Tag: books

Cozy Mysteries & the Comfort of Middle Age

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

Lately, I’ve been knee-deep in cozy mysteries. Yaknow how it plays out…someone finds a body behind the bakery, a curious woman with a knack for observation decides to poke around, and somehow, nobody calls the actual police until chapter five. It’s great. Consider me hooked for the evening.

But beyond the suspiciously high crime rates in picturesque small towns, I’ve realized something about these books that’s quietly comforting: the main characters are almost always middle-aged women.

Sometimes they’re divorced, sometimes they’re married. Sometimes they’ve got grown kids, sometimes they’ve got a fussy cat or an energetic pug. But they all have one thing in common: they’re living full, interesting, capable lives in a stage that media usually treats like a punchline or a fade-to-black moment not worth elaborating on.

A quick observation: a lot of movies and shows act like you disappear once you hit 30. If you’re not a twenty-something trying to figure it all out, you’re suddenly cast as the mom in the background or the boss with no backstory. It’s like middle age is a void we’re meant to quietly fall into. But being middle-aged doesn’t mean your story is over. It means you’re in a new chapter…and that chapter is still worth telling.

That’s what I love about cozy mysteries. They don’t shy away from this life phase. They embrace it with all the romanticism it deserves. These women aren’t afraid of getting older. They’re too busy living, investigating, starting businesses, baking bread or pies, and sometimes flirting with the town sheriff or local detective. It makes middle age seem less like a dreaded milestone and more like a whole new book.

And get this, friends! They’re not described as drop-dead gorgeous in a movie-star kind of way. They wear sensible shoes and clothes. They have laugh lines, grey hair and even a wrinkle or two. And yet they’re treated as worthy of romance, admiration, and mystery-solving greatness, never less than. It’s like reading the full and beautiful adventures of a bunch of cool aunts.

It’s encouraging.

So if you’re feeling a little weird about growing older or just need something to read with a cup of tea and a throw blanket, cozy mysteries might be your new friend. They’ve certainly become mine. 🙂

Confessions of a KDP Survivor: A Tragedy writ in Poetry

~ Brooke F. ~ 4 Comments

Look, I thought self-publishing my book would feel like presenting the world a piece of my soul and everyone would instantly clap at my literary genius *dramatic hair flip*. But let’s get back to reality and discuss it because while I’m not a genius with a masterpiece to produce, the whole process had moments where it felt a sort of like cyclical hell of reformatting the same script over and over again…just to reupload it and see A new problem had been invented by my means of fixing the previous problem. Lovely.

So here, dear reader, are a few poems chronicling my deeply emotional, slightly ridiculous (and mundane) journey with Kindle Direct Publishing. May they bring you laughter, healing, and maybe a slight eye twitch in solidarity.

The Upload Spiral

(A sonnet, sort of. Shakespeare is not impressed.)

I clicked “Upload”—how easy!—with coffee in hand,
A hopeful young writer with dreams so grand.
But lo! My margins were not flush, my gutter misbehaved,
And half of my poem was tragically shaved.

“Bleed error,” it screamed, “Fix your trim size, you doof!”
My table of contents went straight up through the roof…(of the page.)
I resized and reformatted, cursed Kindle’s name,
Then tried a new layout… with results just the same.

I whispered to Canva, “Make me a cover!”
She laughed, “Sure thing… but your title’s hungover.”
So I rage-ate some chips and prayed to the onedrive cloud,
My PDF won’t open. I screamed… out loud.

Formatting Hell: A Memoir in Free Verse

I thought importing a Word doc
would be simple.
Just CTRL + C, CTRL + V.
Easy. Peasy.

Even…lemon squeasy.

Then Kindle
turned my paragraph breaks
into a n spattered s p a c e d

mess
My images
migrated to the top of the page
like penguins heading north for winter.
The title page
had opinions,
That differed from mine.

rebellion.

Page numbers?
They exist in my mind only.

Cover Designer’s Lament

(A limerick)

A gal thought her cover was sleek,
‘Til Kindle said, “Nope. Fix. Then tweak.”
The spine was too thick,
“This was supposed to be quick,“
Now she cries into Canva each week.

