How do you end your stories memorably?

I work with clients telling real-life stories that move people to action...buying, investing, joining a revolution, etc. 😅 So, our singular purpose is to help our audience make the meaning we intend for them to make, so they can decide to take the action we want them to take. If this is your goal, the ending should make your meaning sparklingly, unmissably, unavoidably clear. This is your last chance to have them see things your way. Don't get cute. Don't leave an "open" ending, or you risk having it end in a way you don't intend. The stories we tell are usually personal stories, so it makes sense to conclude with something like..."though it all, I learned one unforgettable lesson..." Help them make meaning, solve the puzzle.

We pour meanings into narratives. "John did this." "Karen said that." "OMG, I can't believe YOU..." The meaning is what makes the narrative powerful. The purpose of the ending is to inspire action based on the meaning we've derived. Make sure it's the meaning you intend your story to have.

Endings of a story can be memorable in many ways but here's three: 1) If your story has a big character arc you must climax that with a very difficult choice for that character. The audience will be expecting this and can be deeply moved by it. 2) If you have set up a theme question you must answer this. It will make your story more emotional and resonant. 3) Most endings should have one last twist that suddenly makes the climax much harder for the hero.

As philosopher Noël Carroll said: "Some narratives just stop or come to rest, rather than ending or concluding. Not all narratives have closure." Remember that the ending of a story does not necessarily mean the closure of the story. Rather, the key to a good ending lies in audience resonance and the theme (or core message) of your story. The absolute best place to identify purpose for narrative ending is in feelings. And in order to identify the feelings you'd like to leave your readers or listeners with, it's essential that you understand them on an empathetic level.

People love to complicate endings. For me, an ending should be a summary of the key message in the story - said in the shortest form possible.

The only right way to end a story is with the ending your audience is looking for, certainly in professional storytelling. While authors, playwrights and directors love to leave their audiences unsatisfied or with questions they wanted answered unanswered for effect, business storytelling should typically be more audience-centric in its narrative development. Again, the feeling you're trying to instil in your audience should serve as the driving development force for your storytelling. This emotional connection is what will make your story remembered - or forgotten - with the people you're endeavouring to connect with.

There are many approaches to ending a story, like: 1. Wrapping up, which refers to summarizing what happened, takeaways, resolving any lingering conflicts/concerns, and fastening any loose ends. 2. Open-ended, which refers to leaving your audience with the opportunity to interpret the ending and reflectively think about your story. 3. Engage for more, which refers to leaving your audience with questions and leading them to other opportunities to continue engaging with your story and learning more. Personally, I have found that endings two and three often create a stronger story. This is because they both invite the audience to continue thinking and engaging once the initial story concludes.

In crafting memorable endings, the "echo" technique can be profound. It's where the conclusion reflects a key theme or element presented at the beginning, resonating with the concept of 'bookends'. This approach not only provides structural symmetry but also evokes a satisfying sense of closure. By reinvigorating the audience’s initial emotions, it reinforces the story’s core message and leaves a lasting impression. The best stories are circular, taking us on a journey that feels both fresh and familiar, ending where we began but transformed by the experience. This strategy can be particularly impactful in brand storytelling, where the aim is to etch the brand's essence in the viewer's memory.

For most stories used in a real-life context (like business), there are only two things you need to know about the ending: 1. It should clearly make the takeaway or lesson obvious 2. It should show a change in the main character Mess up 1 and your audience might not get what the story was about (even if you structured and told it well that can sometimes happen!). Mess up 2 and they might not feel that takeaway makes sense, or it might feel like it "came out of nowhere" - neither are good! In my experience, the easiest way to end is with one of the following: "That's when I learned/realised that..." "That was the last time I ever..." "After that day, I always/I never..." You won't go wrong with those!

Two standout techniques to me are the callback and the bookend. The callback, a literary echo, revisits earlier themes, deepening the audience's connection. Conversely, the bookend mirrors the story's start, creating symmetry through contrasts or twists. These techniques, guide readers through a journey that feels both familiar and refreshingly novel. By skillfully intertwining callbacks or bookends, a writer can leave an indelible mark, ensuring their story resonates long after the final words are read.

