Welcome back to the Finish Your Book Series where we’re discussing top tips to writing a finale that sings! Now that you understand WHY a strong finale is so crucial to your novel’s success and HOW  to ensure you’re hitting that sweet spot in your readers’ hearts , let’s review what readers don’t want to see in the conclusion.

Here’s 5 finale clichés your reader won’t love:

1. It was the spouse/best friend/sibling all along!!!

Often, the most predictable/cliché option is the first that comes to mind. That’s why it’s recommended that when brainstorming, you should toss out the first 5-10 ideas to get to the really unique, creative stuff. Readers’ minds are already prepared to expect the most likely outcome, and since the “closest loved one” twist has already been done so many times—in both fiction and nonfiction—you don’t want to let them down by going for the simplest conclusion.

2. It was all a dream

There’s nothing more infuriating than getting heavily invested in a character’s journey for almost 300 pages, only to find out none of it “actually” happened at all. Sure, it’s probably been done a handful of times successfully, but unless you set this up in the beginning, this conclusion is likely to have readers rolling their eyes and slamming the book shut before they reach the end.

3. The preachy public declaration

There’s nothing wrong with your MC stating what they’ve learned in that final standoff or grand gesture, but lengthy monologues are a thing of the ’90s (Dashing through traffic and airports is no longer required!). Keep it realistic by avoiding public speeches and lengthy evil monologues, and your readers will thank you.

4. The End???

Have you ever been fully immersed in a film’s finale only for it to end abruptly and slap you with a To Be Continued? Very anticlimactic. Don’t do this to your fans. Give readers some element of satisfaction—some finality—and they’ll be looking forward to your next book anyway.

5. No ending at all

Just like with the “To Be Continued…” shtick, there’s no better way to make readers feel they’ve wasted their time than to simply end the story with no conclusion at all. This just comes across as cheating, and honestly, a little lazy. If you aren’t sure how to best conclude your story, brainstorm some ideas, read stories (or watch movies) in a similar genre to see what others have done, or bounce ideas off critique partners and beta readers. Even if the ending is an unhappy one, it’s better than nothing at all.

Conclusion

Your novel’s conclusion is nothing to rush through. Your reader has been with you on this journey for 200, 300, sometimes 400+ pages! Don’t let them down with a conclusion that falls flat. Take the time to make your parting words sing, and your readers will be screaming for a sequel! Speaking of sequels, check out the conclusion of the Finish Your Book series here to learn what type of finale will leave your fans begging for more!