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Shadowhound

Topic: What is the Best Way to End a Story?

I mean only happy or bad endings, I mean good endings where the reader is satisfied with it and can't think of any other outcome but that one. Glen Cook's Black Company ended with the 'evil' rebels (who are actually pretty bad) being defeated by the 'evil' empire (actually pretty bad. Both Rebel and Empire could be classified as evil), and the narrator, Croaker, wondering which side is worse, Empire or Rebel. What is the definition of a good ending?

#1 Nov 15th 2006, 1:03pm

Shadowhound

Rephrase, I said "I mean only happy or bad endings..." To rephrase that (stupid not proofreading), I meant "I DON'T mean only happy or bad endings..." Sorry about that.

#2 Nov 15th 2006, 1:05pm

Lord-of-Fools

Isn't a definition. If you feel satisfied, your readers will. All loose ends must be tied, some indication should be made of where the character plans to go. But there's no correct way.

#3 Nov 28th 2006, 1:11am

iamthedave

It's not a question of 'way' but 'when'.

The ending of a story is in the timing, pure and simple.

#4 Dec 04th 2006, 9:33am

BattleLust

well...if there is going to be another book that follows that one then you can leave them hanging and panting for more. In my first book in the Sign of the Phoenix series I leave you hanging sooo bad I mean you don't even know if this one person is alive or not and what happened at the end of the battle. but in the next book I tie off all the ends and you know what happens to everyone the good the bad and the shiny things. lol!

#5 Jan 15th 2007, 6:43pm

Erilev

You should always leave some loose ends in the story as long as they don't kill the plot. That way, you can always go back later and write another story with those characters. if you close the ending, then you will find yourslef with all sorts of ideas for a sequel, but no way to write them lol.

#6 Feb 21st 2007, 10:46am

HiddenBehindTheMask

I have a question for you. Is it a good idea to end the story with the hero dying? I've had the idea before, given the fact that the "good vs. evil and good always wins" scenario finds its way into almost every book I've ever read, excluding one about a fox, though I forget the title. I read it in grade six or seven, and really enjoyed it, but the ending made me cry because the when the fox is older, he's jumping across a stream, completely exposed, and the farmer that he's evaded for so long shoots him. And then, poof, the story is over.

I think it's a good way to leave the readers on the edge of their seats, but is it really a good idea to end a story that way?

#7 Mar 02nd 2007, 3:09pm

FreakierThanThou

Stone Fox, Silver Fox, something like that? I haven't actually read it, but my friend did.

Not always, but it can be. I've written at least one where it ends that way because that was the only way I could end it. If the story you're writing is about how evil sometimes wins, or if death is a focus, or just if that's the way it works best, then I think you can kill the hero. I've had some good experiences with that.

But if it's a humor, a kid's story, thus far a regular good guys win story, or an optimistic story, then, no, you can't kill the hero. It really depends on the story, the audience, and above all, the writer.

#8 Mar 07th 2007, 7:49pm

The Six of Hearts

I think that sometimes, if you leave some unanswered questions or something to keep the reader thinking, it might have more of an impact on them. Like the ending of Song of Solomon...maybe that's a bad example. But it ended in the middle of an action happening, so it really hit like "whoa! that's the end!?" If the ending is TOO conclusive, then it might not stay in the mind of the reader for as long, because it was simply the end and nothing could come out of it. Leave some open doors, and the gears will be turning. But don't leave too much open and unconcluded, like "Wolf's Rain." Now that was one confusing ending!

#9 Apr 16th 2007, 2:56pm

Flight of the Fire

I think that one of the best ways to end a story would be to just leave it at a pretty uneasy part. Say you just got past the climax, and you're heading downhill (like in one of those sixth-grade charts about story plotlines). Break it off with something happening, and with a short line that will make the readers wonder what will happen. One of my faves that ends like this is I Am Legend. The book, not the movie.

#10 Apr 20th, 2:51pm

Kalista Jia

Best way of ending a story is not to leave a single suspence. In my opinion of course. I go crazy and started analysing the entire story until I find one I am satisfied of, Then again, the credit would go to me lol.

So yes not leave a climax, finish it off like a man...or a woman!

#11 Aug 05th, 8:43pm

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