No ending or bad ending?

[CountVanBadger]

When an author gets tired of writing their story and wants to move on to something else, which is worse: when they just drop the story entirely, or when they give it a rushed and completely unsatisfying ending?

For me, it's a bad ending. If they just drop the story, I can at least imagine how the rest of the story could have played out. If they rush the ending, that's it. I can't pretend the story might have ended well because I already know it didn't. The minor villain introduced in act 1 suddenly decided he was the big bad, got killed in that same chapter, and then the heroes discover a solution to every problem ever twopageslatertheend.

(And before anyone says anything, this isn't related to me or XNPC. I just felt like asking)

 

[Bimbanana]

Personally i think its better if the author just made the end for the current arc and make it like the next arc will come someday.
Bad ending is worse, because of the bad aftertaste no matter how enjoyable the start and the journey was.

(see? I can gave serious answer sometimes)

 

[seenbystarlight]

I've heard the following idea before: The worst thing a story can do is be boring.
I think a story that makes you feel like you wasted your time is worse. The beginning and ending of a story are the most important parts. Fumbling the beginning means nobody reads it, but funbling the end makes everyone who did upset.

 

[Lysander_Works]

I think a Hiatus is technically better. Missing ending means there is the potential for readers to imagine how it might end.

 

[AmiRose]

Defs bad ending ish worse.
But no ending ish still super-bad.
If you're gonna stop a story, ya gots ta give it a proper ending.
I sucks at actually writin good stuffs though so don go askin me how ta actually does it though.

 

[Dawnathon]

Just look at almost every "it was all a dream" type of twist endings that ever existed. It's not just a bad ending, it retroactively ruins the rest of the story by making it all pointless. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between. (Usually then the story was simply not pointless since the events were real, just filtered through the protag's traumatic memories. It's far less disrespectful for the reader's time and interest then.)

Some bad endings are just lousy without undermining everything leading up to it, but even then they are a bookend with a sour aftertaste as opposed to leaving any hope of a better outcome.

 

[TheDraconeaWriter]

As someone who read a good amount of fan fiction back in the day, I hate bad endings. It always feels rushed.

I think the best way to describe it would be: 'On this day, a child was born. But after one thing led to another, the aliens destroyed the planet.' I mean, it's an ending, but why end it when you don't care anymore?

 

[Sylver]

Well, I initially voted no ending since I think of canceled projects like shows and sequels where the story didn't get the opportunity to conclude

But then again, Game of Thrones became infamous for its final season and not for positive reasons. And it's possible that The Boys might be leasing up to a bum series finale as well this week.

So I have reconsidered my vote. I think a bad ending does more harm than a cancelation. Just look at shows like Firefly for example, people love that show even though it didn't get renewed.

 

[AdiofBali]

"But then again, Game of Thrones became infamous for its final season and not for positive reasons. And it's possible that The Boys might be leasing up to a bum series finale as well this week."

So, how's the ending treating you? X is in chaos right now, I wanna know what you think.

 

[FRWriter]

I'd always go for an open ending. I think it's best to just stop, maybe write 1 chapter to summarize the journey, and end things on a high note.

Then, if you are 100% sure you'll abandon it, you can try to write the rest of the story as a summary. That way, people have at least closure and have a rough idea about the open plot points.

 

[AdiofBali]

I'd always go for an open ending. I think it's best to just stop, maybe write 1 chapter to summarize the journey, and end things on a high note.

Then, if you are 100% sure you'll abandon it, you can try to write the rest of the story as a summary. That way, people have at least closure and have a rough idea about the open plot points.

This is the best option instead of half-assing it or just ditching it, tbh.

 

[AggravatingLab]

That's a tough one. Depending on how bad it is, an ending will make people angry and at the same time, for better or worse, always remember it. Whereas not doing an ending at all will maybe disappoint the readers, but the fallout will be smaller and it will be easier to forget. Thing is, I think not doing an ending will push new people away from it more than a bad ending. Especially in novels, the first thing I do is check the novel status and only afterwards will I maybe check some reviews, if I check them at all. This may also affect future works. If an author becomes known of not finishing his novels, people will downright avoid his works, whereas an author who does bad endings, may get future audiences (as long as they are reasonably bad and not everyone is dead/miserable for no reason whatsoever type ending)