Masterlist of Endings

As writers, we put a lot of effort into crafting compelling beginnings and exciting middles, but endings? Endings are what stick with readers long after they close the book. A great ending can leave them satisfied, stunned, or even haunted. But not every story needs to wrap up with a neat little bow and a happily ever after. Sometimes, the most powerful endings are the ones that subvert expectations, introduce a twist, or leave a lingering sense of mystery.

Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay, here’s a list of unique ways to end your story that go beyond the traditional happy ending. Feel free to use, tweak, or combine these ideas to create your own memorable conclusion to the tale!

Bittersweet & Tragic Endings

• The hero wins but loses their memories.
• The villain is defeated, but the hero becomes what they once fought against.
• The protagonist gets everything they wanted but realizes it doesn’t make them happy.
• The hero survives but is the only one left.
• The love interest is saved, but they no longer love the protagonist.
• The hero sacrifices themselves, but their sacrifice is forgotten.
• The protagonist escapes, but their home is lost forever.
• The prophecy is fulfilled, but it didn’t mean what they thought.

Open & Ambiguous Endings

• The hero wins, but the story hints that the villain may return.
• A character vanishes without explanation—did they run, die, or something else?
• The story ends mid-action, leaving the outcome uncertain.
• The protagonist achieves their goal, but a single clue suggests something was missed.
• The final line contradicts what the reader believed was true.
• The hero is given a choice, but the story ends before they make it.

Twist Endings

• The villain was never real; it was all in the hero’s mind.
• The “good guys” were actually the bad guys all along.
• The entire story was a test, simulation, or dream—but the protagonist isn’t sure what’s real anymore.
• The hero realizes they were the villain in someone else’s story.
• The protagonist wins, but only because the villain let them.
• Everything resets, trapping the characters in a loop.

Unsettling or Dark Endings

• The villain wins, and no one knows the truth.
• The hero stops the big bad, but a greater threat emerges.
• The protagonist thought they escaped—only to find they’re still trapped.
• The hero saves the day but has lost all sense of self.
• The world is saved, but it’s unrecognizable.
• The hero becomes immortal and must watch everyone they love fade away.
• The story ends with a minor, eerie detail that suggests something is very wrong.