The Final Click

(A motivational spoken-word poem performed under a single spotlight)

I did it.
I hit “Publish.”
Tears in my eyes,

Will it sell?
Will it flop?
Will I check the dashboard
twice a day
for three weeks
and then forget I even wrote it?

Yes.
Yes, I will.
And I’ll do it again,
because I’m a KDP author.
And I thrive
on chaos.

(Or so I tell myself)

In Conclusion…

If you’re about to upload your first book to Kindle Direct Publishing, just know you’re not alone. Your margins may be askew and cause you to weep. Your soul may briefly exit your body when the previewer crashes for the fifth time. But you’ll live to publish again.

And hey, once you’ve cried it out and your book is live, you get to do the most magical thing of all: click “View on Amazon” and text your friends, “Look, I’m famous.”

You earned this, you formatting fighter, you.

Oh and my book is live now!

Click here to check it out.

A note- the title was changed in the second to last draft. From The Cottage, Christ, & Me, to Featherlight Faith.

Alright! That’s it! Thanks for reading!

Writing Advice I’d Give to My 15-Year-Old Fanfiction-creating Self

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

AKA: Yes, You Should Write That Cringy Avatar Fanfic

Oh, 15-year-old me. Curled up on the family desktop after school, typing out wildly dramatic plotlines where a girl finds out she has the powers to control all 4 natural elements who is definitely just me in disguise. You were doing your best. And honestly? You were onto something.

There are so many things I’d tell you if I could. Not because you were doing it all wrong but because I now understand just how right it was, even when it felt like complete and utter nonsense at the time. And just plain cringy to high school me. Forgive her sneering at your work.

So here it is. A letter of sorts. From the grown-up you, to the one who stayed up too late posting on fanfiction forums and thinking no one would ever take her seriously:

1. Don’t Delete Anything. Seriously.
I know. You want to. It feels so cringe. You reread your old stories and immediately want to toss your laptop into the nearest volcano. Resist the urge.

Every awkward sentence and every overly dramatic plot twist is proof you are a writer. You were writing! You were learning! You were creating! That “bad” writing? That’s the compost that future stories grow in. Keep the files. Keep the notebooks. Keep the Wattpad drafts. One day, you’ll look back and smile and maybe even reuse a line or a character name you forgot you loved.

2. Don’t Be So Self-Conscious
No one is watching you as closely as you think. You’re allowed to be messy, weird, experimental, emotional. That’s the whole point. It’s not a performance. It’s an outlet, a joy, a spark. Let yourself be fully into it, cringe and all.

And no, writing doesn’t have to become your job for it to be “real.” It can be a hobby. Or A side hustle. Or a comfort you come back to on the hard days.

3. Writing Is Still Hard But Worth It
Spoiler alert: You don’t magically “arrive.” Writing as an adult still feels hard sometimes. There are days you’ll doubt your talent, feel stuck, get jealous of someone else’s book deal. But the satisfaction of weaving a story is still present. The joy of a sentence that feels perfect or a character who surprises you? Still as sweet. You didn’t grow out of it. You grew with it.

4. Fanfiction Is Valid.
Fanfic taught you how to write dialogue, how to build tension, how to stick with and finish things. You learned pacing from serialized chapters, developed character arcs by borrowing from established ones, and stayed consistent because people in the comments said “update soon!” That’s gold.

So yes. Write the cringy Avatar the Last Airbender fanfic. Make it 100K words if you want. You’re learning how to tell stories.

5. Keep the Dream but Let It Change
You still dream of writing full time. And that dream is still alive, still beautiful and even still something worth chasing. But your life isn’t on pause just because it hasn’t happened yet. Every piece you write now—every blog post, poem, unfinished story is part of a rich, creative life. You’re doing it already, me. You’re already a writer.

So to my 15-year-old fanfiction self:
You didn’t waste your time.
You weren’t silly (ok maybe a little but it’s ok and acceptable).

Keep going. And yes. Your OC definitely was the Avatar and was so totally unique. She saved the world too. The readers voted (me). It’s canon now.

