Let’s talk about endings.
What
kind of endings do you like in fiction? Do you like everything tied up in a
bow? All the questions answered? Or do you like to be left wondering some? And
what about romance? Do the main characters have to fall in love by the end of
the book? By the end of the series?
I
wrote a Mennonite suspense book years ago that didn’t describe the meeting
between the main character and a Mennonite boy who turned out to be her
brother. I ended it with the boy walking into the house to see her. I didn’t
think readers needed a blow by blow description about how that meeting went.
Boy, was I wrong. Readers didn’t appreciate the ending. They felt they’d
invested quite a bit of time with the characters and wanted to be in on the
grand reunion. Lesson learned.
So
what kind of endings do you like? What kind do you hate?
Leave
me a comment and you could win a $10.00 Amazon gift card!
Nancy
I like everything tied up in a bow, with all questions answered. Thank you for the opportunity to enter a contest. Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeletetraceyboehm1@aol.com
DeleteThanks, Tracey! You too!
DeleteIf the ending of the book does not spell out the resolution, I like to have it at least strongly hint at the resolution so that I can imagine the ending of the story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment, Susie!
DeleteI like to have the issues resolved by the end but it doesn’t have to always be happily ever after as that isn’t realistic to me. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI agree. Things don't always turn out the way we want them to, do they? Thanks for the comment, Lucy.
DeleteI love everything tie up with a bow! I hate stories that leave me hanging. Reading is my escape, I don't want to have to think. LOL!! Thanks for all you do for your readers.
ReplyDeleterw620 AT aol DOT com
Thanks, Robin.
DeleteWhen it's a book I love, I want lots of details. I don't really WANT it to end!! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great comment, Jennie. Thanks!
DeleteI don't like to be left with the issue totally unresolved, but a hint to point me right direction is occasionally okay.
ReplyDeletelhanberry1 at gmail dot com
Thanks for your comment, Linda. I'm okay with that too, but I guess not everyone is. LOL!
DeleteWhen I read a book, I want the story to have an ending. Meaning there may be threads that could lead to other stories in a series, but the main story being told comes to some sort of conclusion. I'm not happy to read a book that ends up being like part 1 of a story and you have to read the next book to find answers.
ReplyDeleteIn life, things don't always end with a happily ever after, but most times we read to escape "real" life so sad endings are not my thing either.
Personally, I think how you describe your book would be fine with me. Love using my imagination. If you show that it happened (by having the them come together then one should be able to surmise their own happily ever after. It's enough of an ending that to me the ending had a solution and gives just enough that the next book could take off from there. To me this is not a case of leaving the ending hanging.
Thank you for the chance to win a $10.00 Amazon gift card! Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Great comment, Kay. I agree about reading to escape. It works.
DeleteI don't necessarily have to have a happy ending (although I do prefer that), but I need an ending that doesn't leave me feeling cheated. One where you discover the entire book was a sham, a dream, an imagination. Nope, no thank you! Or if me leaves me depressed. There is always hope, even when it's not happily-ever-after! 😊
ReplyDeleteI've seen TV shows like that - everything was a dream - or the imagination of a child. I'm thinking of Dallas and St. Elsewhere. Weird endings.
DeleteI want all the missing pieces to come together at the end and preferably a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Mary.
DeleteI don’t like sad endings. Or ones that you hanging unless there’s a sequel .I love happy endings!
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on sad endings either. I think we all want to walk away feeling satisfied after investing hours of our lives in a book. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI won't read a book that I know has a sad ending...haven't read a Nicolas Sparks in a loooonnng time. lol
ReplyDeleteI remember that in one of his books the main character's "stomach tightened" six or seven times. I use that too, but I've never forgotten not to overuse it. It really bugged me! LOL!
DeleteI like things to be resolved whether good or bad if it is a stand alone book. If it is a series I am ok with it being a cliff hanger because I know that eventually things will be resolved at some point in future books. I do love twisty turney books...
ReplyDeletemsredk at aol dot com
I like everything tied up in a bow by the end of the book (unless there is a sequel to it). I have been disappointed with several of the books I read lately because I felt like chapter after chapter is spent building up to the end of the love story and all of a sudden in one chapter, the whole "rest of the story" is finished. I feel like I need more of an ending, be it good or bad. An epilogue helps, but is not always satisfying.
ReplyDeleteFor fiction I like wondering some endings. For romance I like end of series endings.What I hate is endings that leave a whole lot not addressed, sort of like in the middle of a paragraph like pages are missing from the book. I won't buy a second book from that author when I run into those endings. 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteI like endings that don't leave you in suspense, now if it is a book series that is fine, but I really don't like endings that end all of a sudden and I really don't know what really happened. Have a Great week and stay safe. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
ReplyDeletehahaha I think if that were a major part of the story I'd probably have liked a clean cut ending, but if everything leading up to it gave the impression that it would be good whether we read it or not, I actually would've been fine with how you ended it. I guess I don't know what endings I would hate. I don't know that I've really run into any. Strange isn't it?
ReplyDeletemnjesusfreak @ gmail . com
I don't like for everything to be wrapped up too neatly because that's not realistic, but but I definitely want to see the kind of meeting you described. That leaves a bit too much mystery to the imagination for me! I think key scenes like that should be included.
ReplyDeleteI like to know it all. The worst thing to me is reading a book toThe end and then be told I have to buy the next one to find out what happens. I want to know that is the case before I decide to read.
ReplyDeletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
It depends on the genre or topic of the book I'm reading. If it's a book about Christians persevering in faith through persecution, the ending may not be the happiest in an earthly sense but it certainly is an eternal sense. In suspense and mystery, everything needs to tie together well. A romance should end in a union that makes sense and honors God. racheltirzah(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI always love some kind of twist at the end, but I do like all of the questions to be answered.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
like HEA
ReplyDeleteworst endings: cliffhangers, one or both main characters die
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
I want all the loose ends connected. An ending that I'm not anticipating is awesome!
ReplyDeletepsalm1013and138atgmaildotcom
I don't like to be left wondering! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI like happy endings with all questions answered and no cliffhangers.
ReplyDeletedianah7272@gmail.com
I don't mind in ending that surprises me, truly it makes me remember the book!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like unexpected endings, but I don't like "to be continued" endings, or, endings w/out details! badawson16 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteI typically want the lingering questions answered. However, if there's more books to come in the series, a little left to the next book does make me that much more anxious to read the next one. The end of a series? Oh yes! I need all my questions answered!
ReplyDeletedeuteronomy3113@yahoo.com
I'd like all the loose ends taken care of, and for the story to end in a satisfying way, that is encouraging, and filled with faith and hope for the future. Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Lual Krautter Email: krautter62520AToutlookDOTcom
ReplyDelete