All stories end. The journey getting there is as varied as sunlight, yet we all crave the journey's end at some point. Depending on the type of story, maybe the end is welcome relief, or a joyous happiness, or the clang of the final bell. Whatever the course, there must be an end. I've often heard it said that the best writers also create the best endings. Well, sure. Naturally. And, they make the best beginnings and middles too. Still, endings may actually be more important than all the rest, because it's what sticks with you when the story is over.
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In part, there is welcome relief in reaching the end--despite the quality of the story. Also, hopefully, questions are answered and characters are put to rest. It's actually funny how often the words, "And, they lived happily ever after," could complete a story. We generally like happy endings best, but we don't demand it and appreciate solid stories without pleasant finales. I love Westerns, and one of the most iconic is "Shane," where the hero rides into the sunset to certain demise. Then there are endings with many feelings wrapped into one, such as "Rocky," where the hero doesn't win and yet does anyway (if you haven't seen it, go watch it now).
Stories are an art form developed over the ages. As such, they've been refined to function as efficiently as possible. Successful stories follow pretty specific paths and end in much the same way. So, why are there so many? Just as how the same paints can create a multitude of images, so are stories. We crave fanciful tales, true stories, and yarns which challenge imagination. The mind is ever seeking, so we fill it with wonders of every sort. End a story well and people will remember!
- M
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