As writers, we often become preoccupied with our book’s opening chapter (and for good reason—openings are incredibly important for grabbing and keeping the reader’s attention), but it’s important to not overlook how the story will conclude. Book endings are just as powerful as beginnings, and can help a reader find closure, or prompt them to pick up the next book in a series. In this article we’ll discuss 6 of the most commonly used book endings, the advantages of each, and how to implement them effectively into your story.
Resolved ending
Resolved endings are when the story comes to a neat and complete closure. The plot reaches an appropriate conclusion, character arcs are full, and readers feel a sense of contentment upon finishing. This is a common ending for Romance and Rom-Com books that use the “happily ever after” approach—not that the endings must be happy, but that there are no loose strings, and the book generally concludes on a satisfying note. When writing, keep the key word in mind: resolve.
Unresolved / Cliffhanger
You’ve read these before—the books where you flip to the last page and think, “No, that can’t be it! I have to know what happens…” That’s the power of an unresolved ending, also commonly referred to as cliffhangers. The idea here is that you leave the reader wanting more. It’s especially effective when used in series—ending one book unresolved is a great way to encourage a reader to pick up the next book. Cliffhangers can also be used as chapter endings as a way to keep the pages turning.
*Fun Fact: The term “cliffhanger” is thought to have originated from Thomas Hardy’s A Pair of Blue Eyes, in which the protagonist is left hanging off a cliff.
Unexpected
Gasp! That’s what happens when you read an unexpected book ending. You may even utter the words, “Well, I didn’t see that coming!” Unexpected endings give readers a sense of surprise, and often spur conversations and get people talking. If you want to try to implement an unexpected ending in your book, start by sprinkling breadcrumbs throughout that give the reader small, subtle hints. Foreshadowing is a great tool because you don’t want a surprise ending to feel out of the blue—you want it to stay with the reader as a genuine twist.
Ambiguous / Open-Ended
Similar to the unresolved ending, ambiguous endings intentionally do NOT button everything up. There may be lingering questions or your reader might draw their own conclusions about what the ending meant or what might have happened next, even if there’s no planned series in the works. Some readers love open-ended conclusions, while others find them frustrating. It’s hard to tell (and remember, you can’t please everyone), so write the ending that feels most authentic to the story. If you feel uncomfortable leaving things open-ended at the finish line, this ending might not be for you.
Full Circle
Like a circle, this type of book ends where it began. Perhaps it’s the same scene, time of year, event, or even just a figurative feeling—either way, the reader understands the intention, and gets a sense of closure from the strategic ending. It is also referred to as a “Tied Ending” or a “Bookended Ending” because, like bookends, the beginning and ending match. A common use of this approach is the Hero’s Journey storyline, in which the protagonist sets off from and returns to the same place. This can be literal or metaphorical.
Expanded / Epilogue
Sometimes your story will reach its end, but you still want the readers to get a glimpse into the future to see what happened to the characters. This is called an expanded ending, or more commonly an epilogue. These endings can jump forward days, months, or even years, wrapping up any loose ends without having to write all the scenes over the course of the time jump. Many readers love epilogues because they give a sense of closure to the story, however writers should use caution: Not all stories require an epilogue, and sometimes it can drag out the story unnecessarily.
Reaching the end of the book is a huge milestone for writers. But take the time to make sure you’re using the right ending for the story—one that fits the narrative and genre expectations. Pay attention to what comparative titles are doing, or even write more than one ending to see which fits best. Then celebrate—you made it!