The End…? The 8 Types of Story Endings (& How to Choose the Right One for Your Story)
- Bair Klos
- Jun 30
- 12 min read
Journey Before Destination… But Let’s Talk Destination
Imagine this: you’re reading a thrilling, breakneck story full of intrigue, memorable characters, and tantalizing twists and turns. The plot is racing toward its climax, you’re clutching the pages with white knuckles as the clock beside your bed whizzes past one o’clock in the morning. And then…! The book grinds to a puzzling, disappointing, and ultimately unsatisfying halt because the writer didn’t know how to end a story the right way.
So while I'm fully on board with Brandon Sanderson's wisdom "Journey before destination," the final destination of your story can make or break your story.
Here’s the thing: a great ending can leave readers buzzing with end-of-book euphoria, clutching your novel to their chest in quiet satisfied devastation. Or it can ruin everything. Leaving them confused, frustrated, or straight-up betrayed (looking at you, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss…) and have your novel, that you spent countless hours of your life slaving away to, being thrown across the room and careening into a wall.
A strong ending is the final punctuation mark of a story—one that can leave your readers haunted, satisfied, and emotionally wrecked (in the best way possible). A weak ending? It’s a broken promise, and readers will remember it for all the wrong reasons. (Just ask literally anyone who watched the last season of Game of Thrones.)
But how do you know if your ending works? Why do some endings feel like emotional sucker punches in the best way, while others nosedive into mediocrity? In this post, I'm diving into:
The 8 core types of story endings
How different genres shape what readers expect
What makes an ending truly land
And how to choose the right one for your story
The 8 Types Of Story Endings
There are countless ways a story can end, but most of them fall into a few key categories. Understanding these core types of endings can help you figure out the emotional tone and narrative resolution your story needs. From triumphant conclusions to devastating losses, these endings shape how your readers walk away from your book—whether they’re weeping, cheering, or desperately turning back to page one.
1. The Resolved Ending
Everything is wrapped up with a nice bow. The main conflict is resolved, the character arcs are complete, and there are no lingering questions. This is the go-to for most satisfying, full-circle stories, especially in genres like romance or middle grade. Think Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, or The Return of the King. These endings often feel reflective, too, as characters consider how far they’ve come.
2. The Unresolved Ending
Not everything is explained, and readers are left to interpret what happens next. This can work beautifully in literary fiction or stories with an ambiguous tone—but be careful: there’s a fine line between mysterious and unsatisfying. See: Inception, The Road, or The Giver. Often reflective or philosophical, these endings work best when you want to haunt readers after the final page.
*This ending is also sometimes called an "Ambiguous" ending.
3. The Twist Ending
Right at the last second, everything you thought you knew gets turned on its head. This kind of ending needs to be cleverly foreshadowed to feel earned. Common in thrillers, mysteries, and dark speculative fiction. Think Gone Girl, Fight Club, or The Sixth Sense. It’s unexpected—but ideally, not random.
*This ending is also sometimes called an "Unexpected" ending.
4. The Circular Ending
The story ends where it began—sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically. The character might return home, repeat an earlier moment, or mirror the story’s beginning in some poignant way. Great for stories about transformation or self-reflection. Examples include The Hobbit, The Lion King, or Life of Pi. This type often carries a reflective tone and adds depth by reinforcing a theme.
*This ending is also sometimes called a "Tied or Cyclical" ending.
5. The Cliffhanger Ending
Usually reserved for series, a cliffhanger leaves a major thread unresolved to hook readers into the next installment. It’s risky if readers don’t know more is coming—but thrilling when done well. Think The Empire Strikes Back, Catching Fire, or The Way of Kings. This is a subset of unresolved endings, but more suspense-driven than philosophical.
6. The Tragic Ending
Not all stories end in triumph. In a tragic ending, the protagonist may fail, die, or lose something vital. These endings pack emotional weight and often emphasize themes of sacrifice, fate, or hubris. Think Hamlet, The Fault in Our Stars, or Requiem for a Dream. Even when devastating, they can feel powerful and cathartic.
7. The Bittersweet Ending
Some things are gained, others are lost. A character may get what they want but not how they expected, or they may lose something in order to grow. This is a favorite for coming-of-age, literary, and dramatic fantasy stories. Think The Hunger Games, Call Me By Your Name, or The Green Mile. Bittersweet endings often include reflective, expanded conclusions to honor the emotional cost of the story.
8. The Epilogue Ending
The story ends... and then gives you a glimpse into the future. This wrap-up can be satisfying, especially if readers are invested in the characters' long-term fate. Used frequently in epic fantasy or romance to close emotional loops. See Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Handmaid’s Tale, or The Night Circus. You could also use this for an expanded ending—one that winds down slowly, letting the story breathe.
*This ending is also sometimes called an "Expanded" ending.
How Genre Impacts Story Endings
Every genre comes with its own emotional contract—an unspoken promise between writer and reader. That promise includes the kind of ending your story is expected to deliver. While you can absolutely subvert those expectations, it’s important to understand what readers come looking for so you can decide when to break the rules… and when to lean into them.
