{"id":3681,"date":"2023-10-09T13:25:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T12:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/?p=3681"},"modified":"2023-10-09T13:25:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T12:25:35","slug":"how-to-write-a-story-resolution-your-readers-will-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/how-to-write-a-story-resolution-your-readers-will-remember\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Story Resolution Your Readers Will Remember"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A story resolution is one of the most important elements of your plot<\/a> because it will leave the most impression on your reader. It resolves the story\u2019s central arc and conflicts, bookending your narrative. It can make or break how your readers feel about your novel, so it\u2019s important to get it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a story resolution?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every great plot needs five elements; exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. No matter how good your story is, if it has an unsatisfying resolution, it will leave your readers disappointed. An opening hook<\/a> draws your readers in, the resolution makes them remember you. It\u2019s why it\u2019s such an essential part of any narrative, especially if you want to build a readership for any future books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resolution is the final moment of your book. Its purpose is to show how characters react when they finally achieve their goals or settle the story\u2019s conflict\u2014it ties up loose ends, answers lingering questions, gives closure to each character’s journey, lets us know how everything has turned out, and how the characters feel about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to write a strong resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your story resolution should be satisfying and not just an afterthought. It should meet reader expectations, but it can also surprise them by going in a different direction than they expected or by answering questions they didn\u2019t think to ask. In order to achieve this, it is important that you know the genre you are writing in and familiarise yourself with the tropes within that genre so that you can use or subvert them as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAn ending was an ending. No matter how many pages of sentences and paragraphs of great stories led up to it, it would always have the last word.\u201d<\/p>\nSarah Dessen, Along for the Ride<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The most important elements of any resolution are to neatly wrap up your plot, make sure you\u2019ve clarified the story\u2019s theme, and resolved all character arcs<\/a> (or at least set them up properly for a sequel). You want to identify questions you\u2019ve left unanswered over the course of the narrative and tie together any loose ends. Any narrative setups you\u2019ve hinted at during the story should also have a payoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you\u2019ve even started writing, you should have a good idea of who your characters are<\/a> (their needs, desire, weaknesses, and internal conflicts), as well as have a clear idea of your book\u2019s overarching theme. With those in place, you\u2019ll be able to resolve character arcs and bring your thematic storytelling full circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Finis<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Key elements of a satisfying story resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n