The Backward OX

I'm all ears.

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How Beautiful it is to Do Nothing, and then Rest Afterwards . . . . . Spanish proverb

Remedy

If it turns out to be all just a dream, you will be shunned.

Other than that, I don't think there really are.

MiloDaePesdan

I've had enough of cliffhanger endings or 'to be continued.'





Milo

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tucanbundy

In my first book, I found a way to kill every character.I hadn't planned an ending so as it approached I just started slaughtering people.

The endings to every storyline in my current book were planned out almost two years ago, so I don't have to worry about creative ways to kill people.

So kill everyone.It didn't work for me, but maybe you can make it work.

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Wintermute

Nope. Write away.

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"How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time." - Iago

Vee

Unless it is to be a series of books, wrap up the A story and B story. Any other sub plots you can leave hanging if the story is good enough.

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Heart, Faith, Steel

Latest Work: Torture Porn, Oz II, Oz

Katastrof

Usually it's a good idea to wrap up all the loose ends in your story. I say usually because like most good rules, this can be broken by a writer who's mastered the craft. Most writers, however, should give the reader some closure about the story that they've just sacrificed their time to read. Other than that loose rule, it's really up to you Ox.

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Read:

When The Man Comes Around

"Carpe Diem, quam minimum credula postero"
(Seize the day put no trust in tomorrow.) ~ Horace

lin

The best way is to tie up all the loose ends at once. Have everybody run over by a truck.

This basic technique can be adapted easily to various stories: if they are England, have them run over by a lorry, in China they get run over by a rickshaw.

If your story is about earthworms, they could get run over by a chicken.

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Non Serviam

Twist.

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Thoughtcrime does not entail death. Thoughtcrime IS death.

ash somers

ending on an ironic note usually werks for me *cough*

The Backward OX

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How Beautiful it is to Do Nothing, and then Rest Afterwards . . . . . Spanish proverb

Mike

In my opinion, closure of the main plot is a must (unless you write a series).

I like stories that linger at the end. At the beginning of the story you enter into the middle of your character's happenings, but at the beginning of a new journey - one that you participate in. I like to leave in the same way I entered, leaving when my character is starting something new (or continuing on in the direction changed by the plot).

Post-reading, I don't think about a story as much if the character just stops and goes back to his/her life as it was in the beginning of the story. Personally, I don't like stories that end by killing everyone off, though I would ponder more if the disappearing act was caused by senseless, bloodthirsty chickens butchering all of the important characters in a meaningful way.

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- Mike

The Backward OX

Thanks, Mike. I knew there'd be a sensible answer eventually.

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How Beautiful it is to Do Nothing, and then Rest Afterwards . . . . . Spanish proverb

PSFoster

That's why I like short stories. They focus on one problem (usually) and when the problem is resolved, the story is over.

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I'm too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed.
My blog: rf2082.wordpress.com

OtherWorlds

Answering the original story question or goal is the only must, in my opinion. Other than that, I like to leave things feeling satisfyingly complete, yet still in a place where I'm free to come back and pick up the story again if I ever want to write a sequal. Somehow I never get back to those sequals though...

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Capricious Quills:
A resource for writers of fantasy and paranormal romance.