As of today, I’m finally reaching the end chapters of the book I’m writing– ahem, attempting to write– and everything seems to be wrapping up pretty nicely. Only… now I have a difficult decision to make, one I think a lot of writers must struggle with as they approach their ends.
Should I write a happy ending? Or not?
I borrowed a line from the song World by Five for Fighting for the title, because it describes me and my writing pretty well right now (good song, check it out, I highly recommend). I and my characters are at a crossroads right now. I could give my characters the gift of a happy ending after all the hell I’ve put them through. I could. Or I could give them a nice, tragic ending. I’m a sucker for a good tragedy. I mean, as a writer, I can decide my characters’ fates (up to a certain degree, of course). So what do I do with all this power? Do I let them heal? Or make them suffer a little more?
Oh, the possibilities seem endless.
I’m trying to decide at this very moment. Endings leave a great impact on the mind. Whatever emotion I plant here will color a person’s (and my own) perception of my work permanently. It’ll disperse like ink in water, tinging the whole bowl a certain color. But what color? I’m not so sure. Right now I’m trying to go back and look through my work for clues, to see if the story leans more towards one ending or the other. I’m also thinking that maybe I should just write out all my alternate endings, then pick one. Who knows, I may discover that I like one the best.
Well, when you write up a world, I guess you become responsible for this kind of stuff. Kill or keep your characters, poke or push them forward. What I’m going to do now? Still not sure…