The Secret to Writing Compelling Conclusions that Stick

How to leave your readers with a lasting impression (and a call to action they can’t resist.)

Imagine this—you’re dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant with an unlimited budget. Every course has been more mind-blowing than the last. You’ve never had a better meal in your life. And then, the moment you’ve been waiting for—the dessert course.

The server has been hyping it up all night. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” they rave. The anticipation is almost unbearable. You watch as they approach, dessert tray held high, eyes sparkling with excitement. Finally, they place the plate in front of you, and… it’s a spinach salad.

Wait, what?

The server explains that the chef believes sugary, indulgent desserts are too predictable—too laborious. So, instead of chocolate lava cake, tiramisu, or gelato, he prefers to end his meals with a refreshing spinach salad.

How disappointed are you right now? Because honestly, I made up this scenario, and I’m mad.

The ending of a meal should be just as spectacular—if not more so—than the courses leading up to it. And the same goes for writing conclusions. If you don’t stick the landing, your audience walks away feeling unsatisfied. Worse still, no one will hire you to freelance write for them if you can’t deliver that ever-powerful CTA.

Let’s talk about how to make sure your writing ends with a “BAM!”

Stop Making Conclusions the Junk Drawer of Writing

Ever cleaned out a junk drawer?

All my fellow Midwesterners are thinking, “Ope. Sure have.”

If you have (and if you haven’t, just go with me on this), you know how it goes. You start off strong—sorting, organizing, feeling accomplished. But then you get to the last few random things. The stuff that doesn’t really belong anywhere.

And let’s be real… those things usually end up right back in the drawer or straight into the trash.

That’s exactly how a lot of new writers unintentionally treat their conclusions.

They put in the effort—did the research, made their work amazing—but by the time they get to the end, they just want to be done. So, they throw some sentences together, slap on a period, and call it good.

But doing that is the writing equivalent of serving spinach for dessert. And nobody wants that.

The good news? Writing a compelling conclusion doesn’t have to be hard. With these five simple steps, you can wrap up your writing the right way—without phoning it in.

5 Steps to Writing a Compelling Conclusion:

1. Restate your main point

2. Summarize without overloading

3. Connect back to your introduction

4. Add a call to action

5. Leave a lasting impression

Let’s break each one down and make them easy to apply to your next writing project.

1. Restate Your Main Point

Seems simple enough, right? Until you’re staring at your screen and all of a sudden, everything you’ve ever written just drains from your brain.

You’re left sitting there feeling… blank.

Guess what? That feeling is totally normal.

Here’s the first thing you’re going to do: Go back to your thesis and rewrite it in a fresh, new way. (And if you don’t have a thesis, well, that’s a blog for another day.)

What you’re doing is reminding the reader of the purpose behind your whole piece.

Now listen—this doesn’t have to be an exhaustive summary of everything you just wrote. But it should summarize your thesis and main points in a way that feels interesting.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say your thesis is, “Freelance writing is a great side-hustle for stay-at-home moms.” You could rephrase it like this:

"Freelance writing gives stay-at-home moms the chance to earn money while still being present for their families."

See? Same idea, just phrased in a new way. Now your reader is reminded of the main takeaway, without you sounding like a broken record.

Alright, now that you’ve got your main point covered, let’s move on to Step 2.

2. Summarize Without Overloading

The best visual for an overloaded summary? A CVS receipt.

You can buy three things, and somehow, your receipt is still 10 feet long. That’s way too much information when all you’re trying to do is get out the door. Nobody’s reading all that.

Same goes for your conclusion.

Whoever took the time to read your writing doesn’t want to read a whole new version of it once they get to the end.

There’s a finesse to summarizing. It’s more than just restating your main points—it’s about wrapping them up in a way that gives a sense of closure and finality.

And don’t even think about adding new ideas or concepts here. Your conclusion should be short, sweet, and to the point. No need to make it harder than it needs to be.

Moving on to Step 3.

3. Connect Back to Your Introduction

Remember the first time you watched The Sixth Sense?

Then—boom—the ending hits, and suddenly, you realize you’ve actually known the twist the whole time.

Mind. Blown.

It’s wild how the very first moments of the movie make the ending that much more unforgettable.

Now, I’m not saying you need to craft a plot twist on that level. (But if you can, seriously, bravo.)

What I am saying is that linking your conclusion back to your introduction is one of the most satisfying things you can do for your reader.

Hopefully, your introduction sparked curiosity—set the stage for what was to come. And when you’re able to circle back to it at the end? That’s when your writing becomes truly memorable.

Alright, on to Step 4!

4. Add a Call to Action

Type A’s, this is your moment to shine.Type B’s, congrats—you get to feel what it’s like to be a Type A for a second.

Because now? Now is the time you get to tell your readers what to do.

Your writing has led them all the way to this moment. You’ve given them the information, laid out the facts, and made your case.

Now, it’s time to show them the next step.

Skipping this part makes your words fall flat. You don’t just want readers to nod along—you want them to act.

A strong call to action could be:

• If this resonates with you and you want to help create change, call your congressman here.

• If you feel moved to save the bees, donate here.

Giving your reader a clear, immediate way to act on what you’ve shared makes your writing more impactful.

Now, onto the final step.

Leave a Lasting Impression

People hate feeling like they’ve wasted their time. That’s why your final sentence should leave them on a positive and uplifting note.

You want your readers to feel good about what they just read—whether it’s inspiring change, planting seeds of new ideas, or creating an impact.

No matter what, they should walk away feeling like their time was well spent. Because when they do? They’ll keep coming back for more.

The Conclusion

Alright, this is it—the grand finale. No pressure, right?

Here’s the deal: your conclusion matters. It’s the last impression you leave with your readers after they’ve moved on. And when you’re writing for paying clients, they’re going to count on you to deliver powerful conclusions and CTAs to keep their readers (and potential customers) coming back.

So don’t serve up a spinach salad when they’re expecting chocolate lava cake.

Put in the effort to restate your main point, summarize with clarity, connect back to your introduction, add a strong call to action, and leave them with something unforgettable.

Because when you do? Your writing won’t just be read—it’ll stick.

And if you’re still feeling stuck on how to wrap things up in a way that truly lands, check out The Pajama Writer for more tips, tricks, and writing wisdom. And for $5, you can download the guide for writing more compelling conclusions! (That’s less than the price of a latte!)

Now, go serve up something spectacular. And maybe buy yourself some inspirational chocolate cake while you’re at it. You’ve earned it.