If My Writing Projects Were Houseplants: A Survival Report

~ Brooke F. ~ 5 Comments

Some people keep spreadsheets to track their writing projects. I, however, prefer chaos and absolutely unnecessary metaphors. So today, I bring you a survival report from the windowsill of my brain, where my various book projects live like needy houseplants (many desperate for water and fertilizer). Some are thriving. Some are shedding leaves. One may be compost by now. Come on inside, dear reader and let’s check in, shall we?

1. The Cottagecore Christian Poetry Book (Christ, The Cottage, & Me)
Status: Vibrantly alive. Blooming. Green as can be.

This one is my thriving fiddle leaf fig. You know, the dramatic kind that requires attention and soft lighting but rewards you with beauty if you treat it right. I’ve been misting this plant faithfully for months (aka actually editing and writing consistently), and it’s nearly ready to be potted in something final and pretty. And let me tell you, I’m SO ready to enjoy the blooms. It’s the narrative poetry book about a girl in a cottage who shares daily life with Jesus. Cozy? Yes. Spiritual? Also yes. Almost finished? YOU BET. I’m just fussing with the final leaves before I give it a name tag and place it on the shelf with pride. It serves as proof that I CAN have a green thumb sometimes when I actually try and remember to water it.

2. The “Living Alone” Book
Status: That one houseplant that’s… still alive? Technically?

Ah, this one. My little pothos in a cup of water. Not potted. Not dead. Just vibing in a state of suspended existence. This book started as a collection of tips, thoughts, and odd anecdotes from when I first moved out on my own. It’s half finished and half “maybe I’ll come back to this when inspiration strikes or I feel the urge to talk about the time I cried while assembling Amazon furniture.” It’s hanging out on the kitchen counter of my mind, roots growing slowly. Might thrive. Might not. Who knows? It’s future is undetermined at the moment.

3. The Lighthouse Girl Poetry Book
Status: Seedling. In the germination station. Do not disturb.

I don’t want to say much yet, but let’s just say something tender and glowing is sprouting. It’s the spiritual sequel to the cottagecore book, but this one takes place by the sea. That’s all I’ll say. Don’t crowd it. It’s very delicate. It knows when it’s being watched.

4. The Fairytale Mystery Novel (SNOW)
Status: Dormant. Possibly in cryogenic freeze.

SNOW was a burst of ambition of mine. A fairytale mystery with plot, twists, and actual chapters. I wrote a full draft, then a second half-draft, and then I stared at it like a succulent that’s gone leggy and weird. The story is technically there, but it needs pruning, restructuring, and maybe a resurrection spell. Honestly, I’ve emotionally moved on. Will I come back to it in five years and think, “Oh, this isn’t bad”? Possibly. Will I do it tomorrow? Not likely. I’m not watering it. But I haven’t tossed it in the compost heap either.

And that’s it!

So there you have it: a tour through my little greenhouse of stories. Some are thriving under gentle care. Some are barely hanging on. One is humming a sea shanty. And one has been wrapped in a blanket and placed in storage like a tulip bulb.

If you’re also a writer with a shelf of plant-like projects, just know: survival is subjective. Growth is sneaky. And sometimes, a half-forgotten draft flowers when you least expect it. 🌿

How to Mourn that Story you never Finished

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

Some stories don’t make it. I’m sure you’re already WELL aware of that if you’re a writer.
Not because they weren’t good, or because you didn’t care enough, but because something shifted. You outgrew it. Life got busy. The plot unraveled. Or maybe the fire that lit it up when you first started just… dimmed. It doesn’t interest you anymore.

And now it sits in your drafts folder, collecting dust or …uh… pixels.

If that’s where you’re at: I see you.

So here’s a little post I’ve been wanting to write for awhile on mourning the death of your story and what you can learn from the whole thing. Very similar to my post on knowing when to quit on a story, this post will focus on the after and the questions you can critically ask so you can grow and learn. Otherwise, the experience can be discouraging and it feels like you just dumped your time into a project that never showed tangible results. So let’s try and avoid that. 🙂

Read It With Curiosity, Not Criticism

When you’re ready, go back and reread the draft. Not to fix it, but to understand it.

Ask yourself some qestions such as:

  • What parts still make you feel something?
  • What parts confused you or dragged?
  • Where were you trying too hard to be someone you’re not as a writer?