Cultiva los elementos de tu final como un jardinero selecciona las flores para un ramo. La devolución de llamada es tu flor más fragante, evocando reminiscencias y emociones pasadas. El contraste es el color vibrante que añade profundidad a tu jardín literario. La consecuencia es la raíz que ancla cada elemento de tu historia a un desenlace lógico y moral, proporcionando la satisfacción de un ecosistema narrativo pleno y coherente.

A powerful ending, much like the crescendo of a symphony, requires careful orchestration. It should seamlessly weave together the threads of your plot, character arcs, and themes, delivering a harmonious resolution. The climax should be a culmination of tension and conflict, providing catharsis or revelation. Character growth and transformation should be evident, making the reader feel connected to the journey. Symbolism and metaphors can add depth and resonance, while vivid imagery and sensory details paint a lasting picture in the reader's mind. Embrace these elements to craft an ending that resonates deeply.

In line with the end point layer in my unique storytelling model, and in this context, through a business lens, the ending needs to have the following 4 ingredients: 1. The Peak - A final push of your main topic of your story itself 2. Clarity - Whereby you bring to the front of mind the three to five key points from your story 3. Conclusion - This is where you close off the story with learnings, next steps, recommendations, key message 4. Lasting Impression - here you will have already established how you want people to feel after your storytelling has finished - so just ensure that you ending reflects that ... it matters!

For most short stories, especially those used in business, the feedback you need can be summed up in two questions: - What was the point of that story? - How do you feel about that? If the point is not clear, or feels shoehorned in, you need to work on the arc of the story (characters should be the opposite - or at least different - at the start than who they are at the end). If they don't feel much about it, you need to make the story more relatable, possibly by being clearer about why the character cares about the problem. There's a lot else you can get feedback on, but the two above are what matters for business stories.

Endings are a dialogue with the audience, and their feedback is the response. It’s crucial to listen to the echoes returned. In the digital era, this conversation is tangible—through likes, shares, and comments. Yet, the true measure of an ending’s impact often lies in quieter, qualitative feedback—the personal messages, the discussions it sparks offline, the stories of how it moved someone. This feedback is gold dust for storytellers, providing insights into the emotional resonance of the narrative. As creators, we must seek out and value these responses, using them to hone our craft and ensure our stories not only conclude on the page or screen but continue in the minds and hearts of our audience.

Feedback can come in all shapes and sizes, and can range from demoralizing and useless to inspiring and life-changing. I think that effective feedback falls on one of two axes, which you can ask about directly: 1. What was clear and unclear in the piece? 2. How artfully are the concepts presented? Soliciting or parsing feedback in this way, in my experience, has led to more actionable insights than generic feedback typically does.

Seek feedback from beta readers, peers, or mentors to assess the effectiveness and impact of your story's ending. Pay attention to audience reactions and interpretations to gauge whether the ending resonates as intended and elicits the desired emotional response.

In the world of storytelling, the applause of your audience is the sweetest sound. Seek feedback from beta readers, critique partners, and trusted friends. Pay attention to their emotional reactions, the moments that moved them, and the questions that lingered. Constructive criticism can be a beacon, guiding you to refine your ending until it shines brightly. Remember that not all feedback will align, so trust your instincts, but use feedback as a compass to navigate towards a memorable conclusion.

"How you end a story is just as important as how you begin it." In high school, I would put a lot of effort into my 'introductions,' only to diminish the momentum I had built with weak 'conclusions.' My teacher constantly noted this in her feedback, but I'd still get a decent grade. So, I moved on. Until it stopped working. My teacher noticed that I wasn't improving and told me something I'll never forget, "How you end a story is just as important as how you begin it."

Remember that an ending doesn't always have to tie everything up, but can also be the gateway for meaningful conversation and reflection.

Un final memorable no termina, un final memorable te dan ganas de más y no acaba… empieza. Para mí un final que merezca la pena recordar tiene muchas variantes y deja al lector una interpretación libre. Tú ofreces una alternativa abierta y el público puede dejarse llevar creando el cierre que necesiten.

A truly unforgettable ending doesn't exist in isolation; it's born from the entirety of your story. Consider the pacing, foreshadowing, and setup throughout your narrative, ensuring that every element serves the climax. Think about the emotional resonance you want to leave behind. Will your ending leave a sense of wonder, contemplation, or perhaps a call to action? Embrace authenticity, for an ending that is true to your story and your voice will linger in the hearts and minds of your readers long after they've turned the final page.