How to End a Story: 10 Methods to Create a Lasting Impact

Learn how to craft a story ending that resonates deeply with readers, using practical steps, examples, and creative prompts to bring your conclusion to life.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

• Story endings overview
• 10 ways to end a story: examples + exercises 
• How to write your story's ending: 3 steps

Story endings overview

10 ways to end a story: examples + exercises

1. Tie Up Every Loose End.

How it works: Resolving all subplots and questions gives readers a sense of closure and completeness. This type of ending works well for tightly plotted stories where every thread has purpose and payoff.

Writing prompt: List every subplot or unresolved question in your story. How can you bring them to a satisfying resolution, even if it’s brief?

Example for fun: The villain is captured, the treasure is retrieved, and every character learns a valuable lesson.

Published example: In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling ties up an intricate web of storylines and subplots that span seven books. The epilogue provides an additional layer of closure, fast-forwarding to show the three main characters as adults. 

2. End with a surprise.

How it works: Surprise endings subvert reader expectations while staying consistent with the story’s logic. These endings often reframe earlier events or reveal a hidden truth that changes everything. Done well, they leave readers marveling at how they didn’t see it coming.

Writing prompt: What is one secret your protagonist could have hidden, even from themselves? How would its revelation change the story’s meaning or resolution?

Example for fun: A detective discovers he was the criminal all along, his memory manipulated by a rival.

Published example: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier builds to a surprise ending where the protagonist learns that Rebecca, the titular character, was not the perfect wife everyone imagined, as she had at least one extra-marital affair. Maxim, her husband, confesses that he had killed Rebecca after she falsely claimed she was pregnant. In reality, she was terminally ill. 

3. Leave questions unanswered. 

How it works: Some ambiguity allows readers to interpret the ending themselves, often making the story linger longer in their minds. This approach works well for literary or thought-provoking works where the journey matters more than definitive answers.

Writing prompt: What is one question your story could leave unanswered in a way that enhances its themes?

Example for fun: A character is faced with two options, and the story ends before they make a choice.

Published example: At the end of The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas escapes his tightly controlled community with the baby Gabriel, determined to find a place where freedom and emotion are not suppressed. The final scene depicts Jonas and Gabriel sledding down a hill toward a village. However, the narrative leaves it ambiguous whether Jonas will reach the village or if he succumbs to the cold and his imagination of a safe haven

4. Come full circle. 

How it works: Echoing the beginning creates a sense of symmetry and thematic unity. This type of ending often reveals how much the characters or world have changed—or haven’t—since the start.

Writing prompt: What element from your story’s opening could you revisit or mirror in the ending? How would it highlight the transformation (or lack thereof)? 

Example for fun: A character returns to the same park bench where they started, now seeing the world—and themselves—differently. 

Published example: In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck’s full-circle ending returns to the tranquil clearing where the story began, where the main characters George and Lennie dream of owning a farm together. At the end, it has been transformed into the setting of Lennie’s tragic death. This symmetry underscores the futility of George and Lennie’s dream and the unchanging harshness of their world, deepening the story’s emotional impact. The once hopeful location becomes a poignant symbol of loss and sacrifice.

5. Provide a sense of hope.

How it works: Hopeful endings inspire readers and leave them with a positive emotional takeaway, even if the characters’ struggles are ongoing. They often work well for stories about resilience or redemption.

Writing prompt: What small victory could your characters achieve that hints at a better future, even if it’s not guaranteed?

Example for fun: After losing everything, the protagonist plants a tree, symbolizing renewal and growth.

Published example: In The Road by Cormac McCarthy, the ending provides a glimmer of hope amidst the desolation. After the father's death, the boy is found and taken in by a family, suggesting the possibility of human connection and survival in a bleak world. This contrasts with the story’s pervasive despair, offering a sense that the boy’s innocence and moral compass may endure despite the harsh realities around him. 

6. Show an unexpected victory.

How it works: Just when defeat seems certain, an unforeseen triumph redefines the story’s trajectory. This ending works well for suspenseful or adventurous tales.

