endings

So, I started writing this original story a while ago after a weekend spent watching WAY TOO MANY gay short films XD (Davy & Stu awww, precious!). It was going really well, until my flash drive died and I lost everything I'd written because I didn't have a back-up of the file, and I didn't have a hard copy on paper like I usually do (I tend to write by hand first, then type everything up). I fretted over losing my work for a while, but then decided I'd better start writing down what I could remember of it. I pretty much remembered the main important things, but a few of the jokes I wrote are really fuzzy in my memory and I only vaguely remember them :(

Anyway, the point of this was to get some advice. Right now I'm at a bit of a standstill. I can't decide how to end it. I could go with a kind of sappy/happy ending and wrap things up all neat and tidy (I pretty much have this ending written and it would mean I practically have the story done). OR I could make the ending more complex with things still up in the air and issues left unresolved (in my mind this outcome feels like it would be a bit more realistic—though the sappy/happy ending could happen in real life it's probably not nearly as common...but the tiny part of me that's a hopeless romantic kind of wants the happy ending). Without knowing the circumstances of the characters or the plot I guess it's a bit hard to weigh in on my particular story, huh? XD

I guess what I'm asking is, which do you prefer? What type of ending makes you feel more satisfied as a reader?

- A sentimental/sappy ending where the characters are left happy, or at least left with the hope of being happy in the very near future.
- An ending where none of the issues between the characters are fully resolved and questions/emotions are left lingering in the air for the characters as well as the readers.
...Maybe something else entirely?

Personally I'm torn because I can enjoy both types of endings, but there are times that I get an unresolved type of ending when I would have preferred a happy one, or I read a happy ending when an unresolved one seemed more fitting in my mind...Ideally I'd like to do both XD but I don't think it's really possible lol.

I like the second option where everything is left lingering. Leaves it open to interpretation, but then another issue is that it suggests a sequel.

lol, oh gosh! I didn't even think of that!! :annoy: Sequels! The bane of my existence! Well, one of them. I almost always end up wanting to do a sequel to oneshots I've written. I'll often even have an idea for it, but it either never gets started or never gets finished...Sequels are too much like another bane of my existence: chapter fics. Something I am incapable of ever finishing :lobotomy:

I suppose the only way you can have an ending where things are left lingering and open to interpretation that is also somewhat happy is to have what I like to call a "hopeful" ending. In that kind of ending, things aren't necessarily spelled out as "and they all lived happily ever after", but you're left with the subtle impression that sometime in the near future things will probably work out for the best and the characters will be able to resolve their issues and find some kind happiness...well, if you choose to interpret it that way. You could choose to think that they will go on with awkwardness and unresolved issues forever. I've only managed to pull off a "hopeful" kind of ending once (in a Big Bang fic, "And What Did I Miss?"). I guess I could try for that kind of ending again...But I already have this scene written for the "happy" ending that I really like and wanted to use XDD But I couldn't use it with a "hopeful" or "unresolved" type of ending...unless I used the "happy ending" scene but not as an ending...Hmmmmm.........

yeesh. Don't put so much thought into it. Just write whatever the story is asking for. And since you don't like chapter fics or sequels, then don't make it an ending that begs for a continuation. XD;

lol, That's easier said that done, for me. I'm the kind of person that will nit-pick and second guess like, every. single. word. and come up with like 5 different possible scenarios or lines of dialog, until I think it's perfect... Or (what happens more often) I will just get fed up with trying to make it perfect and think "screw it, that part is always gonna sound like crap! move on!" and then I either give up writing the story altogether cuz I just can't deal with the frustration I'm putting myself through, or I will finish it, post it, and then cringe whenever I think about whatever part I couldn't get to be ~*~perfect~*~ ...

I'm my own worst critic :sigh:

That's what it should be like for everyone (about the own worst critic part), but some people just learn to get over it and begin to develop the sense that just brings them to conclusions that the work is asking for. That, or they just rush the ending or the scene and it ends up like crap, but that's only because they want to get to another story (this is my opinion on the ending of the Twilight saga). *shrug*

I'm sure you'll figure it out, the worst that could happen is you don't like it, but then again, someone else might!