A great deal is written about the importance of a strong opening for a novel, and especially if a fantastic hook can be created in the first paragraph or two. And much effort is devoted to the significance of a terrific title. But little time is spent discussing a brilliant ending. Yet doesn't a powerful finish to a story deserve equal shrift with the aforementioned heavyweights? There are several options and techniques that respected writers have utilized to leave the reader with a lasting impression of a work.
The Poignant Ending is Example Number One
Some years ago I was discussing powerful endings for novels with a long-time mentor and friend of mine, Noel King, who I'm sad to note has recently passed away. My erudite friend mentioned that he'd never found anything more dramatic than the ending of A FAREWELL TO ARMS, in which the lieutenant must leave his wife's body as it lay in a hospital bed after she hemorrhaged to death, also losing their unborn child in the process. Hemingway wrote: It was like saying good-by to a statue. I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.
I might also offer the ending in THE FIXER as an example of an incredibly powerful finish: Some, as the carriage clattered by and they glimpsed the fixer, were openly weeping, wringing their hands. One thinly bearded man clawed his face. One or two waved at Yakov. Some shouted his name. In THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, I have never forgotten Hugo's line describing Quasimodo's remains when they were touched: When an attempt was made to loosen him from the skeleton which he clasped, he crumbled into dust. And I still recall my grief at the ending of Kipling's THE LIGHT THAT FAILED: Torpenhow knelt under the lee of the camel, with Dick's body in his arms.
Love Conquering All Seems to be a Certain Path to Success
At the opposite extreme is the Shakespearean approach to his comedies, in which love conquering all is the overriding theme. A Romance writer almost always provides a satisfying ending when the heroine gets her man. Or on occasion vice versa. Along these same lines, a writer of commercial fiction can be relatively comfortable if he or she can craft a story that fulfills the reader's aspirations for the protagonist, regardless of the trials and tribulations along the way.
An Open Thread is Often a Great Mechanism to Close a Novel
If we think about some of our most widely read contemporary authors, the opportunity at the end of a story to provide the hint for a sequel is never overlooked. James Patterson does this as well as anyone, and a good reason why so many people come back for more of his material. (He has 31 #1 New York Times bestsellers as of this article, which is a record, and not bad for someone who many in the literati deem to be a poor writer.) Thomas Harris did a spectacular job with open threads in the Hannibal series, especially the ones that involved Lector always eluding the FBI at the end. Libraries are full of stories that begat stories, some of which were flagrantly presaged in the endings of their predecessors. Handled with care, this is a terrific way to close a novel, but it requires skill so the reader doesn't feel shortchanged.
Which Brings us to the Denouement
Here is arguably the most common but quite often most difficult type of ending for a lot of writers to pull off well. I often judge the skill of the writer, and hence the quality of the story, by how much the author has to explain at the end for the reader. In some cases, a detailed denouement is indeed necessary to provide the reader with a fuller understanding of some of the less significant but nonetheless still important plot elements. But if handled poorly, a lengthy, multi-leveled denouement can be a sign of either lazy writing--or a self-exposition of the limitations of the author.
Select a Closing that Will Make the Reader Remember Your Story
The ability to create a memorable closing brings me to GONE WITH THE WIND, and Scarlett saying: "... after all, tomorrow is another day." Here is a book of over 300,000 words that is filled with rich characters and grand characterizations, yet if I asked 100 people who read the book at any time in their respective lives to recite the last line, the majority would be able to do so, or at least come close.
Give the Same Effort to the Ending as to the Opening
The ability to hook the reader at the earliest possible stage of the narrative is an integral component of any novelist's thought process. Experienced writers are always considering ways to motivate people to read their next book. There is no better method than by providing a satisfying ending to their current work, regardless of the technique that is used. And I'm convinced that notable writers spend as much time on their endings as they do on their openings. It only makes sense.
What Are Some of the Ways to End a Story? Here Are Four Well-Established Techniques to Consider Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
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