Endings have the power to make or break a novel. They can turn an otherwise slow book into a masterpiece, or destroy a good one. A good ending needs to be fresh, new, surprising and has to make sense. It is very difficult to create, especially since if an ending was fresh twenty years ago, it’s become a cliché these days – the reader has encountered that type of ending in way too many novels. The following ways will help you to get your creative juices flowing, so that you can make your ending the best possible.
1. Choose an ending
One of the characteristics of a great novel is its unpredictability. The reader reads on and can take a guess at what will happen but is surprised at the turn of events. The same thing applies to a good ending. You might have an ending planned beforehand, while you were outlining your book, or you might be planning a little ahead as you write. In both situations, think of all possible endings, and choose the one that will not only make sense and follow the plot, but is also really difficult to predict.
2. Add a flourish
Think back to your favorite novels, and think of their endings. They all have something special about them – even a romance novel where a couple live happily ever after. A novel is, essentially, a person’s journey towards their final goal. The flourish in the ending is represented by how the individual(s) got there. What did they have to do? Did they have to sacrifice something, or someone to get there? How does the ending change your characters? After you answer all these questions, find the way to show them into the ending.
3. Create a resonance
The best way to create a memorable ending is to write it in a way that differs from the rest of the novel. It might actually be the perfect moment to slow the pace and may be even draw it out a little, as long as it fits the plot and the character arc. A memorable ending resonates within readers long after they have read it. You can use dialogue to deliver a clever hint of your characters’ future, draw a parallel with a previous event in your characters’ lives; the options are unlimited! Choose the sentences wisely, and build slowly towards the last one – and make that one unforgettable.
4. Shoot for the stars
Don’t be afraid to go “all in” with your ending. Give it your best, and give it all you have. It might turn too long at first, but this will help you know how much information you want to include in it. You can always hit delete on the things that do not fit. But before you do that, you need to create good material to work with. Tie all the loose ends and secondary characters’ arcs – you can remove the ones that aren’t as important and keep the ones that add something to the overall story. However, be careful not to turn your ending into a report of the aftermath of the last battle or conflict – this will steal the resonance and disappoint the reader.
5. Avoid short-cuts
Writing a novel is a difficult task, and you might be plagued by impatience as you reach the ending. Of course, this doesn’t mean that every writer feels that way – some might even feel nostalgic when writing it. However, the ending should never be rushed. It should be planned, and thought through even more, because of the power it holds over the resonance of the novel as a whole. To avoid being plagued by impatience, try working on the ending as you work on your novel – with every event, conflict scene, and consider how this will connect to and affect the ending. Also, try not to back yourself into a deadline. That way, you have the freedom and the flexibility to take your time to write the perfect ending.
Image credit: peddhapati on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
Georgina Roy wants to live in a world filled with magic. As a 22-year-old art student, she’s moonlighting as a writer and is content to fill notebooks and sketchbooks with magical creatures and amazing new worlds. When she is not at school, or scribbling away in a notebook, you can usually find her curled up, reading a good urban fantasy novel, or writing on her laptop, trying to create her own.