what makes an ending truly great?
Hands up if you agree: A great story has a great ending.
It feels both surprising and inevitable.
It comes neither too soon, nor too late.
It’s a deeply satisfying conclusion, yet also suggests a fully-imagined future that extends beyond the final page.
Sounds easy, right? Just kidding! We all know it’s not.
Third acts are the most misunderstood piece in the story structure puzzle. In this live talk I unravel what goes into a truly satisfying ending, the difference between “open” and “closed” endings, and the two kinds of satisfaction your reader demands.
My weekly livestream is on Wednesdays at 1 PM Pacific. Come live and participate! Or catch the replays here on the blog.
To watch live and ask questions, you can join the Path of the Storyteller Facebook group right here.
Or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
Good writing is my jam! Put me on the mailing list, please.
FREE GUIDE TO STORY STRUCTURE!
Brainstorm Your Novel in 30 Days is a collection of story-structure based writing prompts designed to lead you from the beginning, through the middle, to the end. Download your free copy now.
Maryrose Wood
I’m the author of fourteen published novels, including ALICE’S FARM, A RABBIT’S TALE (Macmillan, 2020) and the six-book Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins). I founded Path of the Storyteller in 2020 to offer serious writing craft training for writers who’re ready to take their work up to pro level. Here’s where I blog about writing craft, publishing, and the writing life in general. Learn more at pathofthestoryteller.com.
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