What do you think: happy endings or sad endings? - Page 3 - Writers Forum

mammamaia · 06-27-2005, 08:47 AM

zinta...
i agree that, for a good writer, a good story will 'write itself'... if it's too hard to write, it's usually not going to be a good read... and, imo, the 'right' endings will come naturally and seem 'inevitable' to the reader...

the best writers 'listen' to their work...

and, i also agree that a 'happy ending' is fleeting... it's never the real 'end' of anything... it's merely the situation of the moment that, as soon as the reader's no longer 'looking' will head into all the not so happy compexity we all face in our lives...

i once toyed with the idea of writing sequels to all the fairy tales, depicting what's most likely to happen after the hero and his lady love ride off into the sunset...

Destany · 06-27-2005, 01:24 PM

I'm not always concerned with happy or sad endings, but more, the readers payoff. The reader has to have some satisfaction after having invested the time to read the book in the first place. That doesn't mean you have to do everything the way the reader would expect you to, but I find nothing worse than spending a week to read a thousand page book and find all the heros are dead or destined to suffer for the rest of their lives. I believe that if the ending is sad, the author should leave the book on a hopeful note. Not only that, but I hate pointless suffering in a book. Sometimes it seems writers kill off beloved characters for impact value, and don't have a viable reason for the death. Sometimes a death can be justified, and therefore excused, but if you're opting for a sad ending to keep from being typical, that's the wrong reason and the reader will come off feeling disgruntled, possibly even feel they wasted their time. They won't be likely to reccomend your story to others.

Gauda · 06-27-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

i only like GOOD endings... the 'happy' or 'sad' aspect doesn't count... the ending should be appropriate to the story and make sense...

aiming for a happy or sad one from the get-go is not a good way to go about writing, imo... the story and the characters will determine their own proper ending, if you pay attention and let them...

Agreed. I don't prefer happy/sad, but I tend to like when the ending is not expected. Happy endings tend to usually be too cliche (not all the time, though, just USUALLY) and sad endings leave me on a depressed note

I can be satisfied with either one. I also love bittersweet endings, or endings that leave you with a continued thoughts or ponderings..."is it over already? What happened?" I always want to read more, yet I like the way it ended. Strange, but oh well

Dan101 · 07-01-2005, 02:56 PM

If the novel is going to have a sequel written to it, a sad/horrific ending is great IMO. If it isnt going to have a sequel, then it should end on a happier note, but with some sadness (like the end of LOTR Return of the King). Someone has to die by the end of the novel no matter what, IMO lol

semtecks · 07-01-2005, 03:56 PM

Whatever works best. Or you can have a happy ending with a hint of sadness. example: Hero and Heroine walk off into the sunset . . .but their puppy is dead!

too much

Keridwen · 07-04-2005, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelhanion

I don't prefer either happy or sad endings. I like controversial endings. I like endings, where the reader can't be sure if the ending was happy or not. For example, in one of my work the main charater pursued help for his mental ailments (a curse/spell of sort). His condition gets worse and worse as the story progresses. In the end he isn't precisely healed, he changes form and starts to believe that the ailments are actually a blessing in pursuing greater goals. His companions are left puzzled: the protagonist seems content but he's changed, for better or for worse?

If the ending is too happy, I tend to think "why does everything always have to succeed, yet in life it's rare".

If the ending is too sad, I tend to think "why does everything always have to fail, yet in life it's rare".

So I'm a man of compromises: something good, something bad, something neutral. The only important thing is that something has to happen at the end to satisfy the reader.

Hear hear! I am in full agreement with that!!

Endings that are maybe "happy" for the characters in the story but the reader doesn't like are good - it makes them question why they don't like what has happened to the character, even if it is good for the characters themselves.

Shiggles · 07-06-2005, 08:48 PM

Sad/bad endings are easier to do (well).

Stories really end themselves though.

kintaris · 07-08-2005, 09:58 AM

Mine are always kinda sad...must have a more pessimistic worldview than i thought...

Hand · 07-08-2005, 10:59 AM

I like weird endings.