Remember: you wrote that version of the story with the skills and heart you had then. That’s a snapshot of a creative moment in time. It deserves to live on. Please, please, please don’t delete no matter how cringe and blackmail worthy this piece might be.

Look for the Seeds You Can Replant Elsewhere

Even if the story didn’t grow into what you imagined, that doesn’t mean it was wasted. Often, buried in “dead” drafts are pieces worth saving:

  • A compelling side character
  • A setting that still sparkles in your mind
  • A line of dialogue that makes you sit up and whisper, “That’s it.”

You might not resurrect the whole story but you can borrow from its bones. Let it compost into something new.

Track Your Creative Patterns

Unfinished stories are often full of clues about yourself. It holds your interests, your hang-ups, and what you feel is important.

Try this:

  • Make a list of your abandoned stories.
  • Jot down what each one was trying to explore (themes, feelings, questions).
  • See what repeats.

You might realize you always write about lonely girls and overgrown gardens. Or that your stories die when the middle turns into a slog. That kind of self-awareness? Invaluable. Plus you can use it to inform your creative decisions moving forward. Try and place what you wanted from this draft.

Final Thought:

It’s okay if the ending never got written. And who knows? One day you might go back. Maybe not to fix it, but to pick up where you left off. Or not. Either way, the story gave you something.

Big Life Update!!!!!!!

~ Brooke F. ~ 7 Comments

I wrote a poetry book!!

Cover reveal!
Notes I’ve already made of things that need to be added and fixed.
The book’s poems are separated by seasons.
Back bio!

Aaaand I’m officially in the thick of the ongoing battle that is trying to get it published through KDP. If you’ve never wrestled with Kindle’s formatting system, let me just say: it’s an extreme sport. This time around, my main enemy has been margin sizing. (Margins! The most boring yet somehow most powerful force known to man.) A few of my poems that originally played around with white space had to be rearranged, which was honestly heartbreaking. There’s nothing like fighting for your artistic vision against a stubborn little “your margins are off” warning box.

But!! After many rounds of staring at my laptop, dramatically sighing, and reworking layouts, I finally got my proof copy in the mail today!
For those who don’t know, a proof copy is basically the version you get to lovingly (or not-so-lovingly) scribble edits all over before you fix everything and upload your final manuscript. I immediately busted out my pen and started making notes because, of course, the second you see your book in print, all your little mistakes jump out like “SURPRISE! You missed me!”

The book ended up being about 100 pages of narrative poetry, telling the story of a girl who lives in a cottage and her various adventures and conversations with the Carpenter (a stand-in for Christ). It’s cozy and intimate and feels like sitting on a creaky wooden porch, sharing life with someone who knows you inside and out.
There are poems about baking bread, going on little walks, asking hard questions, sitting quietly, making things by hand…all the small, sacred moments that make up a life of faith.

I’m honestly so excited (and so nervous) to share it when it’s ready. It’s one thing to write poems privately; it’s a whole other thing to send them out into the world and hope they land softly somewhere.
Either way, just holding a physical copy of something I made…even a messy, needs-edits version…feels surreal and really, really special.

Thanks for cheering me on through all the margins, the formatting fails, and the many, many sighs. I can’t wait to show you more soon! 💛

List of Plot Twists

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Few things are more satisfying in a story than a well-executed plot twist. The kind that makes readers gasp, flip back a few pages, or text their friends in all caps. A great twist doesn’t just shock. When done CORRECTLY it deepens the story, redefines characters, or forces the audience to see events in a new light. But how do you craft a twist that doesn’t feel forced, cheap, or predictable?

The key to a successful plot twist is planting subtle clues throughout your story while keeping the big reveal hidden until just the right moment. Below is a list of plot twists you can use, adapt, or mix into your writing to keep readers on their toes. I will reiterate though that plot twists need to be BUILT into a story. They’re not supposed to be cheap punches to invoke a response from your reader. Pacing is everything. Clues are everything. Hints are everything. The devil is literally in the details! Anyways, enough precursors and disclaimers. I trust you with my list of plot-twists. (I’m assuming you’re a big kid writer who knows exactly what you’re doing! Don’t all writers know exactly what they’re doing ahaha….)

