Happily Ever After...

[kerrilee]

In a weekend full of my own fandom "coming of age" I guess it only appropriate that I finally stumble into a disappointing ending. Actually, that's not true. I'm more than a little pissed. But then I'm all, "Calm down, Kerrilee, not everyone has to have a HEA." But apparently I do. Especially after such a promising start. Ah, well, growing up is a bitch.

Tell me, do you have to have a happy or optimistic ending or not that important?

Comments

[birdsofshore]

Ahh, I'm worried that it was one of mine, now. I keep trying to write unhappy / ambiguous endings, and my betas keep steering me away, but a couple sort of snuck through....

I used to very much like a HEA, but recently I don't find it such a requirement. I actually quite enjoy a fucked up, complicated ending sometimes. But within strict parameters that I find acceptable!

[gracerene]

I have complicated thoughts about happy endings! Generally speaking, I do prefer happy endings, but I don't mind ambiguous., though I do prefer when ambiguous endings have a happy skew.

But you know, I've been coming to appreciate a good ambiguous ending, I must say. But it's entirely based on if it fits in with the nature of the fic. It needs to not only feel cohesive, but actually feel like it's a part of the fic, and not just that the author ran out of time/inspiration, and decided to just end it early. I've read a few of those, and those definitely make me a little unhappy. :/

Oh, and length. I'm much more likely to enjoy an ambiguous ending on a 15k fic than I am on a 100k fic. If you have 100k, then you have the word count to give me some damn resolution! lol :D

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

You've never disappointed me with an ending!

I think I'm just more pissed that I was so invested and really liked the way it was going. And then it took a twist that I didn't like, but I hung in there hoping it would it would twist again, but it kept barreling down the hill and I'm all like "no, no!!" and then it smashed into a fucking mountain along with my hopes for it.

It was well written and kept my attention enough. Blah. I just feel annoyed.

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

So true about the length! That is also part of my annoyance. It wasn't 100k but it definitely took up the better part of my morning. I've just been so lucky, I guess. I think I've read a lot of words in these 6 mos and this is the first time I've felt cheated.

And to your other point about it feeling like the ending fit with the rest of the story, yes I totally agree with that, too. I like a good twist as much as anyone but when the ending is the twist? Not so much.

[birdsofshore]

I really enjoy reading Bastard!Draco, you see. And sometimes, if he's really a gorgeous bastard, a happy ending can feel sort of tacked on. What I like best of all, is Bastard!Draco with a screwed up dynamic for quite a long time, and then a slow convincing turnabout to romance and desperate undying love. Which would usually take about 150k. But I hardly ever read long!fic. Ahahaha!

Maybe you should do what dysonrules once owned up to doing, and save the story as a doc and CHANGE THE BITS YOU DON'T LIKE? :DDDD

[eidheann_writes]

I'm kinda all over the place. It really depends on how it's handled in the fic.

I love ambiguous endings. Esp happy leaning ones but it's something I tend to get really excited over. Even unhappy endings, if I'm prepared for them.

But (big but there) it depends entirely on the skill of the author in question. It has to feel logical, organic, it has to make sense. Throwing in a twist rarely works (for me) so I usually say I don't like reading unhappy endings (or humor, just because I hate crackfic and most doesn't work for me. Go figure)

So. Yeah. XD

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Me? Change the ending?! That would require a skill I do not possess.

I think it's also a trust issue. I have authors I trust and am happy to just go along for the ride and enjoy where they take me because I know it's going to be right even if it's not happy. I don't know this author, so, yeah.

Bastard!Draco and all the variations is wonderful in the right hands, yes?!?

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Yes! I guess the more I'm thinking about it, it's just that it seemed to be heading somewhere optimistic and then ended fucking not optimistic at all! Like, what the fuck just happened here?!?

