Happily ever...how?

[sunstruckdream]

What kinds of endings do you find yourself leaning towards? Not in other people's work - I mean in your own. Do you write happy endings? Does everyone die by the end of your books? Do you have some of each? Any preferences/peeves on the matter?

I usually like to do what I call "resolved" endings. Most of the time they're happy, but in one of my newer projects, I'm trying something new - totally knocking off the main character by the end. And honestly, as hard as it is for me to do - I've already gotten to love her so freaking much - I think I really like the story for what it is. When I do have happy endings, though, I don't like to go for the cliche. There's usually been some heavy blows and losses taken along the story's path that can never be made up for entirely. I feel like that makes it more realistic. At least for me.

Cast your vote! Share your style...

 

[Tariel]

I'm not really sure how to classify my endings,,,,"resolved" is probably the best, but maybe the enigma one. I like my endings to....end really. I don't think I could ever kill of my main character (especially not the girl I'm dealing with now). I like to have the sense that this story is over, but the characters lives are going on.

 

[Lessien]

It really depends on the story. If the characters and their situation calls for it, I write a happy ending. If not, I write a dark ending. I tend to lean toward happy (bittersweet at least), but sometimes a dark ending seems to arise naturally out of the story.

I, for one, can't stand forced endings. You know--when the author writes a sad story but felt it her moral duty to give them a happy ending, even though it didn't fit. Or when someone writes a story where it ends with the characters all getting hit by a bus in the last sentence. If the story calls for a happy ending, write one. If not, write a dark ending. But make it satisfying.

 

[Tariel]

It really depends on the story. If the characters and their situation calls for it, I write a happy ending. If not, I write a dark ending. I tend to lean toward happy (bittersweet at least), but sometimes a dark ending seems to arise naturally out of the story.

I, for one, can't stand forced endings. You know--when the author writes a sad story but felt it her moral duty to give them a happy ending, even though it didn't fit. Or when someone writes a story where it ends with the characters all getting hit by a bus in the last sentence. If the story calls for a happy ending, write one. If not, write a dark ending. But make it satisfying.

I know. The best endings are the ones that are satisfying, whether I'm reading them or writing them. Once I read a trilogy that ended with the death of who I'm pretty sure was mostly the main character, and it was wonderful! Not that I hated the character or anything, it just was very well done.

Enough rambling...I need sleep

 

[pugby]

I like that term satisfying. I often wind up with darker endings in my fiction. It is a truth revealed I feel. Happy endings are nice, but often way too unrealistic. I like the ending to be appropriate for what has led up to it. In literature, a great novel can be ruined by the last chapter if it forces itself to be something it is not.

 

[Cordelia]

I nearly always go for happy resolutions, leaning strongly towards happily-ever-after, because why not? Of course there's a place for misery in every story but personally I don't put it at the end. I have experimented with mysterious endings too, where the reader can make of it what they will, but I try to make them uplifting.

 

[sunstruckdream]

I love what you guys said about the element of satisfaction. The story has to have that element of completeness, you know? Whether you prefer something lighter, darker, or more bittersweet, the end should feel finished and appropriate to the rest of the story.

 

[Tariel]

I love what you guys said about the element of satisfaction. The story has to have that element of completeness, you know? Whether you prefer something lighter, darker, or more bittersweet, the end should feel finished and appropriate to the rest of the story.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

What kinds of endings do you find yourself leaning towards? Not in other people's work - I mean in your own. Do you write happy endings? Does everyone die by the end of your books? Do you have some of each? Any preferences/peeves on the matter?

I usually like to do what I call "resolved" endings. Most of the time they're happy, but in one of my newer projects, I'm trying something new - totally knocking off the main character by the end. And honestly, as hard as it is for me to do - I've already gotten to love her so freaking much - I think I really like the story for what it is. When I do have happy endings, though, I don't like to go for the cliche. There's usually been some heavy blows and losses taken along the story's path that can never be made up for entirely. I feel like that makes it more realistic. At least for me.

Cast your vote! Share your style...

I'm not writing a fictional story. But I'm a sucker for happy endings (wow, just got an idea!)

HB

 

[hisbloodformysins]

LOL, I wonder if someone is going to opt for the last option..

HB

 

[sunstruckdream]

LOL, I wonder if someone is going to opt for the last option..

HB

Haha...I enjoyed coming up with that one. I hope SOMEONE picks it...

 

[NeoScribe]

I go more for resolved, though it leans towards a happy ending. Considering that I write for all the major characters on both (or all three) sides it to be expected that everyone won't live happily ever after since half of them will not be alive by the end of the story. But all the problems that started the story are wound up and the good guys are left with the feeling that its all done and life can go on good for them.

 

[sunstruckdream]

I go more for resolved, though it leans towards a happy ending. Considering that I write for all the major characters on both (or all three) sides it to be expected that everyone won't live happily ever after since half of them will not be alive by the end of the story. But all the problems that started the story are wound up and the good guys are left with the feeling that its all done and life can go on good for them.

Give or take, that's sort of what I lean towards too.

 

[sunstruckdream]

No one's picked my last option yet...=(

 

[Tariel]

No one's picked my last option yet...=(

 

[sunstruckdream]

thanks
i actually made that an option because of a friend of mine. he's writing a story where he bumps off every single protagonist in a horrible, horrible manner.
i can't even imagine being able to do that. but it made me wonder if anyone in the WG favors that sort of thing...

 

[Ephesians4]

I say happy endings. There's enough sadness and darkness in the real world. It's a nice escape to see happy endings a book or movie.

(And, thankfully God works all things for the good for those who love him, so the real world will have a happy ending, too )

 

[BookReader]

I do not know. I like to lean towards a happy ending, but I am happy as long as it gives me satisfaction.

 

[oncewaslost]

resolved. i like the loose ends tied. it doesn't have to be happy happy. i tend to like endings that are ambiguous. like, say there's a love interest that has gone through hell and emotionally damaging situations and while issues are somewhat resolved between them they aren't really "happily ever after" yet. i have no clue if that makes sense. i like realistic endings.

 

[seamonster]

I tend to go with unhappy endings. Usually one person dies