What do you think: happy endings or sad endings? - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Mike C · 06-13-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzakugaiden

Isn't happy and sad sort of needlessly bifurcating things?

How long have you been waiting to put the word 'bifurcating' into a post?

aliceedelweiss · 06-13-2005, 03:38 PM

bifurcating...what does it even mean?! I should look it up(i'm only in the 8th grade so give me a break...)

bi·fur·cate ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bfr-kt, b-fûr-)
v. bi·fur·cat·ed, bi·fur·cat·ing, bi·fur·cates
v. tr.
To divide into two parts or branches.

v. intr.
To separate into two parts or branches; fork.

adj. (-kt, -kt)
Forked or divided into two parts or branches, as the Y-shaped styles of certain flowers.

well there we go...lol. It doesn't seem too needless. Maybe just a little

suzakugaiden · 06-13-2005, 06:23 PM

Not that long. As a GameFAQer I get to use it a lot.

I'm more interested in finding a way to include the word "gravid" in a post and still have it be relevant.

aliceedelweiss · 06-14-2005, 10:30 AM

gravid? lol. that'll be interresting i'm sure.
alice

Luker10 · 06-14-2005, 11:45 AM

I'm working on my first novel and I'm finding that the book transforms as you write it. I wrote the ending shortly after finishing the first chapter. Since then my ending is quite a bit out of date (the first chapter is too, now that i think of it).

So, don't be afraid to stray from what you have already thought up as your ending (or your beginning for that matter). Just like outlines or short descriptions of your story, endings if already thought out will basically become a guide that can change at a moment's notice.

desired_destiny · 06-14-2005, 07:59 PM

I can't really say I prefer either. I guess it just depends on the story. I love an unexpected, sad story.

aliceedelweiss · 06-14-2005, 09:59 PM

well, i'm trying to come up with a really unexpected plot, so who knows, maybe this will turn out really good
alice

Ralizah · 06-15-2005, 12:10 AM

Don't aim for happy, sad, or even unexpected. I agree with maia: the only good ending is the ending suitable to the work and its theme. Obviously, a tragedy like Tess of the d'Urbervilles could only have a proper ending in the character's destruction in some form, for it is a tragedy. In the same way, The Fountainhead is a joyous book celebrating individualism and its impending victory. A tragic ending would have been out of place. To know which ending to use, ask yourself two questions:
1. Is my theme essentially promoting a benovolent theme and worldview or a pessimistic theme and worldview?
2. Which ending will properly wrap up my work? Which will give each character the finale to their personal quests and which will best wrap up the work as a whole?

Marsieux · 06-17-2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Don't aim for happy, sad, or even unexpected. I agree with maia: the only good ending is the ending suitable to the work and its theme. Obviously, a tragedy like Tess of the d'Urbervilles could only have a proper ending in the character's destruction in some form, for it is a tragedy. In the same way, The Fountainhead is a joyous book celebrating individualism and its impending victory. A tragic ending would have been out of place. To know which ending to use, ask yourself two questions:
1. Is my theme essentially promoting a benovolent theme and worldview or a pessimistic theme and worldview?
2. Which ending will properly wrap up my work? Which will give each character the finale to their personal quests and which will best wrap up the work as a whole?

=D>
Bravo.

James T Palmer · 06-17-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralizah

Don't aim for happy, sad, or even unexpected. I agree with maia: the only good ending is the ending suitable to the work and its theme. Obviously, a tragedy like Tess of the d'Urbervilles could only have a proper ending in the character's destruction in some form, for it is a tragedy. In the same way, The Fountainhead is a joyous book celebrating individualism and its impending victory. A tragic ending would have been out of place. To know which ending to use, ask yourself two questions:
1. Is my theme essentially promoting a benovolent theme and worldview or a pessimistic theme and worldview?
2. Which ending will properly wrap up my work? Which will give each character the finale to their personal quests and which will best wrap up the work as a whole?

I agree completely.

Oh, and you like Rand? I love Rand.

Saponification · 06-17-2005, 07:20 PM

They're not mutually exclusive.

Middle Path sensibilities when writing, baby. Sexheh.

mammamaia · 06-18-2005, 08:03 AM

well put, ralizah!...

and, yes, bits of both can sometimes work, sapo... as with the 'bittersweet' ending... but i can't agree with 'middle path' for writing in general...

imo, fence-sitting will weaken almost any plot... the writer must be brave enough to head in one direction or another, if the work is to take the readers where they're meant to go...

Xion Night · 06-20-2005, 12:55 AM

Stories, I believe, should not be structured toward good ending/bad ending. I think that the in-between events should flow, like a river, to wherever the ending seems fit.
The main types of endings seem to be;
Tragic,
Sad, but not tragic,
Neither sad nor happy***,
Happy,
Rediculously happy*,
Let the reader decide***,
WTF!?**,
Mixed emotions***,
Completely open-ended.

IMHO,
*These should be rarely used, if ever.
**I love these kind.
***I think that these are the endings that should be sought after.

But, in short, I agree with Ralizah and Mammamia.

1DarkMind · 06-20-2005, 01:24 AM

I tend to write stories that mess with minds, so there's never really a happy ending...more of Sam Raimi's unfair Evil Dead endings

In life there's only one ending.....

Zinta · 06-27-2005, 12:45 AM

Doesn't it matter about the story not the end?

What I mean.. is that when I write a story.. I let it go to a logical ending.

I mean.. IF the story seems to be heading towards a happy ending then it does.. but many times it is heading for a bad ending.

I think.. maybe in my mind the story writes itself.

I sometimes am writing and get ideas about the way the story should go.. as I write... and the ending will hit me like a rock... I try to make the ending mean something.. make it have impact.. and something NOT cliche or even normal.
I think I really never want to read a story where the hero wins and rides off into the sunset. There has to be a lessen taught... even in good endings.. maybe they are never completely good.