Seven Tips to Help You Find Your Happy Ending

When I was younger I used to write short stories with a passion. Somewhere along the course of life, and new responsibilities the ability became dormant. Finding a way to end my stories created turmoil. My journals are filled with beginnings, and middles. Even as I read my partial tales, I too wonder what happened to my characters.

After a frank discussion with a friend I realized that I needed to discover the reason for my lack of commitment. What was enabling me from completing a story? I tended to write in a manner that complicated my story line and my characters. What started off clear in my mind became muddled near the middle and impossible by the end. I needed to alter my direction from the way I was writing.

Whenever you are in doubt or unable to create the ending to your work, go back to the basics. Start small.

1. Draw a timeline.

Plot the character(s) and events for the beginning, middle and end of the story.

2. Brainstorm.

Create a list of every ending you can think of and read it over and over until one “clicks.”

3. Write the first five words that spring to mind.

Whether it’s a dog, bird, railway, light, printer –find a way to incorporate the words into your story. If the first five words do not help, continue the process.

4. Re-read the ending to one of your favorite books.

What intrigued you about the last few chapters, paragraph, or sentence? Allow that intensity to travel to your own work.

5. Change direction.

Many times we do have an idea how we foresee the end to our tale, but too much stands in our way. My advice, travel in the opposite direction. If you have known from the start that your protagonist is found guilty of murder, change your direction and mix it up. Instead have him found innocent, through a jury deadlock. Take a chance on moving away from your original plan, if your original plan has stopped moving you forward.

6. Take the beginning of your story and make it the ending.

Many times our fever for writing provides ideas and concepts at the start, but we loose steam. (Especially if you have other major responsibilities that warrant your time) If you know that you will have issue with the ending, use what you have written. Whether or not the intention was for the end of the story, make it so. How does that change the flow of your work?

7.  Say it out loud!

Verbalize your story, before you write it down. Make sure to record yourself, while you are telling your tale. Speak for a minute or an hour. Once you are finished speaking, play it back. Capture the details pertinent to your story.