How to Write an Epilogue for Your Novel

In literature, an epilogue is a separate section that serves as a final wrap-up after the end of the main story to tie up loose ends. It is often set in the future from where the story ended. An epilogue is one literary device an author can employ to hint at a subsequent book in a series. The word epilogue comes from the Greek epilogos and also the Latin epilogus which essentially mean “conclusion.”

The purpose of an epilogue depends on the author’s intention. Epilogues started as a Greek tradition in poetry and theater as a final sendoff at the end of a play. It was a common ingredient through Elizabethan times when playwrights like Shakespeare used epilogues in their plays, including Romeo and Juliet. Today, you might include an epilogue as a part of your story for several reasons:

1. 1. To follow up on characters: After a story has wrapped up, readers might wonder about the fates of the characters. An epilogue is a chance to reveal what’s become of them. An epilogue lets them know how the future turns out for them. A good example is the J.K. Rowling book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series. Rowling includes an epilogue that is set 19 years after the conclusion of the story. Rowling created memorable characters that readers followed for years, and so in the epilogue she fast forwards to touch on Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s futures to bring a sense of closure for readers.
2. 2. To reflect on story events and themes: Some writers have strong themes in their literary work. While the main story resolves the narrative arcs, an epilogue can make a statement on the theme of the story. In the Margaret Atwood novel The Handmaid’s Tale, the epilogue takes the reader 200 years into the future to a symposium for academics. A fictional historian presents Offred’s life along with her oral tapes describing Gilead. In this stylized epilogue, Atwood introduces a new character, which allows her to reflect on her central themes and events from an outside point of view.
3. 3. To release tension: An epilogue is a good tool to reassure the reader that the characters are okay now and the antagonist is gone for good. This is helpful in thrillers and mysteries that might have an intense climax. An epilogue can release the tension from those final scenes at the end of the story. In The Hunger Games, the fight for survival creates a heart-pounding plot. Suzanne Collins includes an epilogue that releases the tension of the main story by focusing on Katniss in the future with her children.
4. 4. To create a transition from story back to reality for the reader: At the end of a story, the reader might want to process thoughts and emotions from the story they just read. An epilogue can help them with this process and shift them back to the real world. William Shakespeare often used epilogues to transition out of his play and send the audience on their way. In As You Like it, Rosalind gives a soliloquy—a short speech addressing the audience—in the epilogue. “And I’m sure that all of you with nice beards, good faces, and sweet breath will, when I curtsy good night, give me a nice round of applause.”

If you get to the last chapter of your book and feel your story could use more information, a transition out of the narrative, or a deeper reflection of the themes, a good epilogue might be what you need. Here are five tips on how to write an epilogue:

1. 1. Read how other authors craft an epilogue. Read examples of epilogues from literature. Study the elements the writer includes and how the epilogue ties to the main story. Determine what purpose the epilogue serves and how it concludes the story differently than the final chapter.
2. 2. Complete your character development. Even if your story has a happily ever after, your character’s story arc might need a final coda. At the end of the book, bring your reader into the future to show how the narrative impacted who your main character is now.
3. 3. Satisfy your readers. How a story ends is important. It’s the final moment your reader has with a story. You want them to remember having enjoyed the experience of reading your book. A happy ending isn’t a requirement, but an ending should be satisfying and provide complete closure.
4. 4. Craft an epilogue like a short story. Your epilogue will have certain elements of a short narrative like a main character, setting, and sometimes even a minor plot. Determine where and when your epilogue takes place and what key events can effectively get the points across, providing a final conclusion to your story.
5. 5. Pique the reader’s interest for your next book. If you know your book will continue in another installment, use an epilogue to build intrigue. While some epilogues provide closure, you can also write one that raises questions and leaves your character’s life a bit up in the air. Set up a sequel with foreshadowing, a plot twist, or a cliffhanger so the reader is sure to continue the story.

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