While authors don’t need to give every story a happy ending, it is important that every story comes to a stopping point. As a plot element, resolutions shouldn’t take up more than 1/3 of the story.
Plot the Resolution Before Writing
While a writer doesn’t have to work from an outline, it can sometimes help to see the development of the story before the writing begins. Not only can this reduce the time spent on rewrites, it can also help the writer organize how to resolve the plot in such a way as to leave the reader satisfied.
Plotting a novel also allows an author the opportunity to examine character traits to determine whether the change in the character works for the novel. While the protagonist of the story should resolve the problem he or she faced throughout the plot, it’s important for a writer to keep the character true to his or her personality.
Study Examples of Resolution
One of the best ways to learn how to write a story’s resolution is to study examples. Writers may find it helpful to study the specific genre in which they write. A few examples of resolution include the following ones:
- In Peter Pan, the resolution occurs when Wendy returns home and realizes that she is ready to grow up.
- In fables, the resolution usually happens when the main character recognizes the importance of the moral of the story.
- In Cinderella, the story concludes when the prince and Cinderella get married and can live happily ever after.
Avoid Common Mistakes in Writing Resolution
In order to make a story successful, the writer must create a scenario that will allow readers to suspend disbelief. While the beginning may draw the reader into the world, it is the ending that makes the journey worthwhile. A poor ending not only jars the reader out of the story, it can be the reason why that reader won’t buy another novel from the author.
Common mistakes for resolutions include allowing another character to steal the protagonist’s thunder, discovering the events were all a dream, having characters act in ways they wouldn’t really act, or failing to tie up enough loose ends.
Consider Other Plot Elements beside Resolution
While the resolution is an important aspect of writing a novel, it isn’t the only one. Writers need to make sure the hook they use directs the reader to the end of the plot. Writers also need to consider the climax of the story to determine whether it accomplishes its goals before moving on to the conflict resolution. Along with this, an author should consider the pacing of the story to ensure the plot moves forward at the correct speed.
Tara McClendon - Tara McClendon is a Texas-based freelance writer and editor. Aside from writing for Suite101, Tara is currently working on a YA novel ...
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