It All Comes Down to the End...
Thomas Williams once said, "Don't write endings, find them." It is believed that endings grow from beginnings and reveal their true colors through clues within the writing piece. A good writer experiments with different closings until they have found the one that fits their writing. Don't be afraid to "try on" different closings. Writing is an art, and with time and practice one will produce the results that he/she envisioned within their mind since the start.
Take a Look at a Few Famous Authors and Their Successful Closings
The Use of a Profound Thought: "Miss Honey was still hugging the tiny girl in her arms and neither of them said a word as they stood there watching the big black car tearing round the corner at the end of the road and disappearing forever into the distance." -Roald Dahl, Matilda
The Use of a Quote: "Very softly, she half sang, half summed a song that her grandmother used to sing...
If only, if only, the moon speaks no reply;
Reflecting the sun and all that's gone by.
Be strong my weary wolf, turn around boldly,
Fly high, my baby bird,
My angel, my only."
-Louis Sachar, Holes
A Question or Open-Ended Statement: "And soon, they were rolling on again, leaving Treegap behind, and as they went, the tinkling little melody of a music box drifted out behind them and was lost at last far down the road." -Natalie Babbit, Tuck Everlasting
A Laugh: "...'Oh, I will,' said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face. 'They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..." -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Other Types of Closings
The Loop: when an ending ends at the same place that it began
The Mysterious Closing: when a reader is left with a big question mark in their mind
The Sad but True Ending: when you as a writer must allow your story to end sadly because that is what it calls for
Take a Look at a Few Famous Authors and Their Successful Closings
The Use of a Profound Thought: "Miss Honey was still hugging the tiny girl in her arms and neither of them said a word as they stood there watching the big black car tearing round the corner at the end of the road and disappearing forever into the distance." -Roald Dahl, Matilda
The Use of a Quote: "Very softly, she half sang, half summed a song that her grandmother used to sing...
If only, if only, the moon speaks no reply;
Reflecting the sun and all that's gone by.
Be strong my weary wolf, turn around boldly,
Fly high, my baby bird,
My angel, my only."
-Louis Sachar, Holes
A Question or Open-Ended Statement: "And soon, they were rolling on again, leaving Treegap behind, and as they went, the tinkling little melody of a music box drifted out behind them and was lost at last far down the road." -Natalie Babbit, Tuck Everlasting
A Laugh: "...'Oh, I will,' said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face. 'They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..." -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Other Types of Closings
The Loop: when an ending ends at the same place that it began
The Mysterious Closing: when a reader is left with a big question mark in their mind
The Sad but True Ending: when you as a writer must allow your story to end sadly because that is what it calls for
