Roy Peter Clark offers advice on how to craft your memoir’s ending, but starts with how not to craft it:
“The end of your story may say to the reader, ‘I decided to stop writing
here.’”
But that’s not how
to end a story.
Maybe you’ve read
books in which you can almost hear the author moan: “I just want to be done with
writing this book.” (I’ve been there. How about you?)
Remember, you’re writing
for more than yourself. You’re also writing for your readers. An abrupt end without
closure will surprise them. It will leave them with questions. Readers need
perspective, resolution, hope.
People read stories
so they’ll learn from others how to solve problems, choose faith and courage,
be tenacious, survive, thrive, have strong morals, and figure things out, among
many others.
After investing so
much time and heart and emotion
into writing your story, make your ending
shine.
Bring your story
full circle. End on a high note.
Refuse to write
simplistic endings and trite conclusions.
Roy Peter Clark continues, “ . . . If you have the readers’ needs in mind, you want your ending
to be more than that [‘I decided to stop writing here’].”
“If your story is
short, you want your ending to ‘stick the landing,’ the way a great gymnast completes
a [vault].
“If your story is
long, your ending should serve as a reward to your reader for following you to
that destination. . . .
“Don’t make your
readers grumble when they finish your story. Make them laugh, cry, cheer, write
a note to their mothers. All accomplished with a great ending.” (Roy Peter Clark)
“Punch up your
ending with a powerful thought that lingers,” says Karen Zey.
People long to
discover universal truths,
transforming truths,
spiritual truths,
underlying truths,
relevant truths.
Your readers yearn
to take away such truths
from your life and memoir.
They want to apply them
to their own lives.
Use your memoir and
its ending to make people think.
Too few people think
deeply anymore—about anything.
Make people think!
Inspire them to think
outside the box.
How do you want
people to think
because they read
your memoir?
What do you want
people to do
because they read
your memoir?
How do you want them
to live
because they read
your memoir?
Readers want a
compelling, satisfying ending
that gives them inspiration for living.
Give them
that kind of ending.
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