The only real finish line is death.

―Melissa Febos

On September 11, 2024, established memoirist Melissa Febos arrived at Western Illinois University (WIU). Febos is the author of bestselling memoirs Whip Smart, Abandon Me, and Girlhood, and the craft book Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative. On this date, the accomplished writer gave a craft talk on the power of endings within nonfiction writing and personal narrative. 

After reading an excerpt from Girlhood, Febos turned her attention to her essay’s ending. Febos discussed the immense difficulty of endings, proclaiming, “I don’t like goodbyes” and “[endings are] some small terror in the moment of silence.” Febos talked through how she constructs her endings and what she includes in them. Febos said, “There are only so many things that can happen … there are only so many ways to tell it.” One must wrap up all loose ends within a story or essay, which is especially difficult when tackling nonfiction. Febos wrapped up her statement, leaving her audience with the powerful idea that “You are the God of your story; it is your obligation to manipulate time.”

Febos also gave a list of steps that one may consider while constructing an ending:

One must first “Locate the ‘turn’ [of a story],” examining the conflict and core of one’s prose. Then, one must “differentiate [the ending] from the big event,” focusing on what makes endings unique. Finally, Febos encouraged her audience to “reconsider the frame of your story [from the perspective of your ending].”

Febos concluded her craft talk, leaving her audience with the idea that everything in writing is malleable. Notably, she urged those in attendance to understand that despite one’s writing skill, “the most important quality is tenacity [and] you have to make a lot of sacrifices.”