Talking about endings without an entire story is really difficult.

In groups of three, read through as many of these really short stories (from Jerome Stern’s excellent Microfiction) as you can in 10 minutes or less.

Then, consider these questions. As you talk, record any ideas for new endings to your story.

• How does the ending fit with the scene, tone, and events of the story?
• Does the tone or mood of the ending reflect the beginning? How so?
• What is resolved or concluded by the end?
• If something is left unresolved, does the story provide the readers with a sense of how it might be resolved . . . or is it totally unknowable?
• What about this particular ending is surprising? In what way does it seem inevitable?
• How does it fit with the logic of the characters’ natures and previous actions?
• How does it seem to satisfy the expectations the story raises?