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islabookishmind · 1 year

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Six Ways To End Your Story

Hi, everyone! Someone kindly asked for advice on how to end a story so here it is for everyone!

Six Types of Story Endings

While every story has to end its own way, there are six general types of ending. Which one you go for will depend, of course, on the story you’re telling, and maybe also on the tropes or conventions of the genre you’re working within (if you’re working within a genre at all).

The six types of story endings include:

Resolved ending

Unresolved ending

Expanded ending

Unexpected ending

Ambiguous ending

Tied ending

What Is a Resolved Ending?

A resolved ending leaves the reader with no lingering questions or loose ends A resolved ending is part of most classic fairy tales (“And they all lived happily ever after…”), but also of countless classic novels.

Consider the ending of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a classic of literary fiction and the inspiration for countless romance novels. At the end of the book, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy marry, and we’re led to believe that their marriage will be long and happy. Not only that, but the rest of Mr. Bennet’s marriageable daughters have settled down in matches appropriate to their characters. In other words, there are no lingering questions or tensions.

Remember, a resolved ending isn’t necessarily a happy ending. Think of any of Shakespeare’s tragedies, in which the protagonist and most of the other major characters usually wind up stabbed, poisoned, or executed.

What matters most in a resolved ending is that all of the threads of the novel have been clearly and satisfying resolved.

What Is an Unresolved Ending?

Sometimes, the end is not really the end. That’s the case with an unresolved ending. This is the kind of ending that leaves the reader with more questions than answers. Ending on a cliffhanger has the potential to be a frustrating experience, but that frustration can also be satisfying if the story calls for it.

Unresolved endings are popular choices for books in a series, because it leads the reader to the next book.

What Is an Expanded Ending?

An expanded ending often takes the form of an epilogue. As the name implies, it expands the world of the story beyond the events of the narrative itself. That usually involves a jump forward in time, and occasionally a change in perspective as well. (Dostoevsky’s classic Crime and Punishment ends on just such a note, as does Tolstoy’s War and Peace.) Like an unexpected ending, an expanded ending may reframe the way the reader has been thinking about the story.

One advantage of an epilogue is that it allows the writer to answer questions that might not be possible to answer in the space of the main narrative (for instance, how things turned out a decade or more after the main events of the story).

What Is an Unexpected Ending?

An unexpected ending is one the reader likely didn’t see coming. The twist ending can be earth-shattering, or clever and subtle. The trick to pulling off a great surprise is that it should seem inevitable in hindsight. Very few readers are likely to be on board for an ending that seems to truly come from nowhere, but if the ending makes sense they’re more likely to appreciate the subtle machinations and plot twists it took to get there.

A good ending avoids deus ex machina, a Latin expression meaning “god from a machine.” In the context of fiction, a deus ex machina is a heavy-handed device that abruptly and definitively resolves all the story’s problems in a way that doesn’t feel natural to the story.

For instance, a previously unknown rich uncle appearing from nowhere to give the poor striving protagonist a vast fortune may certainly be a surprise, but it’s not likely to satisfy your readers. Remember, a good twist is one that the writer has left clues for all along.

What Is an Ambiguous Ending?

An ambiguous ending is one that’s open to interpretation. While an unresolved ending doesn’t give the reader enough information to say what’s going to happen next, and an ambiguous ending might allow two different readers to come to two completely different conclusions. Of all the endings, the ambiguous one demands the most involvement from the reader, since they are actively invited to think about the significance of events for themselves.

Take a quick look at the ending to Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations. In the last lines of the novel, the main character Pip takes the hand of the widow Estrella and says he sees “no shadow of another parting from her.” But is Pip’s vision reliable? Do they stay together or is another parting in the future? The novel leaves the reader with both tantalizing possibilities.

What Is a Tied Ending?

A tied ending is on that brings the story full circle—it ends where it begins. This type of ending follows the classic Hero’s Journey, which is common to many myths and folktales from around the world, but it’s also a popular choice for many works of literary fiction trying to capture the cyclical nature of time. James Joyce’s famously beguiling Finnegan’s Wake even ends on a sentence fragment that literally completes the very first sentence of the novel.

As a writer, you’ll need to make sure that the journey to this point felt worthwhile. Ending up right where you started can feel pointless if the journey there and back wasn’t meaningful.

There you have it folks, and kind ask, I hope this helps anyone who is struggling with their story endings!

Follow, reblog and comment if you find these helpful!

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islabookishmind · 2 years

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Photo By Ann E. Zelle 1986

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islabookishmind · 2 years

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February wrap up! 📚

1) Persuasion by Jane Austen (5 ⭐)

Austen's wit and humor will never disappoint. It will live on through her works forever. Persuasion, as I said before, is a short read. It's also slow-paced, but the ending is worth it. The improvement of J.A. is so evident, knowing that this was also her final novel before she died adds to the poignancy of the writing. (I still love P&P more though!) Anne, the heroine, shows a great deal of patience and sensibility that I wish I possessed. (Although Elinor’s sensibility is unparalleled.) I must say, all of Jane Austen's novels are worth reading. Nobody can persuade me otherwise. And I couldn’t wait for the 2022 adaptation too.

2) The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (4 ⭐)

This was my first Wharton read (thanks to Timmy), and it got me. Without a doubt, it deserved the Pulitzer Prize. The gilded-age New York was one hell of a period. The aristocracy, the social rules—I COULD NEVER. This is beautifully written, definitely worth including on my favorite list. However, I am not a big fan of love triangles, so it didn't completely get me. It's still, however, worth reading. I'm going to look into more Wharton books now that she's one of my top five favorite novelists (The House of Mirth will be my next read). I am yet to see the movie.

