Questions tagged [ending]
This tag should be used for questions about the ending of a literary work, such as styles and guidelines relating to a "Happy Ending".
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Is it okay to have a sequel start immediately after the end of the first book?
The sequel to my first book is supposed to start immediately after the end of the first book. Zero time gap.
Situation: At the end of book one a missing family member has finally joined the family. ...
6
votes
2answers
113 views
Given two alternative, strong endings to a novel, how to decide which one to use?
I'm in the final polishing stages of a novel and I have two endings that both blow me away and I feel are very, very strong.
Obviously, I can only have one ending. The story doesn't lend itself to a ...
26
votes
13answers
5k views
Non-trope happy ending?
This is in the idea stage, but I was wondering...
In stories involving multiple protagonists (4 or more) that make and end relationships, date each other, etc. during the course of the story, the ...
2
votes
2answers
211 views
Writing a Story From The End
There is a writing technique where a writer would imagine in her mind's eye where her story should end and will write it 'backwards'. Writing the end and then writing the chapters leading to end, so ...
2
votes
5answers
130 views
How can I make a talky, idea-based concept enjoyable [closed]
I'm writing a psychological novel about different characters finding the meaning of their lives. But the ending reveals it was all part of an experiment (properly foreshadowed). Someone was trying to ...
18
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9answers
5k views
Is it time to start closing up my novel?
I realize this may be a duplicate question. I've seen, for reference [
How long can a first novel be? ] yet I think my situation is a little more specific.
I find myself in a similar situation. My ...
6
votes
10answers
318 views
How to end a story without reaching a new status quo?
A popular writing theory states that any story worth telling describes the movement from one status quo to another, and that major uncertainties in the inception and conclusion should be avoided.
How ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
What are key features and pacing in a satisfying ending to a science fiction novel?
My novel has been through multiple drafts and beta reads, and by and large is in good shape. I've learned how to cure a saggy middle, how to stay in point-of-view, how to keep the protagonist driving ...
3
votes
5answers
660 views
Should I end my story with a happy or sad ending? [duplicate]
I am writing a romantic short story and I don't know which type of ending suits my story better. Currently my characters fall in love but one ends up "cheating" (they were never dating or anything) ...
4
votes
4answers
217 views
Should I let my hero die with the villain?
I'm writing my own fantasy novel and the way I want it to end is with the villain showing his humanity to the hero, begging for mercy, and when the hero is about to spare him the villains stabs him ...
6
votes
12answers
1k views
Anticlimactic ending as a surprise after climax?
Note: my story is for a video game, but that should hopefully be irrelevant to the question itself.
Our heroes spent a long time fighting their way to the evil demon king. The hopes of all the people ...
22
votes
6answers
6k views
How advisable is it to end a love story on a downer?
For example, it doesn't end with the leads getting together; rather, one of them dies or the relationship is left ambiguous. I know that taking this approach would be bad if the genre I was aiming for ...
11
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8answers
2k views
Of plottwists and endings
While writing my story this has come up in my mind a lot.
I have been planning and foreshadowing this major plottwist near the end of my story.
But the effects of it might change my world utterly and ...
8
votes
3answers
352 views
Is an unresolved conflict a detriment to publishing a novel?
I'm starting to write my first book, and I've finished the outlining process. It's a fantasy novel that deals with the takedown of a monarchy, but I feel like I can't wrap up the whole story line in ...
15
votes
7answers
2k views
Writing a Satisfying Ending
It strikes me that the last chapter (or so) of any story needs to make the reader feel that reading the book has been a worthwhile experience. An exceptional ending might leave a reader with such a ...
14
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8answers
3k views
Do Short Stories Need Definitive Endings?
I'm looking to create a few short stories that are in a shared universe of sorts and I'm curious whether or not I need to have a definitive ending to a story. I'm thinking that the "end" would be more ...
3
votes
1answer
125 views
What does the death of a fictional character mean?
When should a writer kill their protagonist off?
Inspired by a question about character lifetime and another about what makes the death of a character satisfying for the reader, I have begun to ...
18
votes
11answers
8k views
Does my protagonist *have* to succeed?
I'm thinking about a YA dystopian novel and have planned it quite thoroughly. However, when I look back, the antagonists tend to always be a few steps ahead of my protagonist, and my protagonist is ...
7
votes
4answers
954 views
Prepare for more after the “ending”?
In my story, there's this big bad, who needs to be destroyed. That is the main goal for about the last third of the video game. So the group of heroes manages to destroy him! ... but I don't want to ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
How To Settle On An Ending?
I've had a few different ideas for an ending that I've narrowed down to two. They both fit the tone and they both fit the story. But they are also completely different. How do I pick?
For example, ...
42
votes
12answers
8k views
Is it a bad idea to have multiple bad endings and only one good ending?
Background: I'm working on a game that has multiple paths for players to choose from. The choices the players make can lead them to very different endings. There are many bad endings but only one true ...
12
votes
8answers
961 views
Should mystery stories have resolutions?
