The End . . . or a New Beginning?

     You've made us love your characters, you've put them through hell, and they're finally coming out the other end . . . or are they? It's time to talk about the end of your story!

    First things first, you've have to decide whether you want this to be a stand alone novel, or if you'd like to leave it open for a sequel or series. Secondly, you need to determine whether you're a good person or an evil person, and by that I mean are you gonna give us a happy ending or a sad one. 

    If you've chosen happy ending for a stand alone novel, congratulations you're a good person! You've also chosen what may be the easiest, but also one of the hardest options. It's easy because all you have to do is wrap it up and put a bow on top. Make sure your characters are fulfilled, the BBEG is defeated, and maybe even give us a glimpse what they go on to do. But it's also one of the hardest options because you and your readers have to say goodbye to these characters. That's why it's so important that this ending is perfect and satisfying. 

    If you've chosen a sad ending for your stand alone novel, be prepared for everyone to hate you (but not seriously). Oftentimes to achieve a sad ending, you have to kill one of the main characters. Maybe they've defeated the villain but died in the process, it's your choice. Bottom line is: everybody is going to be emotional (even you), so you have to make sure to capture that depth of feeling. Wrap it up with in your black veil and set it free. 

    If you're choosing a happy ending, but leaving it open for a sequel or series, you have to be very methodical about it. Yes, you want this book to end in a satisfying way, but you also want there to be lingering doubt. Maybe the villain got away, so in the meantime your characters are appreciating having killed the BBEG's second in command. Maybe the lovers have finally gotten together and are happy, but there's something else lingering over their heads that could send it crashing down again. No matter how happy you make this ending, there's going to be something that's unfinished, so is it truly a happy ending?

    If you decide you want to end in a tragedy, but leave it open for a sequel, I'd argue you're the nicest of the bunch. Yes, things aren't looking great for your characters. The BBEG got away, they're trapped in a dungeon, the main character's love interest is hurt, but there's still hope for the future. There's opportunity for redemption, and it'll make your readers hungry for the next book. 

    Let's pretend for a moment that you're evil, like me. In this case, you're gonna go for the ambiguous ending. These types of endings are the worst because the readers don't know what they just read, they're searching for a meaning, they're searching for a solution, but they don't know if you're gonna give them one. You could use this ending to lead into a sequel, or you can be a meanie-head and end the story there. Either way, these types of stories will leave people questioning the deeper meaning. It'll frustrate them to the point that they want to read it again. This is the ending I opted for my published novel, Murder on Stark Street. The key to pulling this type of ending off is to have yourself wondering about it. Make it your Roman Empire. Make everyone say, including yourself, but what was the point. If you're confused by any of this, go read The Giver. That's an ambiguous ending, and it's genius.