea is to make the reader turn the page to find out what happens.
Deepen conflict: End the chapter by adding a new layer to the current conflict or adding an entirely new problem for the character to overcome. In short, complicate things even more.
Dialogue: End the chapter by having someone say something that makes everyone, including the reader, gasp.
Scene endings -
One good rule of thumb is to end scenes while they're still strong, not letting them trickle out. Scenes can end in the same ways as chapters. Another way to end a scene is to make things seem like they're going along smoothly, but of course it's only a lead-up to some major problem and action. Cliffhangers should be used sparingly for scene endings, but work well when you want to fool readers. You might leave them thinking a character possibly died (she was, after all, hanging by her fingertips from a cliff) and then have her show up later.
Story endings -
May we never disappoint our readers with unsatisfying endings. Here are few ways to end a story.
Twist endings: You lead readers to believe one thing and then throw them for a loop. These are my favorites. They surprise people in a good way if they're done properly. Done poorly, however, readers will feel cheated. Make sure the twist is plausible.
Explicit ending: Wraps everything up and answers all the questions. This ending usually reveals what happens to each of the major characters. These endings can be used in correlation with twist endings.
Long view ending: These endings show the characters in the future, often long after the action is over and the conflicts resolved.
Unresolved ending: These are risky to use, but can be pulled off if done well. The main conflicts are left unanswered and readers are left to decipher the outcome. I'm sure we've all been there before. We're reading a good book, we're excited to see how it all plays out, we have expectations, and then the end flops. It's enough to banish an author from your reading list. All writing is subjective to individual readers' tastes, but in general I think the best endings tie up all loose ends (unless it's a series that leaves questions to be answered in other books) and answer the story question(s) in a satisfying way.
Chapter endings -
Chapter endings should propel readers forward. Whatever you do, be sure to mix things up. Never use the same technique too often or too frequently. That makes it less effective. Here are a few ways to accomplish great chapter endings.
Cliffhangers: End the chapter right in the middle of some outrageous action. Your character might be hanging by her fingertips from an actual cliff, staring down the throat of a gun or any number of scenarios. The idea is to make the reader turn the page to find out what happens.
Deepen conflict: End the chapter by adding a new layer to the current conflict or adding an entirely new problem for the character to overcome. In short, complicate things even more.
Dialogue: End the chapter by having someone say something that makes everyone, including the reader, gasp.
Scene endings -
One good rule of thumb is to end scenes while they're still strong, not letting them trickle out. Scenes can end in the same ways as chapters. Another way to end a scene is to make things seem like they're going along smoothly, but of course it's only a lead-up to some major problem and action. Cliffhangers should be used sparingly for scene endings, but work well when you want to fool readers. You might leave them thinking a character possibly died (she was, after all, hanging by her fingertips from a cliff) and then have her show up later.
Story endings -
May we never disappoint our readers with unsatisfying endings. Here are few ways to end a story.
Twist endings: You lead readers to believe one thing and then throw them for a loop. These are my favorites. They surprise people in a good way if they're done properly. Done poorly, however, readers will feel cheated. Make sure the twist is plausible.
Explicit ending: Wraps everything up and answers all the questions. This ending usually reveals what happens to each of the major characters. These endings can be used in correlation with twist endings.
Long view ending: These endings show the characters in the future, often long after the action is over and the conflicts resolved.
Tomorrow's post - Fiction teaser
I read a Tim Winton book (that was recommended and posted overseas to me by a close friend) that did this to me once, I was so shocked, I have loved some of his books so I nearly wanted to read it again to make sure I hadn't missed something - but I couldn't in case it really was just a disappointing ending, I ended up putting it down to where my friends head was at - at the time. Once again very informative and helpful Heidi, thanks
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens! I hope to never disappoint readers that way.
DeleteThis is a good post! Endings are so important. They truly can ruin the entire experience. More times than I'm willing to admit, I've been disappointed, even somewhat angry, about a terrible ending.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
Novels are a big time investment, both to read and to write. A bad ending makes it all seem pointless.
DeleteVery valid pointers! A great ending is a must! Otherwise, the whole experience of reading a book leaves a bad taste in mouth. A book with a good ending lingers with you for a long long time.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, a good ending is fine chocolate. :)A bad ending is like smelly fish.
DeleteUnresolved endings are my pet hate. No credit for making me make up my own ending.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
I typically agree. There are rare occasions when I think it works well, but in general it leaves people feeling duped.
DeleteJust thought I'd add that a good unresolved ending, in my opinion, leaves readers with something to contemplate, like something that there really isn't a concrete answer for but is worth thinking about.
DeleteYou are so right. When a book lets me down it is usually because the ending was poor. Thanks for some good tips!
ReplyDeleteEndings are so important. Thanks for your comment, Vicki!
DeleteI'm fairly tired of twist endings. I can't remember the last one that felt like it made the work better - usually they read as either begging me to re-read, which I don't feel like doing, or pulling the rug out from under me when I was supposed to be getting the payoff. Boy, is a trope of rug-pulling not fun. Does anyone have any twist endings they've loved recently?
ReplyDeleteI adore twist endings, but it's true that they need to be done tactfully and not come out of nowhere just to surprise readers. Nicci French is a master at twists, not just at the books end but throughout. The last really good twist ending I read was a book called Me and Emma by Elizabeth Flock.
DeleteI do like the way you explain things.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful compliment. Thanks for reading and commenting!
DeleteI've been very unhappy at a couple of mysteries (and not first attempts by unknowns, either) that left me unsure of just who had done what and why. I mean, a big chuck of the POINT of reading mysteries is that they tie everything up in a nice, neat, morally clear package with a bow on top!
ReplyDeleteYeah, genre plays a big part in the type of ending, too, I suppose. A mystery seems like a terrible place for an unresolved ending.
DeleteHandy stuff hear, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to be handy. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWhat a wonderful post, Heidi. Most ending aren't perfect. It would be nice though.
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on improving my endings, but these are good things to remember.
ReplyDeleteWe're all still improving, or at least we should be. :) Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDelete