Shifting

How to write a satisfying ending

By Writerthreads on Instagram

I found that writing endings is one of the hardest parts of writing. There has to be some emotion behind it, but how much? And do you make it happy, or sad? Satisfying, or suspenseful? All of these are hard questions that you have to ask yourself even before you start. Here are some tips to help you with your story's ending.

Know what you want

When you're planning your story, have a rough idea of how the book or series will end, or at the very least, what will happen to your main character(s). This way, you can revolve your plot around the character and move things around while the final few scenes remain unchanged.

Try different endings

Experiment with different endings for your story. Will there be a final battle or a grand event? Or is there a surprise ending? You could build the story towards an ending that the readers can predict then change course last minute to spice things up.

Mimic the beginning

Does your story start with a phrase or at a special location? Use it again in the grand finale. If the story starts at a New York City penthouse, you could end it there again in a full circle. If it starts with a sentence that a character says, let them, or someone else of significance, say it again. (This works especially well if the original character says it dies.)

Invoke emotions

In my opinion, the best endings are bittersweet and satisfying. Make sure that the readers feel something, so they will continue to think about the book long after they're finished with it. Some of these books include The Fault in our Stars, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Midnight Library, and The Song of Achilles, to name a few.

Allow room for expansion

If you don't feel quite satisfied by the ending and think that you can go further with another undeveloped storyline in your book, or you want to expand the world you've built, you can always write a spinoff series! This was done beautifully in Chloe Gong's Foul Lady Fortune, that continues a few years after Our Violent Ends.

Make it satisfying

Whatever you write, make sure the story feels concluded. Every major plot point should be purposeful, and they should all lead to the ending that feels closed. Make sure that all plot holes are fixed, and anything left ambiguous can be inferred to be left like that on purpose.

This is a bit hard to explain, so it's better to ask beta readers this question when you send the final draft off to them. We have a post called "Questions for beta readers" for more information!

Whatever you decide to do with your story's ending, treat it well and write lots of versions of it until you get the perfect one! Good luck and happy writing!

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@aquaquadrant was talking about tango flustering the hell out of Jimmy while asking him to help out and I added the “AND THEN HE PUTS THE BUCKET ON HIS HEAD AND WALKS AWAY” bit

I believe in team rancher shenanigans at all times 💖

The Hurt/Comfort Alphabet

A: Alleviate - How do they go about relieving persistent physical pain?

B: Bedridden - How do they behave when they’re sick?

C: Cling - Whose physical touch is considered most welcome in their minds when they are in need? Is there a specific type of touch they respond well to?

D: Deathbed - How would they react if they realized they may not recover from their injuries?

E: Emergency - What is their gut reaction when someone they care about is hurt?

F: Fight - Are there circumstances under which they would not accept treatment or care? If so, what are they?

G: Ghosts - How has their past shaped the kind of comfort they respond to best?

H: Home - What things (objects, sensations or people) remind them they’re safe after a scary situation?

I: Isolation - How do they soothe themselves when no one is around to soothe them?

J: Joy - When was the first time they were truly happy after going through something terrible?

K: Kindness - Do they believe they deserve the comfort they receive? Why or why not?

L: Levity - What or who helps them take their mind off of the circumstances?

M: Music - Is there a song that comforts them? Why is it comforting to them?

N: Nostalgia - What things that comforted them as a kid still work today? Does anyone know that?

O: Overworked - Who or what tells them to stop working and take care of themselves?

P: Please - Have they ever begged for someone to comfort or stay with them? What was that incident like?

Q: Questions - Are they eager to talk about what or why they’re hurting? Why or why not?

R: Relief - How do they react to the realization that they will soon be fully recovered?

S: Scared - What would it take for them to admit that they’re scared?

T: Time - How long does it take for them to feel better after an ordeal or illness? Do they tend to lie about how soon they feel better?

U: Ugly - What part of their recovery process are they ashamed of, if any?

V: Valiant - Has anyone told them they were brave for facing what they did? How would they react if someone did?

W: Why? - How did they process what happened to them?

X: Xenas - Do they see anyone as an inspiration in their recovery? Does their inspiration know about this?

Y: Yearn - What gesture, person or thing do they desperately want, but would never actually ask for?

Z: Zero - What is the best way to comfort them without touching them?

back from the hospital

With Sausage and Joel's dirty daddy penpalling and Scott's not so subtle obsession with handcuffs flirting, Empires smp is gradually getting less and less PG

i don't think

strong boy

okay thats enough

scar and cdream would be a really funny duo actually. cdream would try to take advantage of scar only for it to blow up in his face (probably literally). something something ill get back to this maybe