How to End a Short Story – Tips for a Compelling Conclusion

Last Updated on February 5, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower

One of the hardest things about writing a short story is figuring out the right way to bring it to a close. I’ve published over 200 short stories, but I have an equal number of unfinished short story ideas because I just couldn’t figure out how to end them.

It can be especially difficult to end a short story in a satisfying way because of the brevity of the work. Unlike novels where you have a lot of time to get to the ending, the conclusion of a short story has to be achieved quickly without feeling a sense of rush. Oftentimes, it feels like we’re just getting to know the character and their situation when it’s time for the story to come to a close.

Part of being a great writer is being able to craft a great ending. The ending of a short story is often what leaves a lasting impression on the reader. A great ending can elevate a story from good to unforgettable, while a weak ending can detract from even the strongest writing. Here are some tips on how to write compelling endings that leave a lasting impact.

Understanding the Purpose of Your Ending

The purpose of an ending is not to make the story stop. Rather, it’s to accomplish something specific for your characters and your readers. Before you can write a great ending, it’s important to understand the purpose of your story’s conclusion. Are you trying to provide resolution to your characters’ conflicts, offer a twist that changes the reader’s perception, or create a sense of open-endedness that encourages reflection? Each of these purposes can lead to different types of endings. Understanding the purpose of your ending will help guide your writing and ensure that your conclusion is effective.

Choosing the Right Type of Ending

Ultimately, you as the writer can end your short story however you want. That said, there are several types of endings that writers can choose from. Here are a few of the most common (note: I’m intentionally choosing very well-known stories to illustrate the common types of endings in order to make this piece as relatable as possible and so as not to give away endings of stories you probably haven’t read before):

• Resolution: In this type of ending, the protagonist resolves the conflict or problem that has been driving the story. This type of ending can provide a sense of closure and satisfaction to the reader.

Example: In “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, the protagonist and her husband sacrifice their most valuable possessions to buy each other Christmas gifts, only to find that the gifts they purchased are now worthless. The resolution of the story is the realization that the love they have for each other is priceless, and the conclusion provides a satisfying resolution to the story’s central conflict.

• Twist: This type of ending changes the reader’s perception of the story in a surprising way. A twist ending can leave the reader feeling shocked, satisfied, or frustrated, depending on how well it is executed.

Example: In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator lures his victim into a wine cellar and walls him up alive. The twist ending comes when the reader realizes that the narrator is recounting the events of the story from within the wine cellar, suggesting that he is the one who has been trapped.

• Open-ended: This type of ending leaves the resolution of the story’s conflict unresolved. This type of ending can be effective in creating a sense of ambiguity or encouraging the reader to reflect on the story’s themes.

Example: In “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, the two characters argue over whether or not to have an abortion, but the story ends with them ordering drinks and avoiding the subject. The open-ended ending leaves the resolution of the story’s conflict unresolved, encouraging the reader to reflect on the larger issues at play in the story.

Crafting a Compelling Ending

Once you have chosen the type of ending you want to write, it’s time to craft the conclusion itself. Here are a few tips to help you write an ending that leaves a lasting impact:

• Build tension: If you’re writing a resolution or twist ending, building tension in the final paragraphs can help heighten the impact of the conclusion.
• Keep it concise: Avoid introducing new information or characters in the final paragraphs of your story. Stick to the themes and conflicts that have been established throughout the story, and let your conclusion flow naturally from the events that have come before.
• End on an image or line of dialogue: A memorable image or line of dialogue can leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider ending your story on a line of dialogue or an evocative image that encapsulates the story’s themes or provides a memorable conclusion to the narrative.
• Create resonance: The best endings resonate with the reader long after they’ve finished the story. This can be achieved by echoing themes or motifs from earlier in the story, or by leaving a lasting impression on the reader through a memorable image or line of dialogue.

It’s okay if you don’t nail the ending on your first attempt. Good writers often draft several versions of the ending before they find the right way to wrap up their story.

If you are really struggling with your ending, ask a beta reader to help you get to the right conclusion.

Avoiding Bad Endings

While it’s possible to write great endings, it’s just as easy to write endings that detract from the story as a whole. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when writing your ending:

• Providing a lackluster resolution: A weak or unsatisfying resolution can leave the reader feeling let down, regardless of how well the rest of the story was written.
• Being too predictable: If the ending of your story is too predictable, it may fail to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider using a twist ending or open-ended conclusion to keep the reader guessing until the end.
• Introducing new information: Avoid introducing new information or characters in the final paragraphs of your story. Stick to the themes and conflicts that have been established throughout the story, and let your conclusion flow naturally from the events that have come before.

One of the most common ways I see amateur short story authors attempt to end their story is with death. While there are certainly many great stories that end with death, it’s very difficult to pull it off effectively without frustrating the reader.

Examples of Great Endings in Short Stories

Here are a few examples of short stories with endings that leave a lasting impact (again, I’m using common examples, but this section obviously contains spoilers if you haven’t read these stories before):

• “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner: The story ends with the discovery of Emily’s dead body and the revelation that she had been keeping her lover’s corpse in her bedroom for years. The image of Emily’s dead body, combined with the line “For a long while we just stood there, looking down at the profound and fleshless grin,” leaves a lasting impression on the reader and encapsulates the themes of the story.
• “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson: The story ends with the reveal that the lottery’s winner will be stoned to death. The sudden, shocking conclusion underscores the themes of conformity and the dangers of blindly following tradition.
• “The Hitchhiker” by Roald Dahl: The story ends with the protagonist realizing that the hitchhiker he picked up was actually the ghost of a dead man. The twist ending leaves the reader feeling stunned and reinforces the themes of mortality and the unknown.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The story ends with the main character’s descent into madness, as she becomes completely consumed by her obsession with the yellow wallpaper in her room. The haunting and powerful conclusion underscores the themes of mental illness, oppression, and the consequences of denying women agency.
• “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates: The story ends with the main character being lured into a car by a dangerous man and never being seen again. The abrupt and frightening conclusion underscores the themes of innocence lost and the dangers that young women face in the world.

Not Every Ending Is Perfect

Sometimes an ending can create a lot of mixed emotion in readers. For example, the “Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe has a strong and memorable ending, which can be seen as both good and bad depending on perspective.

From a narrative perspective, the ending is fitting with the story’s themes of revenge and the macabre, and it leaves a lasting impression on the reader. However, from a reader’s perspective, the abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion, with the main character bricked up alive in a wine cellar, can be seen as unsatisfying and leaves the reader with more questions than answers.

So, while the conclusion of “The Cask of Amontillado” can be seen as both strong and memorable, it also has the potential to leave the reader feeling unsatisfied, and it is therefore a good example of the importance of crafting an ending that both fits the story and leaves the reader feeling satisfied.

Final Thoughts on Good Endings

While you don’t want to end your short too quickly, you also don’t want to let the ending drag out too long. Speaking of which, it’s probably time to wrap up this post before I lose my reader.

Crafting a great ending to a short story requires understanding the purpose of your conclusion, choosing the right type of ending, and writing a conclusion that leaves a lasting impact. By avoiding common mistakes and taking the time to craft a compelling ending, you can write stories that leave a lasting impression on your readers.

What are your secrets for creating great endings to your short stories? What are some of your favorite endings? Share your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to share this post on all your favorite channels.