Welcome back. In our last lesson, you learned how to weave narration, observation, and sourced material into a seamless narrative. You now have all the skills to build the body of a compelling profile, from establishing a theme to bringing your subject to life. Now, it's time to craft the final, lasting impression.
Today's lesson focuses on crafting an ending that resonates with the reader and ties back to the central theme of your profile. The ending, often called a "kicker" in journalism, isn't just where the story stops; it's the final note that echoes in the reader's mind, reinforcing your story's purpose and meaning. This is your last, best chance to make your profile unforgettable.
1. The Challenge of a Real-Life Ending
Unlike in fiction, real life doesn't offer neat conclusions. Your profile subject's life continues after your article is published. So, how do you end a story that doesn't truly end? The writer's task is not to invent a conclusion, but to find the right "moment of pause."
Let's watch a short clip from author Ben Rawlence, who discusses this specific challenge in narrative nonfiction.
A Masterclass in Narrative Nonfiction with Ben Rawlence
In this excerpt from "A Masterclass in Narrative Nonfiction," Ben Rawlence explains the difficulty of ending a true story and the need to find an appropriate place to bring the narrative to a close.
Watch the full clip from "How do you end a true story?". Notice his idea of finding a "moment of pause" that feels appropriate, even if it isn't a definitive ending with a clear moral.
Rawlence's insight is key for profile writing. Your goal is to find a moment that crystallizes the theme you've been developing throughout the piece, giving the reader a sense of satisfying closure even as the subject's life moves on.
2. Common Strategies for Effective Endings
So, what does a good "moment of pause" look like in practice? There are several proven strategies. This brief lecture clip outlines two of the most common and effective approaches.
The Basics of Feature Writing (Journalism Lecture)
This clip from "The Basics of Feature Writing" by Brett Atwood offers a concise overview of how to conclude a feature story.
Watch the short segment from "Ending the story". The lecturer mentions two key techniques: ending with a memorable quotation or "coming back" to where the lead started.
These two ideas—the memorable quote and the circular structure—form the basis of many powerful endings. However, as with any technique, they can become clichés if used without thought. Many writers, for instance, reflexively drop in a final quote as an easy way out. A strong ending feels earned, not just tacked on.
3. A Gallery of Great Endings
To move beyond the basics, let's analyze how professional writers craft kickers that an editor—and readers—will love. The following article from The Open Notebook is an excellent resource that breaks down successful endings, complete with analysis from both the writer and editor.
Good Endings: How to Write a Kicker Your Editor—and Your ...
This article dissects three types of powerful endings with real-world examples. We'll focus on two that are especially relevant for tying a profile together.
Please read the sections titled "Circle Back to the Beginning" and "Tie Everything Together." For each example, pay close attention to: The Background about the story, which establishes the theme. The Kicker itself—the final paragraphs of the article. The editor's take on why it works. The writer's take on how they crafted it.
These two strategies are fundamental to fulfilling our lesson's goal:
- The Circular Ending: This is perhaps the most satisfying structure in profile writing. By intentionally echoing an image, a quote, a scene, or an idea from your lead, you create a sense of unity and purpose. It tells the reader, "We have come full circle, and now you see the theme in a new light."
- The "Tie It All Together" Ending: This approach weaves together multiple threads from your story—a recurring image, a key quote, a central conflict—into a final, resonant chord. It summarizes the story's essence through imagery and implication, rather than a dry summary.
While these are two of the most powerful techniques, other options exist. The Poynter Institute offers a useful "Encyclopedia of Endings" that you can use as a checklist of possibilities.
Putting Endings First - Poynter
This article from Poynter argues for the importance of endings and provides a handy list of different types.
Read the section titled "Encyclopedia of Endings." This provides a quick, useful glossary of other kicker types, such as the Detail ending (using a single, concrete image to imply a larger meaning) and the Scenic ending (letting the reader see the story, as if through a camera).
