This is the End!

[sarahblack5]

This is the End!

I’ve been thinking about endings. If there is one thing readers complain about with my stories, it’s the end- or rather, the suddenness of the ending. Someone diagnosed me with SES- Sudden Ending Syndrome! I write the sort of ending I like. I suppose most writers do- and I end the story when the story tells me it has come to the

Comments

[ocotillo_dawn]

You know Sarah, not that I'm a pro or anything, but I like your endings. Actively. I like for stories to end when they are supposed to. Full disclosure: I also get complaints that my endings are too 'sudden', so I suppose it is possible that I'm just rationalizing my own bad choices, but I don't think so

[sarahblack5]

I love your circular endings idea. I've heard them called echo effects- usually images, but can also be ideas or language.

I am starting to suspect that for writers, the stories go on in our minds very easily, and they don't for readers- maybe that's why an ending that doesn't seem sudden to me seems very sudden to readers. The voices are really clear to me- the characters can chatter on in my head for some time. But I don't like to tidy up everything- it seems more realistic to have some things left undone.

[oceankitty1]

Wow. That could make any body's endings feel inadequate. But I never reacted to your endings the way you describe above. Yes, sometimes I do want more and find myself disappointed that the idea of the thing only stretched itself into a short story, but I've never had problems with the endings themselves. I even feel sometimes that I'm allowed to 'fall free' along with your characters. I like that you let me use my own imagination to figure out what happens next. It includes me in the story.

[sarahblack5]

what a nice compliment! I'm happy to hear you say that you like to live the story with the characters- most writers believe that the story is only half finished when we finish writing. The rest of the work is done in the imagination of readers.

[elena_62]

Thank you for sharing your interesting thoughts on the matter.

I agree with Oceankitty and Ocotillo: I really like your endings, I just would prefer no end at all (an infinite story?) or at least longer stories ;-).

Be well!

Antonella

[sarahblack5]

the new one is longer- well, longer for me- when I did the edits, it came in at 172 pages! Death of a Grievous Angel- I've been worried about the title, that noone will know what Grievous means. But I can't make myself change it. And thanks for the nice compliment!