You've put conflict into your story and your character has taken action, now the problem must be resolved. Every story should lead toward a natural resolution. This does not mean a happily ever after ending, but it needs to resolve the main problem/conflict through character growth and character's action, or how they face their problem.
A few Resolutions that DON'T work-along with suggested resolutions to the problem:
Wimpiness: The character faces the problem, but doesn't have to act to resolve it. If someone else saves our hero or heroine, the reader is left unsatisfied, most likely because the character arc was not achieved. Answer: Let the main character do the saving. Even if they have help along the way, the MC should be the one initiating the sequence of action leading up to the resolution.
Too Easy: The character must struggle to achieve a resolution. If victory comes too easily without enough struggle or suffering, the reader will be left with the feeling, so what? Answer: Throw an obstacle or two into the MC's way. This will build the tension in your story.
Predictable: While the ending must flow naturally from the story, making it too predictable results in boring reading. Throwing in a twist at the end, when skillfully accomplished, provides the reader with a rush. Don't you love it when you didn't quite see the end coming, but it makes perfect sense according to the clues the writer set up throughout the story?
Nothing Changed: If the character's journey changed nothing in the end, you risk reader disappointment. It takes a high level of skill to write a satisfying story in which the character is the same at the end as he was at the beginning. Even with a story where the character chooses not to change, there needs to be some growth in the character. Answer: Evaluate your character arc. What change does she need to make? What lessons does she need to learn?
A cliffhanger: Cliffhangers can be effective for chapter endings, but not so much for novel endings. Even if you are choosing to write a series based in the same world with the same characters, each book should end with a satisfying resolution. Everything doesn't need to wrap up neatly, but it should resolve the major problem of the book. Answer: Write the next chapter or scene after your cliffhanger.
Too Neat: Life can be messy and the resolution of your book can be a little untidy as well, and sometimes should be. Don't try to giftwrap up every little plot and subplot inside a shiny bow-tied box. Leaving things up to your readers' imagination lets them do a bit of their own work. Interactive is a good thing. Answer: Cut the bit you wrote to explain why Aunt Bessie didn't make the cake for the wedding-or whatever you included that isn't necessary to the satisfying ending of the book.
Some questions to ask yourself when you revise:
Does my character suffer/struggle before the end?
Have I included enough hints to the reader throughout where the story is going to end up (even if it is a surprise)?
Is there any place where I can increase the tension at the end?
Does my character change from the beginning of the story?
Happy Writing!
If you have any questions or comments please ask by commenting below or emailing me at [email protected]