First take a look at how you end your story. That phrase or sentence do you use? It is catchy or boring? Does it tell everyone that "THIS IS THE END OF THE STORY"?
For instance, you told a story about a boy who was chased by a giant and got away. You ended the story with "And then the boy went home." Did you tell what happened to the giant? Will the giant come after him again? Is the boy safe? Perhaps you might end the story by saying: "The giant, defeated by the little boy, returned to his cave never to be seen again. And then the boy went home and lived happily ever after." That is much more satisfying and ties up all the loose ends.
However, some in your audience still may not realize that the story is over. You may still need to add something. But the ending you use should not be a usual one like "and lived happily ever after." In the above story, I might use the ending "And that, my friends, is a true story. If it isn't, maybe it should be!"
Say, I was looking for an idea for my next story at Storyteller's Korner on http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/19292
Maybe I will tell that story - you know - about the little boy who outwitted a giant! Yes I think that would work.
Now lets see..... Once upon a time so long ago it was tomorrow, there lived a little boy in a faraway land. Hot-diggity! This is going to be fun to write.
In the mean time, here is your homework. Check out the closing phrases on http://www.folktale.net/endings.html
Then try making up your own list of great endings and send them to me by email. I will pick the best ones and publish them here in this topic. And, of course, I will give each person full credit for their story endings. Hop to it!
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