[stylist] Tragic endings?

[John Lee Clark]

Helene:

For my part, I love the kind of ending that, for lack of a better word, is
accurate.  I don't know how literary you wish to be, but I like the writers
who just seek to capture the ending in such an even-handed, realistic yet
fully realized way that it is neither a happy or a sad ending.

A good example of what I mean is the ending of Robert Warren Penn's All the
King's Men.  There were lots of ups and downs in the book, much drama, but
the ending equalized everything and it is absolutely perfect in its not
being either happy or sad.  This is an impressive achievement.

But as Angela suggests, just write what you gotta write.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of helene ryles
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 5:23 PM
To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] Tragic endings?

What do people think of sad/tragic endings?

rounding off a story is difficult in any case. Some books I've enjoyed
seem to spoil it a bit by creating superficially 'happy' endings that
aren't very realistic.

Should a writer always aim for a happy ending or is it better to let
the events in the book take their natural course. Even if it involves
some of the major good characters being killed or seriously wounded
and the villans getting the power they were craving for?

What about if a book with a tragic ending has a sequel where the
Villans are eventually have to face up to their evil actions?

Helene

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