How to End a Story? A Satisfying Ending

Surprise

• Escalation & Expectation
• Where do we end?
• What happens therein?
• How did we arrive to this place?
• Which Events led us to this Ending?
• Could have it been any different?
• How is Rising Destruction displayed?
• Which Small Successes do the Characters go through?
• Which Large-Scale Failures do the Characters go through?
• How do they Structure the Story?
• Which Expectations do these events create?
• Which Narrative progression do they create?

• Plot Twists?
• How can you break this progression?
• Should you break this progression?
• How does surprise hinder the Conclusion?
• How does surprise benefit the Conclusion?
• Which degree of surprise is necessary?
• Which degree of surprise could be detrimental?
• What will be perceived as a Revelation?
• What will be perceived as a New element?
• What will be perceived as an Unexpected element?
• Should you clarify the pre-existing relationship between 2 characters?
• What effect would it have on the Public’s perception?
• What effect would it have on the Characters’ perception?

• Situation Reversal
• What would break the Characters’ moral?
• What would break the Public’s moral?
• What would cause the Fall?
• Which new piece of Information would your Perception of a Character?
• Which new piece of Information would your Perception of a Setting?
• Will a Character be in difficulty?
• Which kind of difficulty?
• Which support will she hope for?
• Which help can she hope to receive?
• Which help will she receive?
• When do the Characters receive assistance from an Enemy?
• What made the Enemy act on the Characters’ behalf?
• What made the Enemy change their Alignment?
• Did she change of Alignment?
• Was the Enemy forced to act against the Characters?
• By whom?
• Was the Enemy fooled by the Character’s Nemesis?
• How will their relationship evolve?

• Hidden Benefactor/Hindrance
• Is there a Character of which the Protagonist Ignores the identity?
• Or whose identity is hidden by a public façade?
• Why does this Character helps the Protagonist?
• Why does this Character hinders the Protagonist?
• Does the Protagonist Ignore the reason?
• Does she Ignore the stakes?
• Is the Protagonist incapable to understand the dynamics of her world?
• Why?
• Does she suffer from a condition?
• When does this Character appear?
• During which kind of Crisis?
• Who is she?
• Is she an Ally which was threatened by an Antagonist?
• Is she an Ally which was endangered by the Protagonist?
• Is she an Ally which was endangered by a Protagonist’s Relative?
• Is she an Ally which changed of Alignment?
• Why does she continue to Help the Protagonist?
• Why does she continue to Hinder the Protagonist?
• How does she relate to her?
• Is she waiting for a Retribution?
• Is there a Delayed Cost to her help?

Accomplishment

• Goal Reached
• Who reached her Goal?
• The Protagonist?
• The Antagonist?
• Another Character?
• Who’s this Character?
• Does this open the way to a new Goal?
• Is the Character Satisfied?
• Why is she Satisfied?
• Does she regret to have pursued this Goal?
• How is her Regret displayed?
• How is her Satisfaction displayed?

• Ambition
• Why did she pursue this Goal?
• Who did she pursue it for?
• What was the extent of this Goal?
• What did she have to do to reach it?
• Which form of Self Satisfaction is visible onto her after having reached her goal?
• Does she consider her task accomplished?
• Which other Goal can she seek for?
• Is there any way for her to ever find fulfilment?
• Is her fulfilment the result of perpetual pursuit of a new goal?

• Causality
• What does the Story need to End?
• What makes the Story memorable?
• What makes the Story enjoyable?
• Which Climax should be chosen?
• Which Ending is preferable?
• How are Consequences depicted?
• How do you create a sense of Disorder?
• What is considered a Catastrophes?
• By whom?
• How does it impact the Characters?
• How does it impact the Environment?
• How does it lead Characters to a Conclusion?
• How can you make the Story faster?
• How can you make the Story shorter?

• Outcomes
• How does it end?
• Who Wins?
• Who Loses?
• What is won?
• What is lost?
• Is it a Partial Win?
• Is it a Partial Loss?
• What are they Rewards?
• Who are they for?
• Are they for everyone?
• Is there truly 1 winner?
• Is there a reason to Rejoice?

Peace

• Rest
• Can the Characters end their journey?
• Are they willing to?
• Should they stop?
• Where will they move?
• Where will they rest?
• Was the Menace Neutralized?
• How was it Neutralized?
• Are there no other Menaces?
• Are the Characters willing to face them?
• Are the Characters able to face them?

• The End
• Was the End Forced?
• Was it caused by External Factors?
• Was it accelerated by External Factors?
• Which Event ended the Story?
• What’s the Nature of this Event?
• Who’s responsible for this event?
• What is the Aftermath?
• Who is still present?
• What is about to happen?
• Which Character is still necessary?
• Which Environment is most suited to shelter the end of the Story?

• Premature Ending?
• Should you Shorten the Story?
• Did certain parts become unnecessary?
• Would they fit another Story better?
• How do you Give a Conclusion to this Story?
• How is this Conclusion fitting?
• What do you Prevent by ending the Story sooner?
• Can you prevent Loss of Interest & Disengagement?
• Can you prevent Meaningless involvement?
• Can you prevent Trampling over the Public’s Hope?

Complexity

• Different Layers
• How many Layers does the Story have?
• How identifiable are the Themes?
• What is the Main Theme?
• What are the 2ndary Themes?
• Are there other Themes?
• How do the Main & 2ndary Stories Intertwine?
• How do the 2ndary & 3tiary Story Intertwine?
• Which Storylines overlap?
• How do they overlap?
• How can the Story be enjoyed?
• What are the different ways to enjoy the Story?

• Deception
• What is Missing?
• What seems to be missing?
• What seems to be misleading?
• What looks contradictory?
• What looks Paradoxal?
• How are these elements bound?
• How do they relate to each other?
• Is there still something missing?

• Continuity & Contingency
• Will you do a Sequel?
• Was the Ending Satisfying?
• Would a Sequel make the Story satisfying?
• How so?
• Which Character still needs development?
• Which Environment needs to be used?