Congratulations, you have reached the end of your novel! Although, this is a very exciting feat for a writer, writing the end of a novel is also one of the most challenging parts. A good ending should leave readers feeling satisfied with how the characters have evolved and how the story has progressed. Though this can be hard to achieve. But, whether the novel you are writing is your first or fifth, these 10 tips will help you write the ending to your novel.
Know the Ending Before Writing
Before you even begin writing, you must plot out the story arc and understand how the story is going to end. Understanding the direction you want your story to go, before you write is useful in guiding you through the writing process. Of course, minor details may change over the course of your writing, but it is still helpful to have an idea of how you want the story to end. Knowing the outcome of your novel will also make it easier for readers to understand the story's progression.
Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
When writing a novel it is super important not to compare yourself to other writers. Every writer writes at their own pace and has a different style of writing, so don't feel bad when looking at someone else's completed work. Sometimes by the end of a novel, writers get caught up in the styles of other writers and feel unmotivated and confused about how to finish their novel. It is why it is important not to focus on perfection or the work of other people and to sit and write!
Look Back at Your Themes
Most novels have specific themes or lessons, they are trying to showcase or make a point on. When writing the ending of your novel it is important to look back at the important themes in your book and tie them together in the end. When writing a novel, the final paragraph is the closing argument of your piece and so it is your last chance to comment on themes or morals.
Don't Overcomplicate it
We have all experienced books that have dragged on forever, the ending of your novel shouldn't be like that! When writing the final scenes of your novel, resist the urge to pack an extreme amount of information or themes. Instead, themes or details about the characters should be spread out and mentioned throughout the entirety of the novel.
Leave Room for Interpretation
Even if your ending includes themes or morals, your ending should still leave some things to interpretation. Readers must finish the novel feeling satisfied but, also wanting more. The main character's journey or goal should be resolved in some way, but there should also be some parts left unknown. A good way to leave room for interpretation is by using a cliffhanger at the end of your novel.
Elicit Emotions
Evoking emotions is a central part of writing and ending a novel. Whether the ending of a novel is sad, frightening, happy, or a mixture of many emotions, the reader should be left feeling. When writing the ending of your novel, make sure that you include emotions that will stay with the reader long after they have completed the book. (This way the story lingers with the reader and they remember it over time!)
Make the Ending Realistic
When wrapping up your novel, make sure the ending is realistic and makes sense to the progression of the plot and character arcs. As you write the final chapter or paragraph of your novel, look back and make sure everything flows believably and logically. By this point in the book, readers will already be invested in the story, which is why it is important to have a satisfying and logical ending where the characters have arrived at their ending.
Include an Element of Surprise
Although this isn't necessary, it is always engaging when in the final chapters of a novel a surprise is revealed. It is important to have a realistic ending, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring or predictable. Having an extremely predictable ending can lead readers to feel deflated and let down. Whereas endings full of surprises, keep the readers entertained even as the book comes to a close.
Try out Different Endings, Before Settling
Sometimes the first ending you think of, might not be the best one. This is why it is important to map out your story, before writing. When you plan or outline your story, play around with the possible ways your story could end. Question how the different outcomes will affect your characters. Or what emotions will you try to evoke? by the end of your novel, the main character has overcome many obstacles and achieved their goal. Perhaps, the main character has fought as hard as they could, but ends up dying in the final chapter? Before, choosing the ending it is important to try on different endings to see which fits best.
Don't Forget the Subplots
Lastly, don't forget the subplots! Even though subplots aren't as important as the main plot, they are still vital in making your story feel rich and relatable. By the end of your book, all your subplots should be tied up in a way that feels realistic. Make sure there are no subplots, left untouched, leading the reader to take notice and feel confused.
* Yet, this doesn't always apply to books that are part of the series. Some subplots carry on throughout the entire series.
Completing the ending of a novel is a huge step for a writer, and I hope these tips help you create or enhance the ending of your novel.