What are good ways to end a short story?

Ending with a moment of self - realization can be great. Suppose a character has been very selfish throughout the story. At the end, they see how their actions have affected others and make a decision to change. This gives a feeling of growth and hope. You can write something like 'She looked at the mess she had made of people's lives and for the first time, she understood. She would be different from now on.'

Dialogue in a short story can be ended with a sudden change of topic. Say, they were discussing their future plans and then one of them says, 'Forget all that. Look at the beautiful sunset.' This unexpected shift gives a sense of closure to the dialogue. Another approach is to use silence. After a significant exchange, the characters just stop talking and the story moves on, like 'Their eyes met, words seemed unnecessary, and the silence filled the room as the story continued.' Also, a character's realization can end the dialogue, for example, 'As they talked, she suddenly realized, "I don't need this." And with that, the conversation ceased.'

One way is with a twist ending. For example, the reader might think the character is about to achieve their goal, but then something unexpected happens that completely changes the outcome. Another way is with a resolution. This means all the problems or conflicts in the story are neatly solved. For instance, in a story about a detective trying to solve a crime, at the end the detective catches the criminal and justice is served. The third way could be an open - ended conclusion. Here, the story doesn't really have a definite end. It leaves the reader thinking and imagining what might happen next, like in a story that ends with a character starting a new journey without any indication of how it will turn out.

One good way is with a twist. For example, the character who seemed like the hero all along turns out to be the villain in the end. It makes the reader re - evaluate everything they've just read. This kind of ending is unexpected and can leave a strong impression.

One way is with a twist. For example, the character who seemed to be the hero turns out to be the villain all along. This surprises the reader and makes them rethink the whole story.

You could have a sudden twist ending that shocks the readers. For example, revealing a secret the main character had been hiding the whole time.

One good way is to end with a sense of resolution. For example, in a mystery story, the detective finally reveals who the culprit is and how the crime was committed. This gives the reader a feeling of closure. Another way is with a moral or lesson. If it's a fable, the end could show what the characters learned from their experiences, like 'And so the little hare learned that overconfidence can lead to defeat.' A third way could be an open - ended finish that makes the reader think. Maybe the main character is about to embark on a new adventure, leaving the reader to wonder what will happen next.

Ending with a sense of unresolved mystery can be effective too. Maybe the source of the horror is never fully explained, like a strange noise in the attic that just stops, leaving the characters and the reader in a state of unease, wondering what it really was. This makes the horror linger in the reader's mind long after they've finished the story.

One good way is with a final, tragic death. For example, the protagonist, who has been haunted by the dark secrets of the old mansion throughout the story, finally succumbs to the evil forces within it. This gives a sense of inescapable doom which is typical in gothic stories.

Another way is to end the love story with a sense of acceptance. The couple has faced many challenges and differences that they couldn't overcome. Instead of fighting or resenting each other, they accept that their love has run its course and part with a mutual understanding and respect.