This week: The Art of the Last Line Edited by: Jayne  
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| Hi, I'm Jayne! I'll be a regular editor of the Short Story newsletter. |
You only get one chance to make a final impression.
When it comes to short stories, no matter how strong your hook is, or how fabulous your beats are, a weak ending can dull everything that came before it. The goal of that last line (or few lines) is to ensure your reader walks away but can’t quite shake what you handed them.
Don’t believe me? Ask around and see what folks think of the ending of The Mist—particularly the difference in ending between the book and the movie. I’ve read/seen both, and I can tell you, I only remember one version well, and it haunts me.
So what makes a great last line?
1. It changes the meaning of what came before
You’ve been reading the story one way, but then that final sentence reframes everything. It could be a twist, but it could also be a revelation. Think: realization, confession, reversal.
2. It echoes something earlier.
Callbacks are fantastic, but be careful you’re not repeating yourself too bluntly. Words, phrases, and images should evolve to hold new meaning or new emotional weight.
3. It resonates, and doesn't feel the need to explain itself.
Say it. Show it. Leave it be. If it can’t stand on its own, it doesn’t have enough teeth. And while the words hold the power, don’t forget to play with the senses. The Mist movie, for example, is highly dependent on sound, and it’s not until vision comes into play that you realize your senses betrayed you in the worst way possible.
Avoid These Common Ending Mistakes
• The epilogue sentence. If the sentence tells the reader what they feel, summarizes the story’s theme, or tacks on a moral life lesson, it’s not going to cut it with readers.
• The over-explainer. Trust what you’ve written is enough. Repeating yourself only serves to dilute the punch.
• The underwhelming whimper. If your story builds tension, make sure your final line has purpose. Don’t meander in the final act, don't tell us anything we don't need to know, or points out the obvious ("They lived happily ever after"), your reader is not going to be impressed.
Your ending doesn’t have to be loud, but it does need to give your writing a space to breathe. Giving your readers a final beat that brings everything into focus will give your story longevity and word-of-mouth praise. So, get out there and nail those endings!
As always, happy writing! |
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Short Stories: June 25, 2025 Issue [#13202]
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