The Lasting Impact of a 'Landing Pad' Ending
Picture this: A gymnast sprints, leaps, twists in the air, and then—just as the crowd holds its breath—wobbles and steps off the mat. All that skill, but the final moment didn’t land. Stories work the same way. No matter how dazzling your tale, if your ending falters, you miss lasting impact. That’s where the idea of a “landing pad” comes in. For storytellers, a landing pad means designing a conclusion as intentionally as the beginning, aiming for a spot that delivers closure, emotion, and a lasting impression. This blog explores how story structure shapes powerful, memorable endings that feel natural yet surprising, so your stories stick the landing every time.
Why Sticking the Landing Matters in Storytelling
A strong ending is like a signature on a masterpiece. It threads your story together and leaves the audience ready to carry your message with them. When storytellers shape their structure with care, their endings smooth out the emotional ride and make every earlier detail shine brighter. Good endings answer the story’s central question and give just the right amount of closure. They help the audience clearly see how the main character (or you, if it’s a personal story) has changed from start to finish. Often, the best endings echo the story’s opening, creating a circle that feels whole and complete.
When a storyteller rushes or ignores this crucial part, though, the entire story can feel hollow. An abrupt or forced ending—like a twist pulled out of thin air, or a joke that fizzles—can leave listeners confused, disappointed, or feeling like their journey didn’t matter. Carefully crafted endings, on the other hand, reward attention and invite reflection, sometimes inviting the audience to revisit the whole journey with new eyes (Truby, 2007; The Moth, 2022). As Anita Gill points out, endings built from seeds planted earlier in the story have the power to evoke awe and wonder (Gill, 2018). Sticking your landing isn’t just a matter of structure; it’s a gift to your audience that echoes long after the story ends.
Building Your Story’s Landing Pad: Steps to Structural Success
- Begin with the end in mind
Sketch out your story’s start (“launchpad”) and imagine where you want to finish (“landing pad”). Ask yourself: what are you promising your audience, and what resolution will truly satisfy? (The Moth, 2022) - Foreshadow the conclusion
Drop hints or use imagery early on that pays off in your ending. These details act like breadcrumbs leading your audience safely to your landing pad (Norris, 2018). - Ensure organic development
Let your ending grow naturally from character needs and the story’s central question. Avoid endings that seem tacked on or come out of nowhere (Truby, 2007). - Craft a powerful last line
Aim for that “mic drop” moment—a closing that sticks in the mind and wraps up the emotional or intellectual change in your tale (The Moth, 2022). - When stuck, revisit the beginning
Compare your opening and ending. Do they echo or complement each other? This pairing often sparks clarity (The Moth, 2022).
Example: Suppose you start with a kid locked out of their own house (launchpad). Throughout the story, you mention doors—locked, unlocked, broken, mended. You end as the kid, now older, unlocks a new opportunity, blending theme and imagery for a satisfying landing pad.
The Psychology and Craft of Resonant Endings
Why do some endings stick for years, while others fade away? Research in narrative craft and psychology shows that story structure takes listeners on an emotional journey. A well-designed conclusion wraps up both inner and outer struggles, letting the transformation at the story’s heart shine through (Barker & Brown, 2022). This kind of ending gives the audience a sense of completion and emotional payoff.
Classical ideas, like Aristotle’s unity or Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, argue that meaningful endings show clear change and answer the narrative’s essential questions. The best endings close the circle—they echo details and emotions from the opening, anchoring memory and satisfaction (Truby, 2007; The Moth, 2022).
This circular approach is found everywhere, from ancient tales passed down by word of mouth to today’s best novels. As John Truby notes, a story’s organic ending should signal the audience to loop back to the beginning, re-experiencing the transformation with fresh understanding (Truby, 2007). Storytellers who plant seeds early and build to their landing pad invite deep immersion and emotional resonance, making it much more likely the audience will remember—and retell—the story (Barker & Brown, 2022).
Even the simplest stories take this advice. Charles Dickens, for example, started A Tale of Two Cities with the phrase “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...” and finished by beautifully shifting “best” into “better,” achieving the sort of circular structure and landing pad that readers never forget (The Goldfish Bowl, 2014).
FAQ
► How do I know if my ending is strong enough?
If your ending echoes themes or details from the opening, provides closure, and feels true to your characters’ journeys, you’re most of the way there. Share your story with others and ask if the ending feels “earned.”
► What if I’m unhappy with my ending?
Try going back to your beginning. See if you can find details or symbols to mirror or build upon, making your conclusion feel more complete.
► Are surprising endings better?
Surprise works if it fits what came before and feels natural. Avoid plot twists that ignore everything that has built up—your audience will feel cheated.
Would you like to learn more?
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Strong story endings are a skill anyone can grow with the right guidance and practice. Sign up for the next Intro to Storytelling workshop here. |
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How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth |
Try it yourself:
Think of a story from your life. What was the “launchpad”—your starting image or feeling? What would be a satisfying “landing pad” that echoes or answers that beginning? Write both, and notice how this shapes your story’s journey.Reference List
- Barker, M., & Brown, D. (2022). Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling. n.p.
- Bowles, M., Burns, C., Crooks, J., Richards, S., & Walter, K. (2022). How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. Crown.
- Gill, A. (2018). Craft: Bring it on home—techniques to crafting endings. Hippocampus Magazine.
- Truby, J. (2007). The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller. Faber & Faber.
- Norris, D. (2018). The Storytelling Code. n.p.
- Florida Writers Association. (2024). On sticking the landing: "The end." Florida Writers Association Blog.
- OOL Blog. (2024). Sticking the landing: Ending a story effectively.
- Snaith, M. (2024). How to end a story. The Novelry Blog.
- The Goldfish Bowl. (2014). Writing endings. Edublogs.