Here are some of the major genres and what readers usually expect at the end:
Romance
Readers expect a happy or at least hopeful ending. In genre romance, a Happily Ever After (HEA) or Happy For Now (HFN) is a must. If the couple doesn’t end up together or one of them dies? That’s a tragedy—not a romance. Bittersweet epilogues are okay, but the relationship should still feel satisfying and emotionally complete.
Fantasy (Epic & High Fantasy)
These stories often culminate in resolved, bittersweet, or epilogue endings. Readers expect payoff after long, sweeping arcs—think major character growth, the fall of dark lords, or the triumph of underdogs. Series may use cliffhangers between books, but the final book usually needs closure (even if it breaks your heart a little).
Science Fiction
Sci-fi endings range widely, but they often lean toward bittersweet, reflective, or unresolved, especially in hard or speculative sci-fi. Readers enjoy open-ended conclusions that spark philosophical thought. However, action-heavy space operas may aim for cleaner, more resolved endings similar to fantasy.
Thriller & Mystery
A good mystery or thriller should end with a resolved or twist ending. Readers expect answers. The killer is revealed, the puzzle is solved, and justice (or something close to it) is served. Cliffhangers can work in a series, but the central mystery usually needs resolution.
Horror
Expect tragic, twist, or unresolved endings. Horror often leaves the reader unsettled on purpose—evil may survive, the protagonist may lose their mind, or questions might linger in the shadows. Happy endings? Rare. Survival itself is often the prize.
Literary Fiction
These stories lean toward ambiguous, reflective, or bittersweet endings. Emotional or philosophical resonance matters more than plot resolution. Readers are open to endings that feel raw, nuanced, or unresolved, as long as they stay thematically consistent.
Historical Fiction
Like literary fiction, historical narratives often favor bittersweet, tragic, or epilogue endings. The goal is emotional authenticity within a past setting, especially when based on real events. Tragedy or loss isn’t uncommon, but the ending should still provide meaning or closure.
Coming-of-Age / YA
These genres often lean on bittersweet, resolved, or circular endings. Growth is key. The protagonist may not “win,” but they’ll change. Epilogues showing who they became—or reflective endings about who they’re becoming—are especially beloved.
Drama
Drama often favors bittersweet, tragic, or reflective endings. These stories dig deep into emotional and relational conflict, and the resolution usually carries the weight of consequence or growth. Whether the characters reunite, fall apart, or suffer loss, the ending should feel earned and grounded in human truth and emotional resonance.
Comedy
In comedy, readers expect a resolved, circular, or happy twist ending. The tone may be chaotic or satirical, but the resolution should restore order, bring joy, or deliver ironic justice. Whether it’s a romantic misadventure, a workplace screwball, or a coming-of-age mess, the payoff should leave readers grinning—or laughing out loud with side stitches.
What Makes An Ending Work & Be Truly Memorable
A great ending doesn’t just happen, it’s carefully bread-crumbed throughout the story. The most satisfying conclusions feel inevitable in hindsight, even if they were surprising in the moment. Here are the key craft elements that elevate an ending from forgettable to unforgettable:
Setup & Payoff
The most satisfying endings feel both surprising and inevitable. It delivers on the promises made throughout the story. Foreshadowing, planted clues, thematic statements—all of these should bloom by the final pages. Every gun placed on the mantle in act one should go off by the end. Readers love when threads come full circle or when a casual detail from chapter three becomes heartbreakingly important in the finale. If you’ve laid the groundwork, the payoff will hit that much harder.
Emotional Resonance
Your ending should feel earned. Whether it’s joy, grief, triumph, or bittersweet ache, readers crave emotional closure. This means giving your characters moments that reflect their journey—showing how far they’ve come (or how far they’ve fallen). Let your characters' internal arcs resolve just as meaningfully as their external ones.
Thematic Closure
What is your story about—beneath the plot? A truly memorable ending reinforces or challenges your central themes. If your story explored power, love, identity, sacrifice, or healing, the ending should reflect your final “thesis” on that theme. It’s the moment your story’s soul speaks loudest, even in silence.
The Right Kind of Surprise
Not every ending needs a twist, but every ending should avoid feeling obvious. Whether it’s a twist, a new insight, or simply an elegantly executed full-circle moment, endings should reward reader engagement with something unexpected—but inevitable. Aim for the kind of surprise that feels earned, not gimmicky.
A Sense of Aftermath
Don’t slam the door and walk away. Even if your ending isn’t an “epilogue,” readers want a beat or two of closure, of reflection, a moment to breathe, absorb, and sit with the emotional impact. Even a single image of the final scene, a poetic last line, or a lingering image—a hand letting go, a look across a crowded room, a sunset over ruins—can offer the all emotional punctuation your reader needs. Remember, the final pages of your story are a goodbye. Don’t yank the curtain down the second the climax ends; give your audience a graceful exit. Make your ending a final siren song.