This morning I also read Beggars Ride (am I close on the title?) and need to leave a proper comment on it but I loved it and it is not the story that pissed me off. The only thing I didn't like is there wasn't more. But that was a nice journey with an optimistic ending. <3

[eidheann_writes]

Ha. Yes. Beggars does have a positive ending, more wrapped up than some of mine.

This tangentially relates I think to a discussion I had yesterday about spoilers and rereads with firethesound. Specifically if a story (movie, book, etc) can survive being "spoiled" and that the twist isn't all the movie is hanging on, I am completely fine with spoiling.

Somewhat the same thing w ambiguous or unhappy endings. If the story is a good story, it's good regardless. And the twist (or ending) isn't going to hurt that.

It's just.. HEA is kinda like a get out of jail card. People look for it, and are happy to read it even if the story is weak. But if you try to do something without an explicitly happy ending, you don't get that. And the story has to stand on its own.

[sassy-cissa.livejournal.com]

While I no longer require a "happy ending". I do need to at least feel that it will be all right. This doesn't always mean H/D end up together - but I have to at least think in my mind that they are satisfied with their lives.

But ultimately...I'd prefer happy over pretty much all else. ♥

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say a happy ending makes up for a poorly written story, but I think I see what you mean. I've not yet read something where the happy ending appeared to me to be contrived or forced. And if I did, would I feel as let down as I do now? I suspect I'd feel a little disappointed, but not like I am feeling now about this one. So, yeah. I can see where it would bail the author out a bit.

Maybe I'm changing my stance a bit. ;)

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like that. It will be alright. Or maybe happy for the foreseeable future. Or happy eventually but we have work to do to get there. But yes, definitely trending towards happiness!

[capitu]

I don't require a happy ending. I think it's more about where I am at a certain time.

There are times I need a happy ending very, very much, and other times I'm perfectly okay with an open/hopeful even unhappy ending.

Often though I find that a warning for an ambiguous/unhappy ending to be very handy -- mostly because of those time when I'm in a mind-set that will make me take a while to recover, especially if I'm really invested in a fic (say, it's a long story, etc.).

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would have been a really nice warning to see! Sometimes I check comments first if I'm uncertain. That would have been quite helpful in this instance! Live and learn, I guess.

I actually just picked The Dragons Arms from DTH that you recced and promises a happy ending so that should erase the bad taste in my mouth.

[shiftylinguini.livejournal.com]

ohhhh, I'm kind of with all of these guys! I have a few really hard 'no's' with stuff I won't read, but ambiguous endings can really float my boat when done well. Or if it just fits. Sometimes a happy ending is not right for what you've read, and sometimes what looks like an unhappy ending is actually just perfect.

Err, in sum, IDK, lol! I generally never want anybody to be actual hurt to be upset or left with things unexplored. Sooo, I guess unresolved endings are what I don't enjoy, or when the characters d something and you're like 'NO STOP THAT' and not in a good way. But I do like to be challenged by authors making me go places I might not have gone usually, and often that really pays off for me (high risk cos I might hate it, high reward when I don't haha)

I hope your next read makes it better! I'm too dumb in the mornings before coffee to be any use haha but *tired hug*

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's right! It's morning down under. Well, enjoy your coffee and your Monday morning. It's 9 pm here. I think I'm over it, tbh. Ppl are pretty pissed over the ending now. So I feel a little bit better about our shared misery!

[shiftylinguini.livejournal.com]

haha, it was about 10am, so really not that early. I just had a late-ish shift start and was flouncing around on LJ instead of being productive.

But yeah, we're very far ahead. Just think of me as always being in the future drawing cocks being my best self. :P

x

[kerrilee75.livejournal.com]

Linguini Headcanon accepted. ;)

[josephinestone.livejournal.com]

What's funny to me is that I was going to say that I will read things with sad endings but I just read your post about Stop All the Clocks and I have not read that one because MCD - so, maybe I should be more honest with: probably not. I (very rarely) write sad endings but tend to hide from reading them myself.