The dénouement, or resolution, is a crucial part of any novel. It’s also the HARDEST part to get right. Let’s not forget the fundamentals. It’s the final act where loose ends are tied up, questions are answered, and the reader gains a sense of closure. Here are five tips to help you craft a satisfying dénouement for your novel:
- Resolve the main conflict
- Ensure the primary tension of the story is addressed
- Provide a clear outcome for the protagonist’s journey
- Tie up loose ends (but not all of them)
- Address major subplots and secondary character arcs
- Leave some minor threads open for reader imagination
- Maintain consistent pacing
- Keep the dénouement proportional to the rest of the novel
- Avoid rushing through resolutions or dragging them out unnecessarily
- Evoke emotion
- Aim for an emotional payoff that resonates with the reader
- Consider the overall tone of your novel when crafting the ending
- Provide a sense of change or growth
- Show how the events of the story have affected the characters
- Hint at the future implications of the story’s resolution
Remember, a well-crafted dénouement should leave your readers satisfied while still giving them something to ponder after they’ve closed the book. In Aaron Lamb’s best selling book Apparent Magnitude the main character has overcome their past and become the person she always wanted to be. The story changed her and she changed the story.
Aaron Lamb 