And they lived happily ever after...

[caer]

So, this post is a result of a recent discussion with citron_presse and spending way too much time on metafandom (also from talks with shiparker a while ago on a subject related to this topic).

Comments

[nursebadass]

I absolutely refuse to cave into what the readers want (sorry to those who read my stuff) but I have been known to make the ending more harsh to piss off the people, who despite knowing which direction I'll head in, send me nasty comments anyway. See 'To Love Somebody' to understand that one. Because seriously, I got so tired of the nasty comments that I wanted to smack someone.

I write for me as much as I can. I try very hard to keep true to my original vision for a story and not go with what the reader prefers. I'm not getting paid for what I write so why the hell should I care what my readers want. If it's for an author's auction for charity or something, then I'll go with what they want- but that's the only case.

[caer]

I think more of us need to adopt a similar attitude =) You must have nerves of steel! I usually feel pretty firm in not changing anything for readers as I'm writing, but the few minutes before I post it? Total panic attack. I'm getting better at squishing down those insecurities though, and just going with my instinct.

[littleone87]

I am the first to admit I love happy endings where everything is neat and tied in a pretty bow, so yeah.... However, ever since I started talking to you...(:P) I have given a lot of thought to the fact that not everything is always wrapped up in a pretty bow. Not everything ends happily. Granted this is fiction and not real life, meaning we can write it any way we want.... however, I think the thought of something not ending somewhat happily or neatly bothers people, and I can admit I am usually one of those people. (But I am slowly getting out of that. It's a brave new world, and I'm liking it

[miss_blanche]

This question probably isn't very relevant to me because so far I've only ever properly finished two serials (not of Grey's) and I feel kind of like a traitor answering it when I clearly suck balls at updating and finishing

[ullman79]

Of course 'unhappy' or 'ambiguous' endings can sometimes evoke strong reactions in readers (meaning more comments) because most expect the happy ending no matter what - personally, I like whatever fits the story best. Happy endings can at times feel awfully forced, but at the same time it's not always unlikely that people work it out in the end, and are actually happy. I'm more about the journey than the destination - both in writing and in reading. As a reader, I'm perfectly happy with a somewhat ambiguous ending, or a happy ending, as long as it's a fitting end to a story.

As a writer, I know that some of the stuff I write will never get that much feedback because it at times is a little on the quiet, or even melancholic side (and I tend to write stuff like that in fandoms where less isn't exactly considered to be more) - I don't think I'd change that if I could, though. Of course, for the past years I've either not written at all, or written in fandoms where very few people bother to leave feedback at all, so honestly? At this

[nubantu]

My answer is actually very ambiguous but as I've only just gotten back into writing after almost a decade. I have no recent experience to go on other than being ill at the moment and mightily stuck on two stories with bunnies eating my sheets and ones in my brain sprouting ideas at a rate of nots.

I thin that while pandering and consoling the fans is a great thing and as a reader I love when I get the ending I've been looking for. For the writer if your not happy with that ending it can feel that your cheating your muse. I'd probably go with the writing two endings as that is something I love in stories and movies.

Happy New Year and enjoy.