The conflict is over. Your protagonist has transitioned from lie to truth, and their perspective is forever changed. Essentially, your story has reached its conclusion. However, to provide your audience with closure, you need to know how to write a satisfying resolution.
As we conclude our series on story structure, I’ll share some helpful tips on how to write a satisfying resolution. I’ll use story examples to demonstrate key lessons that will help you craft your best story.
Five Ways To Write A Satisfying Resolution:
What Is The Resolution?
While the climax technically marks the end of your story’s conflict, there is still the aftermath to deal with. Ending your story at the climax would be not only abrupt but also leave your audience with unanswered questions. The resolution is there to address this issue.
The resolution is also a much-needed moment of reprieve that immediately follows the thrilling climax. Your audience needs to see how that climax affected the world and the story’s status quo, while showing how your protagonist’s life has changed in the aftermath. It’s also one last chance to let your audience spend a final moment with characters they’ve grown to love.
Ease Out Of Things
While the climax should certainly bring an end to your story’s external and internal conflicts, give yourself and your characters space to explore the aftermath and its lasting effects to create a satisfying conclusion to your narrative.
In Star Wars: A New Hope, Luke Skywalker successfully uses the Force to destroy the Death Star. His actions save the rebels on the moon of Yavin, scoring a victory against the Empire. The story concludes with a medal ceremony where Luke, Han, and Chewbacca are honored for their bravery.
This simple scene eases us out of the galactic conflict. It’s an intimate moment that thematically connects with the story of a young, idealistic farm boy who has successfully transitioned into a larger world. While it would later become the first installment of a trilogy, A New Hope was intentionally designed to stand on its own. It successfully provides its viewers with a satisfying conclusion, neatly tying up all the narrative threads.
Show The Change
Show why your story matters by highlighting the lasting change it has brought to your protagonist and their world. Let them reflect on how much they’ve grown during their journey and how it has transformed them forever.
In It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey experiences the horrifying reality of a world where he doesn’t exist. After pleading with Clarence for a second chance, he’s happily reunited with his family and friends, even as the police arrive at his home with a warrant for his arrest. Although George’s circumstances remain unchanged, the thematic change is on full display in the resolution, as George witnesses the overwhelming love and support of everyone whose life he’s touched.
While the entire story revolves around George and his regrets about the road not taken, the resolution is thematically focused on his new perspective on life. He not only learns to appreciate the life he has, but also how his simple life has impacted others. It’s a heartwarming message that sticks with us as everyone joyfully sings together, celebrating a new beginning.
Tie Loose Ends
Unless you’re leaving something unresolved for another installment, it’s important to use your story’s resolution to tie up every loose thread in your narrative. Every crucial question should be answered, and every subplot resolved.
In A Few Good Men, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee successfully provokes Colonel Jessep into admitting that he ordered the Code Red on Private Santiago. His clients are cleared of murder and conspiracy charges. However, it’s a bittersweet victory as Dawson and Downey are charged with conduct unbecoming of a United States Marine and are dishonorably discharged—a sentence that Dawson humbly accepts.
While it isn’t quite the victory Kaffee wanted, it’s a victory nonetheless. Every loose end is tied as Jack Ross reveals that he’s on his way to arrest Kendrick who was complicit in Jessep’s crimes. The outcome of the trial thematically shows Kaffee that he has what it takes to see a case through trial, something he was never willing to do before. As he walks out of the courtroom, we know he has conquered his ghosts and that his approach to litigation will be different from now on.
Foreshadow The Future
Whether you plan to continue your story in a sequel or not, your story should still give your audience a glimpse of what’s to come. This gives your story a forward momentum that allows it to endure long after your audience has read the last word on the page.
In The Matrix, Neo dies at the hands of Agent Smith, only to be reborn after Trinity confesses her love for him, which allows him to transcend into the role of The One. He defeats Smith and his fellow underlings before escaping just in time to stop their sentinels from destroying The Nebuchadnezzar.
In the aftermath, Neo initiates a system shutdown within the Matrix, threatening to expose the truth to the masses still plugged into the system. While the end of the film doesn’t see the liberation of the human race, Neo’s decision to embrace the role of The One now threatens the status quo. This provides a glimpse into the continuing story as Neo takes to the skies, displaying his new powers while pointing to an uncertain future.
End On A High Note
Create a resolution that reflects the theme and tone of your story, allowing your ending to stand out. Leave a calling card that not only satisfies your audience but also leaves them desperately wanting more.
While The Dark Knight doesn’t necessarily end on an optimistic note, it does conclude on a notably hopeful one. With the Joker seeming to gain the upper hand by successfully corrupting Harvey Dent and jeopardizing everything he did to clean up Gotham’s streets, Batman chooses to take the blame, drawing the wrath of the city’s citizens and police department.
This resolution doesn’t necessarily resolve every loose end, but it marks a significant shift in Bruce Wayne’s identity as Gotham’s protector, illustrating the lengths he’s willing to go to preserve Dent’s legacy. It’s a powerful thematic moment that stays with us long after the screen fades to black.
Summing it up
To write a satisfying resolution requires finding creative ways to tie up all loose ends while providing your audience with closure about your story. Making sure that your story can stand on its own, even if it’s part of a larger narrative, is crucial for giving your audience the ending they deserve.
This concludes my series on story structure. Did you find it helpful and informative? Let me know. Next month, I’ll explore more insightful tips into the writing process. Until then, keep working toward your goals. Enjoy the process! And above all, keep writing!
Until next time,
