Always Leave Them Wanting More
When I read a
question about what is the perfect way to end a story, I was hooked and not in
a good way.
This is one of the hardest things to choose a solid direction to
discuss because there is no perfect way to end a story. There are great ways to
start a story and numerous ways to gain a reader’s attention, but there is no
perfect way to end a story. The best I can do is use the “Always Leave Them
Wanting More” scenario as my bases. I would hope every writer would wish this,
so this is where I’m going to concentrate my attention. Keeping this in mind,
and how I like to use three as minimum topics of discussion, I think these are
the right mixture for the perfect recipe for disaster. These three are the
Happy Endings, the Cliffhangers, and the Give Me More.
Happy Endings
Happy endings aren’t as easy to pull off as you might think. Take this into consideration. Let’s say you end your story with the hero winning. That is all well and good, but did your readership feel that they had won as well or that the outcome was blandly expected? Just because the reader knows (or believes) that everything is going to work out alright, it doesn’t mean they should feel the possibility that it might not. That is the most important part in a good happy ending. It’s the possibility that the villain, bad guy or girl, the world is going to be taken over, and that pesky little problem with the hero talking to a girl (any girl) might not be overcome. It’s never the mission or the obstacle itself that causes a reader to invest their emotions, wishes, and hopes for the outcome to go their way, but the journey they take step by step with the hero or the villain that counts. Yes, the villain as well.
Even if the reader knows the bad guy is going to lose in the end, there is a thrill to be had to be that bad boy or bad girl your momma told you to stay away from. Cheering on the villains can be just as much fun as rooting for the hero. There is nothing wrong with a happy ending and there is nothing wrong with the bad guy coming out the victor. Actually, in some cases, having the, bad guy wins (for the moment) is an excellent way to throw in that tried and true form a generating buzz with an ending and that is the Cliffhanger.
Happy endings aren’t as easy to pull off as you might think. Take this into consideration. Let’s say you end your story with the hero winning. That is all well and good, but did your readership feel that they had won as well or that the outcome was blandly expected? Just because the reader knows (or believes) that everything is going to work out alright, it doesn’t mean they should feel the possibility that it might not. That is the most important part in a good happy ending. It’s the possibility that the villain, bad guy or girl, the world is going to be taken over, and that pesky little problem with the hero talking to a girl (any girl) might not be overcome. It’s never the mission or the obstacle itself that causes a reader to invest their emotions, wishes, and hopes for the outcome to go their way, but the journey they take step by step with the hero or the villain that counts. Yes, the villain as well.
Even if the reader knows the bad guy is going to lose in the end, there is a thrill to be had to be that bad boy or bad girl your momma told you to stay away from. Cheering on the villains can be just as much fun as rooting for the hero. There is nothing wrong with a happy ending and there is nothing wrong with the bad guy coming out the victor. Actually, in some cases, having the, bad guy wins (for the moment) is an excellent way to throw in that tried and true form a generating buzz with an ending and that is the Cliffhanger.
Cliffhangers
For some stories the “Waite until the next episode” works, but you run into several what ifs. What if a reader picks up your second or third book, will they be able to pick up the story or have to go back and get the previous book(s). What if the reader is embarrassed to talk to other how much fun they had with your story when others had found more bread crumbs then they had. What if your reader is impatient and can’t wait until the next book to learn the truth, outcome, or the meaning you had left them wanting to learn, know, or understand. Cliffhangers can be fun and exciting to readers as well. They can cause discussion groups to pop up in the most interesting places. And, cliffhangers aren’t just for a particular genre as well. Not only does “Who Done It” benefit from a mind gripping cliffhanger, but romance, adventure, Sci-Fi, and even a good comedy can see some positive results. Once again, there is no tried and true way to end a story, but everyone wants the reader to complain that it had ended too soon.
For some stories the “Waite until the next episode” works, but you run into several what ifs. What if a reader picks up your second or third book, will they be able to pick up the story or have to go back and get the previous book(s). What if the reader is embarrassed to talk to other how much fun they had with your story when others had found more bread crumbs then they had. What if your reader is impatient and can’t wait until the next book to learn the truth, outcome, or the meaning you had left them wanting to learn, know, or understand. Cliffhangers can be fun and exciting to readers as well. They can cause discussion groups to pop up in the most interesting places. And, cliffhangers aren’t just for a particular genre as well. Not only does “Who Done It” benefit from a mind gripping cliffhanger, but romance, adventure, Sci-Fi, and even a good comedy can see some positive results. Once again, there is no tried and true way to end a story, but everyone wants the reader to complain that it had ended too soon.
Give Me More
There is no writer on the face of this or any other planet who would say that they didn’t want their reader to put down their work and feel satisfied with what they had read. They want them to hunger for more. They want them to go back to the beginning and start over in hopes to find some small morsel they did not consume. They want them to tell all their friends they should not only read the book, but join them in protest for you to give them more. They will only be satisfied if you add to the story in any form or fashion or begin a new story altogether different, but just as captivating. The answer to this question is extremely difficult because there is no right answer. The best any writer can do is to give the best they can, hope for the best, and listen openly and non judgmental to those who love, hate, want more of what you had written. No matter how you decide your ending should be, it should be one that is worth someone reading again. SD
There is no writer on the face of this or any other planet who would say that they didn’t want their reader to put down their work and feel satisfied with what they had read. They want them to hunger for more. They want them to go back to the beginning and start over in hopes to find some small morsel they did not consume. They want them to tell all their friends they should not only read the book, but join them in protest for you to give them more. They will only be satisfied if you add to the story in any form or fashion or begin a new story altogether different, but just as captivating. The answer to this question is extremely difficult because there is no right answer. The best any writer can do is to give the best they can, hope for the best, and listen openly and non judgmental to those who love, hate, want more of what you had written. No matter how you decide your ending should be, it should be one that is worth someone reading again. SD
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