It’s time for the last step – and it’s a momentous one! You can give yourself a massive pat on the back for having got to this point.

But your task isn’t yet complete. Because you want to give your characters the best possible send-off. You want it to be the most satisfying conclusion to everything that has gone before, rounding off your story.

The end of your story is where everything comes together. Your plot will be resolved, your characters’ journey completed, the story finished, and the curtain can come down on a satisfactory conclusion to everything that has gone before.

Let’s have a look at what you need to think about, and consider the ways you can write an effective ending that leaves a lasting impression.

The end in sight?

You might well have had an idea how your story will end, right from the beginning. Many writers find that they know the beginning and the end of their story from the start, and their focus is on the build-up so that by the time they get to the ending they’ve had in mind all along, it feels earned and deserved. But even if you know how your story is going to end, it’s well worth considering how to complete your story to maximise its impact and leave a reader feeling that everything has worked out just as it should.

That doesn’t mean you can’t drop in a few surprises – but even if you add a twist that turns everything on its head, you want your ending to feel ‘right’ for your story – that it could only have ended in this way.

Consider what has worked for you

Think of some of the stories you’ve most loved, in fiction or in film or TV. What is it about the ending that stands out to you? Chances are that it’s the sense that it’s the right ending for that particular story. That’s what you want to aim for with the story that you’re writing.