How to Write Effective Endings for Short Fiction
Many writers, even those who begin beautifully, struggle with endings. Yet, we all know a brilliant ending when we read one. A brilliant ending compels you to say whoa. Then reread. And say whoa again. It can be poignant, messed up, surprising, gorgeous, tragic. But it should punch you in the gut or the heart–and it should leave a mark. It should echo off the page and haunt you all day long. In this class we’ll play with several strategies to rethink and uplevel your endings. You’ve already come this far–you’ve written the breathtaking opening, the humming middle… now it’s time to land the ending. And drop the mic.
Instructor: Nancy Stohlman is an award-winning author of six books including After the Rapture (2023), Madam Velvet’s Cabaret of Oddities (2018), The Vixen Scream and Other Bible Stories (2014), The Monster Opera (2013), Searching for Suzi: a flash novel (2009), and Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction (2020). Her work has been honored in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, The Foreword Indies, TheInternational Book Awards, Reader Views Book Awards and theColorado Book Awards, and her stories have been anthologized widely, appearing in the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction and The Best Small Fictions, as well as adapted for both stage and screen. She teaches sold out workshops and retreats around the world.