I'm working on the finishing touches of a story that has as part of the plot a possibly-supernatural mystery. I'm feeling rather nervous about the whole thing though because said mystery isn't the ...
6
votes
6answers
765 views
Where do I write 'The End'?
Background
Woohoo! I literally just finished right now my masterpiece trilogy that I have worked on for what seems like, ages...
I'm a bit vexed as to where I should write 'the end'. The epilogue ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I end a comedy sketch?
I have a premise, which I think is funny/clever. I want to write this as a comedy sketch, to be acted out or shot on video.
I have three "scenes" which are basically three different re-capitulations ...
6
votes
2answers
252 views
What to avoid when writing a happy ending?
I've finally decided to give a protagonist a happy ending, but what is there to avoid? What makes a happy end too cheesy? For example, if the story is about a anti-hero, who destroys his enemies, what ...
6
votes
6answers
382 views
Is it possible to write about failed detective novel?
All detective novel ends with the killer caught, right?
Is it possible to write a completely bad ending detective novel? Imagine the Titanic of Sherlock Holmes, or is it done yet?
By Titanic I mean ...
8
votes
5answers
401 views
How do I write a fitting ending for an anti-hero?
My protagonist is an anti-hero. He's manipulative, cunning, kills, and sacrifices others for the greater good, which is to destroy an oppressive regime.
I'm at the point where he has destroyed the ...
4
votes
7answers
194 views
How to motivate yourself to finish something?
Far too many stories of mine have gone unfinished simply because I lost motivation to keep writing (and it doesn't help that I manage to convince myself each project will be my magnum opus). How can I ...
6
votes
4answers
475 views
Ending a PhD thesis by saying “there is more to do”
I am ending the conclusion of my PhD thesis by saying something like this (not even remotely in these words):
There was a lot of work gone in the thesis, yada yada yada, however there is room for ...
3
votes
3answers
382 views
Writing an Ending: how to prune away the Wrong ones?
My protagonist introduced herself to me through a sequence of set-pieces. She has a very specific altruistic goal, and the conflicts she enters are with other characters who have well-defined agendas....
0
votes
3answers
1k views
Should the opening of a short story mirror the ending?
When I was in school, my English teacher told me that a short story's beginning should mirror its ending, or at least the conclusion should in some way parallel the starting point of the story; but I ...
4
votes
10answers
1k views
Genre conventions: Which end do readers expect?
I need help with the concept of my story:
My protagonists live in a mild dystopia. Think of your own country today ;-) They have the opportunity to kill about 20 persons, which will cause a ...
2
votes
2answers
299 views
Story resolution issue - A symbolic gift for two new friends
I'm nearly at the end of my story, and I'm struggling to finish it. Ashley (male) and Anna were best friends since childhood, until they grew apart and didn't talk to each other for many years. When ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Do romances need to have a happy ending?
Is a book labelled "romance" expected to a have a happy ending?
I've heard advice that "romance" novels are meant to satisfy, well, a desire for romance, and so an ending without a "happily ever ...
2
votes
3answers
276 views
How to tell if my story is finished, or needs more?
Slightly obtuse title, let me elaborate.
I'm writing my first screenplay, and I'm trying to keep it simple while making it simultaneously wonderful. It's just a rom-com.
But as I write and modify ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
What is it called when the outcome of the plot is not told?
Is there a name for the mechanic where the storyteller doesn't divulge the outcome of the end of a story because the outcome is not important to the point of the story?
19
votes
4answers
2k views
Should cliffhangers be used in every chapter?
This is not a great question but I use a lot of cliffhangers. And I have a habit of making cliffhangers in the end of every chapter that I write just to hook the reader. The question is, is it a good ...
-1
votes
1answer
412 views
How to improve the ending of this short story (final scene + flashback)
This is sort of the continuation of this previous question.
The full text is here (just in case).
Sophia grabbed her bag, and headed towards an entrance in the corner
of the room. She walked in, ...
0
votes
2answers
365 views
How to improve the ending of my short novel (mostly dialogue)? [closed]
In a previous question, I asked about how to improve the opening of my short novel. The following is the ending:
"Can I talk about something that makes me feel strange?" he asked
while searching ...
6
votes
4answers
8k views
What is the use of “Ends.” to indicate the end of a document?
I recall seeing the word "Ends." placed at the end of documents to indicate that, obviously, nothing else follows. Is this acceptable standard usage? It feels rather archaic (not that that's ...
4
votes
3answers
165 views
requesting a review/critique of an outro narrative
Here's an outro narrative I wrote for our movie we're working on and I was wondering whether someone could provide a critique. Anything what would help improve it before we pass it to the recording ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
How common *are* happy endings?
I'm curious. After reading some other questions, I've been pondering about the frequency and reason for happy endings. That is, a positive and/or hopeful ending, even if not everything went right, ...
16
votes
11answers
4k views
What is the effect on the young reader when there is no “Happy Ending” in a story for children?
It is a common practice for a story for children to have a happy ending. Would it be considered inappropriate and disappointing for the young reader if his hero/heroine will suffer a horrible tragedy ...
