Finishing Strong: How to Write Memorable Sentences

Grand Finales: How to Write Memorable Sentences

What makes a story stick in your mind?

For a story to be memorable, it needs a strong ending. The same is true of every individual sentence. When a sentence has a weak ending, it’s easy to forget.

Here’s a sentence that has promise, but is held back by its anticlimactic ending:

This sentence presents a dramatic situation, which could make a strong story. However, the sentence’s construction doesn’t enhance the drama—it doesn’t build toward a strong climax.

To give each sentence a strong climax, we have to save the best for last. This means revealing the most striking detail as close to the end of the sentence as possible.

What’s the most striking image in this sentence?

The gorilla!

But when the gorilla is stuck in the middle of the sentence, he might not seem like the star of the story. Having “me” come after the gorilla is like having the opening act come on after the rock star.

If we move this powerful image to the end of the sentence, though, we create a compelling climax that leaps off the page for the reader:

With this construction, the strongest image comes at the end. When sentences are constructed this way, the audience is compelled to read on. Aren’t you curious how the author will clash with the 800-pound gorilla?

Finishing your sentences powerfully keeps readers engaged more deeply. When each sentence has a strong ending, the momentum of the larger narrative builds. Once you’ve built up enough momentum, your readers will be hooked for every twist and turn the story takes.

So, give each sentence you write a grand finale by ending with the strongest image.