Classic Identity Twists

  • The protagonist is actually the villain but doesn’t realize it.
  • A trusted ally was working against the hero all along.
  • The villain is secretly related to the protagonist.
  • The protagonist’s memories have been altered or erased.
  • The main character isn’t who they think they are—a clone, an imposter, or someone else entirely.

Revelations About the Past

  • A seemingly minor character was the true mastermind behind everything.
  • A past event didn’t happen the way everyone remembers.
  • The protagonist was unknowingly responsible for a tragedy.
  • The villain is actually seeking revenge for something the hero did.
  • The hero was lied to about their origins or purpose.

Unexpected Alliances & Betrayals

  • The hero and villain must work together to stop a greater threat.
  • A sworn enemy turns out to be a long-lost friend.
  • The mentor figure betrays the protagonist at a crucial moment.
  • A character thought to be dead is alive—and has switched sides.
  • The sidekick was the real hero all along.

Reality-Shifting Twists

  • Everything was a simulation, test, or dream—but the consequences are real.
  • The story is actually taking place in a different time period or world than initially believed.
  • The narrator has been unreliable, misleading the audience the whole time.
  • Magic or supernatural elements exist in what was thought to be a realistic setting.
  • The protagonist is not the first version of themselves—they’ve been replaced, cloned, or resurrected before.

Unexpected Outcomes

  • The villain wins, and the hero must find a way to live with it.
  • The big battle never happens because the conflict was a misunderstanding.
  • The supposed chosen one is a fraud—or the real chosen one is someone else.
  • The hero gets what they wanted but realizes it wasn’t what they needed.
  • The villain was never actually evil—just misunderstood or manipulated.

Final Thoughts

And here is the conclusion where I restate my hypothesis-er, intro I mean. A great plot twist isn’t just about shocking your readers. It should enhance the story, add emotional weight, and feel earned. By layering foreshadowing and character depth, you can craft twists that will surprise without feeling random. Do you have a favorite plot twist from a book or movie? Or have you written one you’re especially proud of? Share it in the comments! I love reading everything everyone has to share.

K byeeeee!

Character Quirks: They Make a Difference

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

Creating a compelling character isn’t just about giving them a name and a goal to achieve. It’s also about making them feel real to your reader. And what makes someone feel real? The little things. The devil’s in the details.

The way they tap their fingers when they’re nervous, the fact that they always hum while making coffee, or their unshakable belief that their lucky socks will change their fate. These quirks and habits add layers of depth and relatability, making characters leap off the page and stick in readers’ minds.

If you’re looking to add some personality to your cast, here’s a list of quirks and habits you can use or adapt to fit your story. Whether you’re writing a hero, a villain, or someone caught in between, the right little detail can make all the difference.

Common Quirks & Habits for Your Characters

Nervous Habits

  • Biting nails or lips
  • Tapping their foot incessantly
  • Playing with hair or twisting rings
  • Cracking knuckles, neck, or back
  • Tugging at sleeves or clothing
  • Fidgeting with small objects (coins, pens, paperclips)
  • Avoiding eye contact when lying

Endearing or Quirky Traits

  • Always carrying a lucky coin, stone, or charm
  • Collecting something odd (bottle caps, pressed flowers, old receipts)
  • Talking to plants or inanimate objects
  • Inventing their own slang or catchphrases
  • Always misquoting famous sayings
  • Assigning personalities to everyday items
  • Laughing at their own jokes (even the bad ones)

Food & Drink Habits

  • Always ordering the same thing at a restaurant
  • Hating foods for strange reasons (e.g., “Bananas feel too smug”)
  • Stirring their coffee exactly three times before drinking
  • Eating one thing at a time, never mixing food on their plate
  • Refusing to drink from a cup with a crack, no matter how small
  • Preferring drinks at specific temperatures (lukewarm coffee, ice-cold soup)

Daily Rituals & Superstitions

  • Checking their horoscope religiously
  • Only walking on certain-colored tiles
  • Always taking the same route, even if it’s inconvenient
  • Refusing to use red ink because “it’s bad luck”
  • Making a wish on every stray eyelash
  • Never leaving home without their signature accessory

