Over - explaining can also be a problem. If you spell out every little detail at the end, it takes away the reader's opportunity to think and interpret. A good ending should leave some room for the reader's imagination. For instance, if you describe every single thing that will happen to a character in the future, it becomes dull. Instead, give a hint or two and let the reader fill in the blanks.
One common mistake is ending too abruptly without resolving the main conflict. It leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied, as if they've been cut off in the middle of something important.
A third mistake is having an ending that doesn't match the tone of the rest of the story. If your story has been light - hearted and comical throughout, a tragic or overly serious ending will seem out of place and jar the reader. It's important to keep the overall tone consistent when crafting the ending.
Another frequent issue is using wrong words or misspellings. This can make the story confusing for readers. Also, poor punctuation can affect the meaning and flow of the text.
One common mistake is a rushed ending. When the writer suddenly wraps up the story without properly developing the conclusion. For example, in a story about a long - journey adventure, if it just ends with 'And then they got home and the end', it feels too abrupt. There should be more reflection on the journey or how the characters have changed.
One common mistake is leaving the story unresolved. Readers don't like to be left hanging, wondering what happened to the characters or the situation. Another is having a conclusion that is too abrupt, like just stopping the story without any proper wrapping up.
One common mistake is having too many characters. It can make the story confusing. Another is a weak plot. If there's no clear conflict or resolution, the story won't be engaging. Also, over - explaining can be a problem. Let the reader figure some things out on their own.
One common ending is a realization. For example, the main character realizes their own flaw that was causing all the problems in the story. So it could end with something like 'If at first I had seen my pride, I wouldn't have lost so much.'
One common mistake is making it too long. A short story in a cover letter should be, well, short. If it goes on for pages, it loses its impact. Another mistake is being off - topic. The story has to be related to the job. For example, if it's for a teaching job, don't tell a story about your adventures in mountain climbing unless you can somehow relate it to teaching skills. Also, being too vague in the story. You need to be specific about the actions you took and the results you achieved.
One common mistake is forgetting to include the author's name correctly. Another is getting the title formatting wrong, like using the wrong type of punctuation or capitalization. Also, not including the full publication details such as the publisher and year is a big error. Sometimes people might also forget to mention if the short story is part of a collection.
A frequent error in MLA citing of a short story is messing up the order of elements. For instance, starting with the title instead of the author's name. Omitting the publisher or the publication year is also quite common. And when it comes to short stories in collections, some people don't clearly distinguish between the short story title and the collection title. They might not italicize the collection title or put the wrong title in italics. Also, inaccurate page numbering can cause problems for those trying to locate the specific short story within a larger work.
One big no-no is having a confusing plot. Make sure your story flows logically and readers can follow easily.
One common ending is the happy ending, where the protagonist achieves their goal, like getting the girl or winning a competition. For example, in many romantic short stories, the couple overcomes all obstacles and lives happily ever after. Another ending could be a tragic one, such as the death of the main character due to their own flaws or external circumstances. In some mystery short stories, there is an unexpected ending where the true culprit is revealed in a surprising way, completely different from what the reader might have expected.