Choosing The Right Ending For Your Story
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to story endings—only the one that fits your story best. Choosing the right ending isn’t just about tying a neat bow around your plot. Nor is it about simply picking from a list, wiping off your hands and saying, "Thats a wrap!" It's about aligning your conclusion with your character arcs, plot trajectory, and thematic undercurrent. You have to deliver on the emotional and thematic promises you’ve been building since page one. That is your moral obligation as a writer. A good ending doesn’t just conclude the story; it completes it. It reflects the journey your characters have been on and leaves your readers feeling something—whether that’s closure, grief, joy, or thoughtful unrest.
But with so many types of endings out there, how do you know which one fits your story? The answer lies in looking inward—at your characters, your themes, your tone, and what you’re truly trying to say. Let’s walk through five key lenses that can help you uncover the right ending for your book, complete with examples to spark inspiration.
1. Revisit Your Story’s Core Question
Every story is driven by a central question, something your protagonist is trying to answer or achieve. The ending should directly address that question. Did they get what they wanted? Did they realize what they really needed? Your ending needs to answer the heart of your story.
Example:
In The Hunger Games, the central question isn’t just “Will Katniss survive?”—it’s “What does survival cost?” The ending reflects that by showing the emotional and societal aftermath of her choices.
2. Consider Your Character Arcs
How has your character changed? A resolved or epilogue ending might work if they’ve completed a clear arc. A bittersweet or ambiguous ending might work better if they’ve grown in some ways but regressed or sacrificed in others. The ending should mirror the internal journey as much as the external.
Ask yourself: Is your protagonist the same person they were at the start? If not, how should that transformation be reflected in the ending?
3. Honor Your Theme
What is your story really about? Themes of love, power, identity, justice, freedom, or sacrifice can all lead to very different endings. Decide what statement you want to leave your reader with—and let that shape your final act.
Pro-Tip: Look at the first and last lines of your story. Do they echo, contrast, or evolve the same idea?
4. Match The Mood & Tone
A quirky comedy probably shouldn’t end with an existential death spiral (unless that is the joke). Genre, tone, and emotional trajectory matter. If your story is dark, your ending doesn’t have to be happy—but it should feel right. Think: Does this ending feel like it belongs to this story, or like it wandered in from somewhere else?
5. Choose What to Resolve—& What To Leave Open
Not every thread needs tying up, but your ending should give enough closure that readers feel satisfied. Decide what to leave ambiguous on purpose. Ambiguity is powerful when intentional and frustrating when it’s not.
Writing Exercises (Find The Right Ending For Your Story)
Sometimes, the best way to uncover your story’s ending is to write your way into it. If you’re unsure how your book should end—or you’re torn between a few possibilities—creative exploration can help you clarify what feels the most true to your characters, your themes, and your tone. These writing exercises are designed to get you out of your head and into your intuition. They’ll guide you to examine character arcs, thematic questions, emotional payoffs, and narrative shape, all while helping you generate ideas that feel authentic to your story. You might even discover an ending that surprises you.
Exercise #1: Write the Final Scene First
Even if you rewrite it later, drafting a potential ending can anchor your story. Try imagining where your character ends up and reverse-engineer how they get there.
Prompt: My protagonist stands on the edge of everything they’ve lost or gained. What do they see? What do they say? What do they feel?”]
Exercise #2: Write 3 Alternate Endings
Force yourself to explore options. Write one happy, one tragic, and one ambiguous ending. What feels true to your story? Which surprised you the most?
Exercise #3: Trace the Threads
List every plot and character thread in your story. Which must be resolved by the end? Which can be left open for reflection or future stories? Make intentional choices about what to conclude.
Exercise #4: Theme Collage
Write a list of your story’s key themes. Under each one, brainstorm different ways that theme could be expressed or challenged in the ending.
Example:
If your theme is “freedom,” how might your character find—or fail to find—it? How are the challenged by it?
Exercise #5: Echo the Beginning
Go back to your first chapter. Are there images, questions, or ideas you can bring full circle? Mirroring your opening can create a deeply satisfying emotional arc.
Exercise #6: Analyze Your Favorite Story
Think back to a story ending that left you particularly breathless. What was it about that ending that took your breath away? Was it the imagery? Was it the final line? Was it the way the author beautifully wrapped up all the story lines in one flawless swoop? Analyze your favorite endings and ask what that author did to make it so satisfying.
Concluding Thoughts
A brilliant ending doesn’t have to be explosive, shocking, or tied up with a ribbon, but it does need to be intentional. Honor your characters, stay true to your themes, and give your readers the emotional resolution they didn’t even know they needed. So whether your story ends with a whisper or a bang, heartbreak, or celebration, remember this: endings are where your story’s meaning crystallizes. Give yourself the time to explore it, draft different possibilities, and listen closely to what your story has been trying to say all along. And if you're still not sure… That's what writing buddies are for!
"The hard part about writing a novel is finishing it." —Ernest Hemingway.
Give me your thoughts! Do you struggle with endings? Or do you prefer to work backwards from the end and reverse-engineer your stories? Let me know your answers in the comments below!
See you in the next blog,
—Bair✍︎
Where epic fantasy meets philosophical ponderings of the self.
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