What are good ways to end a game?

I just started playing chess this week and find that I'm decent in the beginning but am terrible at ending games, and always end up "dancing around the board" for a bout 20 turns before it either ties or ends in a loss.  Are there any tips you can give for traps to look out for/set up and end the game quicker?

Learn basic endgames like KQ, then KRR, then KR etc. Then solve checkmates in 1 moves, then 2 moves, etc. This will store "patterns" in your brain. Chess is all about pattern, no matter what position, it is a pattern. You want to learn as many of those. They are pretty much tools that you acquire and then use when the time comes.

Pawns become your primary offensive tools in endgames. Push them strategically to create a passed pawn (a pawn with no opposing pawns blocking its path to promotion).

Checkmate is usually a good way.