atailing

Atailing is a term used in literary analysis to describe a narrative technique in which authors deliberately leave a trail of unresolved details at the end of scenes, chapters, or episodes. The resulting open-ended endings invite readers to speculate about future developments and to reflect on the work’s motifs. Etymology: The word draws on the metaphor of a tail left behind and the -ing suffix denoting ongoing action.

Usage: Although most common in fiction and screenwriting, atailing also appears in episodic games and multimedia storytelling. Practitioners use it to sustain momentum without resorting to explicit cliffhangers, distributing a set of related tails across a work to create cohesion through unresolved elements rather than a single dramatic pivot.

Characteristics: Tails are typically motifs, questions, or images that resonate with central themes. They are coherent with the narrative world and can be resolved later, or remain open-ended. Tails may appear across chapters, scenes, or media installments, producing a cumulative effect.

History: The term surfaced in late 20th or early 21st century online literary discourse and has been used in analyses of serialized narratives. It remains a niche concept and is not as widely adopted as more established terms such as cliffhanger or open ending.

Criticism: Critics argue that atailing can feel inconclusive if overused, and may burden readers with excessive unresolved material. Proponents say it enriches texture and invites active reader engagement.

See also: Cliffhanger, open ending, narrative technique, episodic storytelling.