Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.
What’s the last thing your reader sees before flipping to the next chapter?
The final line of a scene is like a cinematic cut: it either fades to black, slams a door, or opens one. Fictionary’s Scene Closing Type element helps writers strategically shape those final moments to heighten tension, reinforce character, and keep readers eagerly pressing on.
🎯 Why Scene Closings Matter
We often obsess over great beginnings—and rightly so—but how you end a scene is just as important.
Scene closings have a job to do:
- Raise a question
- Create tension
- Reveal a new emotion or truth
- Propel the story forward
When every scene ends the same way—especially with description—readers feel it. Repetition dulls impact. That’s where the Scene Closing Type insight comes in.
🧩 The Four Scene Closing Types
Each scene can end in one of these four ways, based on the last sentence in the scene:
💬 Dialogue
“I’m not coming back,” Jake said.
Ends with someone speaking—often leaving the reader with a direct or emotionally charged statement.
🧠 Thought
Get a grip and pull yourself together, she thought.
Ends with the POV character’s internal reflection, hinting at growth, doubt, or decision.
🌅 Description
The clouds parted over the empty marina as the tide rolled in.
Ends with atmospheric observation or narration—can calm the pacing or reinforce tone.
🏃 Action
He clenched his jaw, slammed the door, and disappeared into the dark.
Ends with movement or physical response—drives urgency and motion.
🛠 How to Use This Element in Fictionary
On the Evaluate page in StoryCoach, choose the appropriate Scene Closing Type from the drop-down menu once you’ve read the final sentence.
After completing your read-through, use the Scene Closing Type insight on the Visualize page to assess:
- Variety and balance of closing types
- Repetition of a single type (especially description)
- Genre expectations (e.g., action-heavy endings in thrillers)
⚠️ When to Revisit a Scene Ending
Your closings might need work if:
- Multiple scenes in a row end the same way
- You notice too much description with little payoff
- The last line feels flat or disconnected
- Readers would have no reason to keep going
📌 Tip: If a scene ends with summary or setting detail, consider cutting back to an earlier moment with a stronger hook—like a revelation, decision, or threat.
💬 Examples: One Scene, Four Closing Styles
Let’s say your scene involves someone discovering a betrayal. Here’s how you might close it differently:
- Dialogue: “You knew all along,” she whispered.
- Thought: I should’ve seen it coming.
- Description: The shattered photo frame lay at her feet, glass scattered like confetti.
- Action: She turned and ran, the letter still clenched in her fist.
Each version reveals something unique—emotion, tone, pace, and character response.
🧠 Advice for Writers
As you revise:
- Use the Scene Closing Type insight to avoid repetition
- Match the closing style to the tone and purpose of the scene
- Choose closings that create forward momentum—a reason to read on
- Use closing type to reveal character traits (passive vs. proactive, emotional vs. calculating, etc.)
🎯 Pro tip: If your genre thrives on suspense (thrillers, mysteries, YA), lean into action and dialogue. If you’re writing introspective or literary fiction, thought and description may be more dominant—but still require variation.
🔄 Final Thought
Your reader just hit the last line of your scene. What do you want them to feel?
What do you want them to do?
If the answer is “keep reading”—then your scene closing type better make it irresistible.
Use it well. And use it wisely.
The Pencil-Driven Life 