---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every good story needs a good ending…"
description: "\"“Every good story needs a good ending. Don't write the beginning of a novel without knowing the end of it.”\" — A.D.Y. Howle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/a-d-y-howle-73583_books_every-good-story-needs-a-good-ending-don_61275.jpg"
---

#  Every good story needs a good ending. Don't write the…

![“Every good story needs a good ending. Don't write the beginning of a novel without knowing the end of it.” quote by A.D.Y. Howle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/a-d-y-howle-73583_books_every-good-story-needs-a-good-ending-don_61275.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/a-d-y-howle-73583_books_every-good-story-needs-a-good-ending-don_61275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/a-d-y-howle-73583_books_every-good-story-needs-a-good-ending-don_61275.jpg)

> ““Every good story needs a good ending. Don't write the beginning of a novel without knowing the end of it.””

A.D.Y. Howle

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author advises that a story should be planned with its ending in mind, to avoid aimless beginnings.

**In simple terms:** Know the ending before you start writing.

Key Takeaway

Story structure benefits from forward planning.

Themes

writing storytelling structure

Mood

pragmatic instructive

Type

writing advice creative guideline

When to use this quote

- drafting a novel outline
- planning a screenplay

Key Concepts

plot mapping narrative coherence

Practical Applications

- create a brief synopsis before drafting chapters

Questions to Reflect On

- How does knowing the ending influence character development?
- Can a story evolve organically without a preset conclusion?

A Different Perspective

Over‑planning may stifle creative discovery during the writing process.

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[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

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