Okay, so, I know several of you have read "Terminal Instar," my story in Notes from Underground. There's something I'm dying to know. Does it have a happy ending?
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| Charlie Chaplin, happily ever after |
I'm seriously, very curious about that.
For everyone else -- get the anthology, read all the stories, go friend and follow all the other authors, and then come back and tell me if you think "Terminal Instar" has a happy ending or not.
In the mean time, I'd like to start an open conversation about what you all think (as writers or as readers) makes an ending happy?
But then I actually had my wife read the story, and she was willing to go as far as, "Well, I definitely know that's a happy ending for you."
I have my own thoughts, but I don't want to spoil the conversation, so please, readers and writers alike, chime in: what makes an ending happy?
.Nevets.
A story is happy for me if it's satisfying. That can be subjective, of course, but on the whole I think most readers can agree if an ending is satisfying or not. Readers seem to be torn about that on Cinders. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't want to spoil my overall answer for what makes an ending happy for me, but I will say that Cinders has become, in many ways, the gold standard for what I consider a satisfying and happy ending.
ReplyDeleteOK, that is interesting! It's a happy ending for me, too. It's filled with a lot of hope, which is the point of the story. It's always interesting to me when readers see it otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteA Japanese TV show my wife and I have watched has a character challenge another by saying, "You're one of those people who thinks Cinderella has a happy ending, don't you?" The idea being that the wedding is not the end of the story, but the start of the rest of the story. I loved that, because it expressed for me the reason why I love the ending of Cinders so much. A happy moment is transitory. A positive shift in a character's state-of-being helps ensure a happier trajectory for all the moments that follow.
ReplyDeleteBut now I'm starting to spoil my follow-up post on this topic. lol
I agree absolutely, Nevets. To me a happy ending is one that helps define who the character is becoming, or what they have become, not what has happened or who they have ended up with or what they have gained or lost or who they've defeated. That's perhaps because in life, as well, I hold the same value.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Michelle--if it's satisfying, it's good for me, even if my imagination needs to fill in the blanks. One thing I liked about the end to Terminal Instar was that you didn't state explicitly if that guy killed the 'pesty' Charlie phone guy, but I liked that the woman he fixated on seemed happy in the end, as if Charlie were out of the picture. Kind of creepy-happy ending, for me anyway...
ReplyDelete...oh, and I wanted to mention that my sister (who is a bit of a literary snob--and I don't mean that in a bad way) purchased Notes from Underground, and Terminal Instar was one of her favorites. She LOVED the ambiguous ending :)
(taking it back to PHI 1003)
ReplyDeleteThat depends on your definition of happy.
(>_-)
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I can be satisfied with a character's arc, fulfilled by a storyline and wowed by a resolution, all without a happy ending. In a happy ending, I'm not looking for the sappy/crappy, all ends tied ending, but rather a definite heading toward positive self-realization/growth/action.
I don't do happy endings well
@Bridget - Thanks for your direct input on Terminal Instar. It's always fascinating to me to hear what others think. Sometimes it lines up with what I think. Sometimes it gives me a surprising new insight. I won't say how your comments fit in just yet. ;) Oh, and thank you so much for passing on your sister's appreciation. Please thank her for me and let her know I'm glad she enjoyed the story.
ReplyDelete@B - And also what your definition of definition is, if you want to get down to it...
I sometimes think I do happy endings better than I think I actually do. If you follow.
Yes, sad and morbid! But, I hope I didn't offend you by that. Most of my writing is sad and morbid. That's why I love your work so much. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI will be back after I ponder the question and reread your story. I expect the answer to this is as varied as your readers. What might be a happy ending for me could be lame to you. But good idea for a conversation and I will be back.
ReplyDeleteNevets,
ReplyDeleteMore generally, my thoughts on what a happy ending is, I guess, involves a resolution that benefits everyone involved. I've never been a fan of happy endings based on that definition, though! I guess I like the emotional journey when I feel like everyone has to give a little and take a little.
For "Terminal Instar" I did feel like it was a happy ending. Sacrifices were made, at least in my reading, but the people who were sacrificed were willing to sacrifice themselves, like when a mother gets in the way of a bullet to protect her child. I'm being vague here because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone else, but I hope you understand what I mean.
For me, a happy ending is really just about resolution. I don't want a story to end with me going, "HUH?" Even if my favorite character doesn't make it, if I feel like the ending wrapped up well and didn't leave me with haunting questions, I'd label it as "happy".
ReplyDeleteBut that's just me...
Your story definitely has a happy ending. Everything about reading is subjective, but I think most would agree that it ends on an upbeat note. So much hope in two simple lines of dialogue. Though I was secretly hoping he would let loose with the raid!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm thinking about asking the same question on my site, referencing back to this conversation. Do you think my story has a happy ending??
p.s. Your story is one of my favorites.