Writing prompt: What obstacle seems insurmountable? How could an unanticipated twist enable your protagonist to overcome it?

Example for fun: A secret ally turns the tide of a climactic battle.

Published example: In The Lord of the Rings, the unexpected victory comes when Gollum, driven by his obsession with the Ring, inadvertently destroys it. Though Frodo intends to destroy the Ring, he succumbs to its power, and it’s Gollum’s final, chaotic act that leads to its downfall.

7. End on a bittersweet note.

How it works: Combining elements of joy and sorrow feels both satisfying and true to life. 

Writing prompt: What is one loss your protagonist must endure to achieve their goal? How can you show the cost of their victory?

Example for fun: The hero saves the world but loses their closest friend in the process.

Published example: In Atonement by Ian McEwan, the bittersweet ending reveals that Briony, the novel's narrator, has spent her life trying to atone for falsely accusing Robbie, which led to his imprisonment and separation from her sister Cecilia. Briony writes a fictional story in which Robbie and Cecilia are reunited and live happily ever after, but in reality, they remain forever apart. The ending underscores the tragic consequences of Briony’s false accusation and the painful gap between fantasy and reality, leaving readers with a sense of loss and the complexity of seeking redemption.

8. Zoom out from the protagonist to provide a broader reflection. 

How it works: This ending zooms out from the individual character to consider the larger societal, philosophical, or universal implications of the story. It often includes commentary or reflection, connecting the personal to the greater world.

Writing prompt: How can the ending of your story resonate beyond the protagonist? What larger message or truth do you want readers to take away?

Example for fun: The narrator reflects on how the events they experienced symbolize humanity’s struggle for freedom or justice.

Published example: The final scene of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck reflects on the collective experience of the Joad family and the broader plight of migrant workers.

9. Show an inevitable tragedy.

How it works: This ending emphasizes the inescapable nature of the protagonist's fate or choices, culminating in a tragic conclusion. The tragedy feels necessary, as it’s woven into the fabric of the story from the beginning. This works well for stories dealing with themes of fate, human flaws, or moral dilemmas.

Writing prompt: What fatal flaw or decision is your protagonist bound by, leading to their eventual downfall or sacrifice? How can this tragedy feel inevitable rather than forced?

Example for fun: The hero sacrifices themselves for the greater good, knowing their death will seal their ultimate victory.

Published example: In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the tragic ending feels inevitable due to the characters’ impulsive decisions and the longstanding feud between their families. Despite their deep love for each other, their deaths result from a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications, highlighting the destructive power of hatred and fate. The tragedy underscores the irreversible consequences of their choices, making the ending both heartbreaking and inescapable.

How to write your story's ending: 3 steps

1. Reflect on your story’s core elements.

Ground yourself in the essence of your story by considering its central conflict, theme, genre, characters, and the message you want to convey. This reflection will help guide you toward an ending that resonates with the story's larger purpose. Ask yourself: How do you want the characters to evolve? What does the conflict ultimately reveal? The ending should align with these core elements to feel satisfying and true to the story’s journey.

2. Consider genre expectations.

Think about the ending that best fits your genre, or one that might subvert expectations for it. For example, in a romance, you might expect a happily-ever-after, but in a tragic romance, you could choose a bittersweet conclusion where the lovers remain separated. In a thriller, a neatly wrapped-up ending might be expected, but an ambiguous or unresolved ending could make it more unsettling. Decide if you want to honor the conventions of your genre or challenge them for a more impactful ending.

3. Try out multiple ending approaches.

Using the different ending methods above, experiment with a few possibilities for your story’s conclusion. Write out two or three variations—whether it’s a twist, a sense of closure, or an open-ended reflection—and see which resonates most with your story. Once you’ve found one you like, refine it to ensure it fits seamlessly with your plot, themes, and character arcs. Imagine how the ending will feel in the context of the entire narrative—does it feel earned? Does it align with your protagonist’s journey from beginning to end?

Check out these additional articles for crafting your story: "What is Conflict in a Story? Definition, Types, & How to Create Conflict" and "How to Write a Novel: 6 Steps + Why They Work."

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