3) Reminders of Him by CoHo (5 ⭐)

Ugly crying at midnight just because CoHo wrote another masterpiece that will rip our hearts to pieces. THIS. ONE. SHATTERED. ME. I thought I was a huge classics reader, but it turns out I love contemporaries more, and I'd give CoHo the credit with my discovery. There isn't much to say about this book. It certainly deserved all of the praise. For real. Except for the pain it will cause you, you will never regret reading this one.

4) The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (5 ⭐)

When I said Aaron Blackford is the standard, I meant it. HE IS THE FREAKING STANDARD. From enemies to lovers. Fake dating. The angst. Almost all my favorite tropes rolled into one. Girl, how I wish I was the main character. (Main character vibes, when?) I'd definitely give my soul to read it again for the first time. It's a debut novel, and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype, but it did. However, I must admit that not everyone I knew who read it enjoyed it as much as I did. This is still a book I strongly recommend. Give this a try! I'd certainly buy myself a physical copy of this one. (I freaking deserve it!)

5) The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (4 ⭐)

When you're at a loss for an excuse to skip work, go metamorphosis. All kidding aside! This is such a short and easy read, like really, really easy. But, hell, this is such a fundamental and influential read. It's unclear how Gregor turned into vermin overnight (just thinking about it makes it seem impossible, but it's fiction, so...). However, the feelings while reading it—Gregor's and his family's struggles, their emotions—are very moving, indeed. It was such a realistic experience.

My goal this month is at least eight books. Well, I won't fool myself anymore. 😂

P.S. My February reads, although I only finished five, are great reads. I didn't give 3 stars for this month, yay!

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islabookishmind · 2 years

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my January 2022 reads:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear (which I read in e-book)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“But when we repeat 1 percent errors, day after day, by replicating poor decisions, duplicating tiny mistakes, and rationalizing little excuses, our small choices compound into toxic results.”

I had nothing to say about this book. It's very useful and timely, especially in this time of pandemic, when we're limited and confined to our homes, and we often don't know what to do to be productive. This is also for you if, like me, you struggle to break bad habits and build healthy ones.

• 1984 by George Orwell (re-read)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted, all else follows."

Some sections can be extremely perplexing. But, in general, it's the work of a genius. This is a masterpiece, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a grim and terrifying novel, especially in Winston's case. It depicts a serious political issue as well as the injustice of the world in which he lived. But still, this is a great read. One of my all-time favorites.

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

I said I'd read it for a little sobbing, but why am I still crying about it hours after I finished? I already cried a lot last night, considering the fact that I'm only halfway through the book. I was expecting the ending because I had read The Iliad by Homer. But this one was excruciatingly painful that I couldn't stop hugging the book. The agony seeps into my veins and seems to haunt me for the rest of my life. I kinda wish I had read it more slowly... to prolong the agony.

• I Decided to Live as Me by Soo-Hyun Kim

⭐⭐⭐.5

“I have the right to be happy. We all have the right to be happy.”

This covers a wide range of topics, not only about yourself but also about the people in your life who may have an impact on how you live. It is crucial to understand not only others but also yourself. And whatever the case may be, you own and control your life. No matter what you do or how you live your life, always support yourself.

• Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

“Just this once, turn to me, even in jest, or as an afterthought, which would have meant everything to me when we were together, and, as you did back then, look me in the face, hold my gaze, and call me by your name.”

I loved it. I loved the book more than I did the film. It was exquisitely written, although it's unbearably painful. I couldn't cry as much as I did after I've finished The Song of Achilles, but this one, this one left my heart so heavy it was extremely difficult to sleep now. I'm not sure. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but if I'm not, I swear you'll always wonder "why?"

• Find Me by André Aciman

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“He knew that though neither of us sought out the other it was only because we had never really parted and that, regardless of where we were, who we were with, and whatever stood in our way, all he needed when the time was right was simply to come and find me."

Another great read. Wonderfully written. It isn't as thrilling as Call Me By Your Name, but the ending is haunting. It will make you want more of life, more of Elio and Oliver's if you are as engrossed in their relationship as I am. If you've been waiting for Elio and Oliver's closure, read this. I can say with absolute certainty that it is worth it. Oliver's point of view is what brought me to tears. I suppose I'd never be able to get them out of my system.

• Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

“I was always hungry for love. Just once, I wanted to know what it was like to get my fill of it—to be fed so much love I couldn’t take any more. Just once.”

This was my first Haruki Murakami novel, and all I have to say is... WOW! Just wow! I should have read it as soon as it arrived. I wouldn't recommend reading it if you are mentally and emotionally unstable atm. It takes a strong stance on mental illness. Give it some time.

• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (re-read)

⭐⭐⭐.5

“She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”

I liked how the book was written, and it's very addictive. It just lacks substance a little bit, I guess. There isn't much of a plot to look forward to except for the last few chapters. And surely I've matured enough because it's already become clear to me how racist the characters become in a few chapters, which I have glossed over in high school. The ending, on the other hand, is kinda not enough for me. I want more! How come we haven't gotten a sequel after all these years? Anyway, re-reading this made me feel like I was back in high school and in love. With that being said, if you need some kilig in your life, I would recommend it.

How about yours?

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