Work & Study Quirks

  • Always writing in a certain color of ink
  • Organizing their desk in a very specific way
  • Talking aloud while working through problems
  • Writing notes on their hands, even when they have paper
  • Needing total silence—or total chaos—to focus
  • Humming or tapping when deep in thought

Broadly, Why Quirks Matter

A well-placed quirk can serve multiple storytelling purposes. It can:

  • Reinforce personality traits (A meticulous scientist always straightens picture frames)
  • Hint at backstory (A soldier always sits with their back to a wall)
  • Create humor (A character refuses to eat food that touches on their plate)
  • Build relationships (Two characters bond over their shared habit of doodling on receipts)

Quirks make characters feel human and help readers form emotional connections. A perfectly polished, flaw-free character is forgettable. A character who double-checks that they locked the door three times? That’s someone we recognize. We look at the character and see ourselves, friends, and family members.

Final Thoughts

Character quirks are the seasoning that makes a good character great. The right mix of habits, tics, and eccentricities can turn a flat character into a vivid one. Feel free to share your favorite character quirks and ideas in the comments below. I always love reading comments!

NaNoWriMo is Shutting Down

~ Brooke F. ~ Leave a comment

So, apparently NaNoWriMo is shutting down. Yep. The site. The support. The whole infrastructure that turned November into a word party for writers around the world…it’s closing up shop..

And hey, listen, before we dive in, I have a confession:
I never did NaNoWriMo. Not personally.

Never even tried. Every year, I’d watch the clock tick toward November like someone standing outside a marathon, holding a coffee and a donut, cheering with my whole heart but fully unwilling to put on running shoes.

Goodbye, NaNoWriMo: I Never Knew You, But I Loved You Anyway

It’s not that I didn’t want to write a novel in 30 short days. It’s that I… well, I like sleep. And not failing my college classes. And knowing I won’t collapse into a spiral of self-loathing by Day 12 when I realize I’m 15,000 words behind and my main character still doesn’t have a name.

But even from the sidelines, I loved NaNoWriMo. I loved the wild ambition of the whole event! I loved that it made writing feel less like a lonely, tortured pursuit and more like a chaotic group project that anyone could get in on. I loved that it dared people of all sorts, busy people, tired people, discouraged people alike, to show up and write stuff.

NaNoWriMo wasn’t just about writing a novel. It was about making writing a habit that you consistently stick with. Just so you could see what you could do if you actually gave it your all.

So when I heard it was shutting down, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad and taken aback. Not because I’m going to miss my annual November guilt trip (okay, maybe a little), but because it truly felt like the end of an era. NaNoWriMo was one of the few internet relics that survived the Great Attention Span Collapse™ as audiences moved towards short form content as a whole. It got people excited about writing, which is no small feat in a world of TikToks, inboxes with 472 unread emails and a new attention suck right around the corner. I think this legacy dying is what I’m most sad about.

I’m sad to say goodbye to what it used to be.

From what I’ve seen, NaNoWriMo in recent years has been tangled up in some complicated and concerning controversies. I’m not going to pretend I fully understand all of it, but it’s enough to make me step back and say, maybe this shutdown isn’t entirely a bad thing. Maybe the version of NaNoWriMo that existed at the end wasn’t the one I admired all those years ago. Maybe it had run its course.

Either way, it’s coming to a close (justified or not). It is taking a final bow and putting away the word count tracker for good.

To the people who did NaNoWriMo every year, who started and sometimes even finished their 50,000 words: I salute you. To the folks who got halfway through and still learned something about themselves in the process: I see you. And to the dreamers like me, cheering from the sidelines with our untouched WIP’s and a vague hope of “maybe next year”: we mattered too.

But, even though the organization is shutting down, the spirit of NaNoWriMo isn’t going anywhere. The stories will still get written. The writers will still find each other. November will still come, and some wild souls will still decide, “Yep, I’m gonna write a whole dang book this month.”

And maybe one of these years, I’ll finally join in. Maybe. Probably not. But maybe.

NaNoWriMo reminded us that writing doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be written. And honestly? I think that’s a legacy worth honoring.

RIP NaNoWriMo. I never joined your chaos, but I’m thankful you existed. 💻💔

Farest and fondest of wells.

Masterlist of Endings

~ Brooke F. ~ 2 Comments

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.