What is an Epilogue and How To Write One, According to Pro Editors

What is an Epilogue and How To Write One, According to Pro Editors What is an Epilogue - and How To Write One Readers Won't Forget The epilogue comes after the story has ended and acts as a finishing touch. It’s one of those literary devices whose necessity is often debated - along with its predecessor, the prologue. If you write a strong ending to a story, should there really be anything left to say? Well, like a good digestif, an epilogue can serve as a satisfying close to a story - one that gives you a moment to reflect on everything you just consumed. It shouldn’t replace dessert the ending of the novel, but merely provide a grace note for the story to close on.To help you decide if your story needs an epilogue and, if so, how to write a strong one, we’ve asked our editors to give us their top epilogue advice. But first, let’s make sure we’re all clear on what an epilogue really is...What is an epilogue?Classic Greek and Elizabethan plays often included epilogues to explain the later fates of the characters. An actor would step forward and speak directly to the audience, offering commentary on the story and dispensing morals, if any were to be found in the tale.  Note that the epilogue, in this respect, is the exact opposite of the prologue and the preface.Since then, the epilogue has naturally evolved. Today, this kind of wrap-up is very rarely used in novels. It's seen as "spoon-feeding" the reader and it implies a lack of trust - either between the novelist and the reader, or between the writer and their own ending.Whether you’re writing a â€Å"Happily Ever After† or a â€Å"To be continued†¦Ã¢â‚¬  epilogue, just be sure to go forward with confidence. If you doubt its necessity, it’s a strong sign it doesn’t need to be there. Either way, don’t overwrite, trust your readers, and you’ll surely have them sighing when they flip the final page and remember that â€Å"parting is such sweet sorrow.†What are some of your favorite epilogues? How do you feel they contributed to your understanding or enjoyment of the story? Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!