4. Your Turn: Crafting the Kicker
Let's return to our profile of the pop star, KAI, whose central theme is her journey from a manufactured star to an authentic artist.
- Central Theme: KAI's struggle to find her own voice, culminating in her decision to "burn down" her pop persona to create her raw, personal new album, "Ashes & Embers."
- Lead (A Recap): The profile opened with KAI in a recording studio, surrounded by live instruments. You described her focused smile as she listened to a raw guitar track, a scene that immediately established a stark contrast with the slick, digital sound of her past.
Now, imagine you're at the end of your final interview with her. Here is some new material you've gathered:
- An Observation: As the interview wraps up, KAI picks up the acoustic guitar leaning against the studio wall. She doesn't play a song, but just absently picks out a simple, melancholic chord progression, her eyes distant.
- A Final Quote: You ask her if she's worried about the commercial risk of her new sound. She shrugs and says, "I don't know if this album will sell a single copy. But for the first time, the music sounds like me. So, in a way, I've already won."
- A Future Fact: The release date for "Ashes & Embers" is still unannounced, and you've heard from an inside source that the label is nervous about its commercial prospects.
Your Task:
Write two different kickers for the KAI profile.
- Ending #1: The "Circle Back" Ending. Write a final paragraph that explicitly connects back to the opening scene in the studio, using your new material to bring the story full circle.
- Ending #2: The "Detail & Quote" Ending. Write a final paragraph that combines the observation (the detail of her playing the guitar) with her final quote to create a powerful, resonant final moment.
Take about 10-15 minutes to write both versions. Focus on creating a feeling of closure that reinforces the profile's theme.
Click here to see two sample endings.
Here are some possible ways you could have approached this:
Sample Ending #1 (The "Circle Back")
Back in the studio, the silence hangs in the air for a moment. The intense focus KAI had when listening to that raw guitar track hours ago has softened into a quiet confidence. She talks about the uncertain future, the nervous label, the fans who might not follow her on this new path. But then, that small, determined smile from the opening scene returns. "I don't know if this album will sell a single copy," she says. "But for the first time, the music sounds like me. So, in a way, I've already won."
Why it works: This ending directly references the "focused smile" from the lead, showing a progression from focus to confidence. It brings the reader back to the same physical space, creating a satisfying loop and reinforcing the theme of finding her true self.
Sample Ending #2 (The "Detail & Quote")
As the conversation winds down, KAI reaches for the worn acoustic guitar leaning against the wall. Her fingers, once famous for waving to stadium crowds, now absently pick out a simple, melancholic melody that hangs in the air, unfinished. She looks up from the fretboard. "I don't know if this album will sell a single copy," she admits with a shrug that feels surprisingly light. "But for the first time, the music sounds like me. So, in a way, I've already won."
Why it works: This version uses a scenic/detail ending. The image of her playing an "unfinished" melody on the acoustic guitar is a powerful symbol of her ongoing journey. It's a concrete detail that implies the larger theme. Pairing this image with her defiant, self-assured quote gives the profile a final, poignant punch.
Conclusion
You've now completed the entire process of writing a profile, from finding a theme to crafting a resonant ending. The kicker is your final handshake with the reader; make it firm, confident, and memorable.
Key Takeaways:
- The ending is not an afterthought. It is as important as the lead and deserves just as much attention.
- Find a "moment of pause." Since life goes on, find a moment, an image, or a quote that perfectly encapsulates your profile's central theme.
- The circular structure is your friend. Linking your ending back to your beginning is one of the most effective ways to create a satisfying narrative.
- Use quotes, details, and scenes. Don't just tell the reader the theme one last time. Show it to them through a final, powerful example.
As you move on from this module, you are equipped with the full toolkit for structuring and writing a compelling profile.
In our next lesson, we will begin our module on Advanced Feature Writing Techniques. We'll broaden our perspective, contrasting the narrative structures used in features with the inverted pyramid of hard news, and exploring how to outline a feature using a classic story model.