ways to end dialogue in a short story

Dialogue in a short story can be ended with a sudden change of topic. Say, they were discussing their future plans and then one of them says, 'Forget all that. Look at the beautiful sunset.' This unexpected shift gives a sense of closure to the dialogue. Another approach is to use silence. After a significant exchange, the characters just stop talking and the story moves on, like 'Their eyes met, words seemed unnecessary, and the silence filled the room as the story continued.' Also, a character's realization can end the dialogue, for example, 'As they talked, she suddenly realized, "I don't need this." And with that, the conversation ceased.'

One way to end dialogue well in a short story is through the use of ellipses. For instance, 'She started, "I think..." and then the story moves on. This creates a sense of the conversation trailing off. Another effective method is to have a character cut off another character mid - sentence, like 'He was saying, "But we should..." when she interrupted, "Enough."' Also, ending with a rhetorical question can be great. For example, 'They were discussing their past when he asked, "Can we ever really go back?" and the dialogue ended there, leaving the reader to think.

One way is to have a character simply walk away, leaving the other in silence. For example, 'She turned on her heel and strode out of the room, without another word.' Another way could be through a final, profound statement that leaves no room for further conversation, like 'He said, "This is where our paths part, forever." And that was it.'

Sometimes, a dialogue might end with a mutual understanding or agreement between the characters, providing a sense of closure for that particular conversation.

You could have a sudden twist ending that shocks the readers. For example, revealing a secret the main character had been hiding the whole time.

One way is with a twist ending. For example, the reader might think the character is about to achieve their goal, but then something unexpected happens that completely changes the outcome. Another way is with a resolution. This means all the problems or conflicts in the story are neatly solved. For instance, in a story about a detective trying to solve a crime, at the end the detective catches the criminal and justice is served. The third way could be an open - ended conclusion. Here, the story doesn't really have a definite end. It leaves the reader thinking and imagining what might happen next, like in a story that ends with a character starting a new journey without any indication of how it will turn out.

One good way is with a twist. For example, the character who seemed like the hero all along turns out to be the villain in the end. It makes the reader re - evaluate everything they've just read. This kind of ending is unexpected and can leave a strong impression.

One way is with a twist. For example, the character who seemed to be the hero turns out to be the villain all along. This surprises the reader and makes them rethink the whole story.

Ending with a moment of self - realization can be great. Suppose a character has been very selfish throughout the story. At the end, they see how their actions have affected others and make a decision to change. This gives a feeling of growth and hope. You can write something like 'She looked at the mess she had made of people's lives and for the first time, she understood. She would be different from now on.'

Ending with a moment of self - discovery for the main character can be great. Let's say in a story about a lost young person, at the end, they finally figure out who they are and what they want in life. It gives a sense of closure and growth. It could be something like the character looking at their reflection and smiling, knowing they are on the right path now.