Do Readers Prefer Happy or Sad Ending

[Jason Rimbaud]

Outside of reading a romance story, which generally will have a happy ending and should.

Do readers enjoy happy endings in other genre's over a more realistic ending where the narrative ends at its most logical point even if that point isn't a happy one?

I have finished a story, I wrote two endings, one happy and the other more logical in it's conclusion. I am leaning towards the logical ending as it was the original concept when I first began almost two years ago but one of my beta readers is pushing for the happy one. 

Any of you readers have any thoughts on this subject? 

Thank you!

 

[Thirdly]

The only thing I dislike more than a sad ending is a happy ending paved by the MC's worst possible romantic lead choice (The Abandoned Empress manhua, I'm looking right at you...out of two perfectly viable, strong options, you go with the third one no one wanted). So while I prefer happy endings to sad, I'd say use your own judgment or try to blend the two into one if you're that concerned. 

Edited September 3, 2024 by Thirdly

[Jason Rimbaud]

17 minutes ago, Thirdly said:

The only thing I dislike more than a sad ending is a happy ending paved by the MC's worst possible romantic lead choice (The Abandoned Empress manhua, I'm looking right at you...out of two perfectly viable, strong options, you go with the third one no one wanted). So while I prefer happy endings to sad, I'd say use your own judgment or try to blend the two into one if you're that concerned. 

Are you sure about that? It might have something to do with Tyler and Brandon's story, or one of their friends  

 

[Thirdly]

2 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Are you sure about that? It might have something to do with Tyler and Brandon's story, or one of their friends  

 

Aaaaaaaah. It's okay, I can take it. I'd much rather read the version you feel satisfied with than anything you have to "force" to conform.

[Mancunian]

19 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Outside of reading a romance story, which generally will have a happy ending and should.

Do readers enjoy happy endings in other genre's over a more realistic ending where the narrative ends at its most logical point even if that point isn't a happy one?

I have finished a story, I wrote two endings, one happy and the other more logical in it's conclusion. I am leaning towards the logical ending as it was the original concept when I first began almost two years ago but one of my beta readers is pushing for the happy one. 

Any of you readers have any thoughts on this subject? 

Thank you!

 

I think most of us would say we prefer HEAs to sad endings. On saying that, some stories are better to have a sad ending if that is the natural flow of the story. It really has to be left to the judgment of the author, if a sad ending is the beginning of a follow-up story I'd go with a sad ending. One short story I wrote ended with the funeral of the main character and was received well by those who read it. I say go with your gut, what do you feel is the natural ending of the story?

Edited September 3, 2024 by Mancunian

[Mattyboy]

So, I have more questions about why is it a sad ending? You've set this up as realistic  that "the narrative ends at its most logical point." 

But you're the storyteller;  you've crafted the whole thing,  you've imagined the characters and their situation and the events that occur.  (I know there's a few stories around here that started as a character study - or a prompt that sprouted unexpectedly -  without a narrative endpoint in mind, but mostly authors have a plan). 

So are you telling a story about people managing to figure it out and find a happy ending (or good-relations-with in some way) ?   Or about a world that's too difficult to survive in,  or people who have tragic flaws and don't do the right things and suffer for it?   

Both of those are excellent story-telling modes,  and the choice between them rests with the author.  So I think it's maybe an evasion to say we need to be realistic and have sadness. If the logical end is tragic, it is so because you wrote a tragedy.   

I certainly like stories about people figuring out  (with varying degrees of difficulty) how to flourish and be in good-relations-with the world and the people around them.  Some people like stories with lots of conflict, even as far as genres like splatterpunk.  So  I voted for happy endings above,  but I certainly don't want the story you're writing to be trimmed to fit that preference. 

Hash out with your beta reader what the point of the whole thing is,  and be true to yourself and your ideas . . .  which maybe might have evolved beyond what you  originally imagined. 

[Jason Rimbaud]

1 hour ago, Mattyboy said:

So, I have more questions about why is it a sad ending? You've set this up as realistic  that "the narrative ends at its most logical point." 

But you're the storyteller;  you've crafted the whole thing,  you've imagined the characters and their situation and the events that occur.  (I know there's a few stories around here that started as a character study - or a prompt that sprouted unexpectedly -  without a narrative endpoint in mind, but mostly authors have a plan). 

So are you telling a story about people managing to figure it out and find a happy ending (or good-relations-with in some way) ?   Or about a world that's too difficult to survive in,  or people who have tragic flaws and don't do the right things and suffer for it?   

Both of those are excellent story-telling modes,  and the choice between them rests with the author.  So I think it's maybe an evasion to say we need to be realistic and have sadness. If the logical end is tragic, it is so because you wrote a tragedy.   

I certainly like stories about people figuring out  (with varying degrees of difficulty) how to flourish and be in good-relations-with the world and the people around them.  Some people like stories with lots of conflict, even as far as genres like splatterpunk.  So  I voted for happy endings above,  but I certainly don't want the story you're writing to be trimmed to fit that preference. 

Hash out with your beta reader what the point of the whole thing is,  and be true to yourself and your ideas . . .  which maybe might have evolved beyond what you  originally imagined. 

This whole response makes so much sense laid out in that way. So thank you muchly. I think I have what I needed to find out.  

Thank you for offering your insight 

 

 

[MichaelS36]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:49 PM, Jason Rimbaud said:

Outside of reading a romance story, which generally will have a happy ending and should.

Do readers enjoy happy endings in other genre's over a more realistic ending where the narrative ends at its most logical point even if that point isn't a happy one?

I have finished a story, I wrote two endings, one happy and the other more logical in it's conclusion. I am leaning towards the logical ending as it was the original concept when I first began almost two years ago but one of my beta readers is pushing for the happy one. 

Any of you readers have any thoughts on this subject? 

Thank you!

 

I find this question rather inane.  I mean seriously, do most authors here or published poll their readers to see what kind of ending they want?  Most people want to read the story and however it ends. 

It sounds like you need a new beta reader. 

[Talo Segura]

On 9/3/2024 at 3:49 AM, Jason Rimbaud said:

Do readers enjoy happy endings in other genre's (not Romance) over a more realistic ending where the narrative ends at its most logical point even if that point isn't a happy one?

I'll answer this before reading any other comments on the question. 100% a realistic ending and never a false, contrived and unrealistic happy ever after. The idea that a story must end with good triumphing over evil and the hero riding off into the sunset with his lover is a product amongst other places of Hollywood. It's an American influence which is suitable for kids, see Disney, but is not adult. That doesn't mean you can't have a happy ending, but it should be realistic.

[ReaderPaul]

I am somewhere in-between on this.  If the happy ending is reasonable, I usually prefer the happy ending.  On the other hand sometimes life does not have a set of happy endings.  Often there is a mixture of happy, sad, and so-so endings to the subplots of life.  Sometimes the is an ending which seems sad, but has the possibility of hope for a revised version of happy at some time in the future, if the plot were eventually to be continued.

However, as another said, you are the author.  If your beta reader does not have a good way of coming up with a happy ending that you like, do it the way you originally plotted the story.  

[lawfulneutralmage]

11 hours ago, MichaelS36 said:

I find this question rather inane.  I mean seriously, do most authors here or published poll their readers to see what kind of ending they want?  Most people want to read the story and however it ends. 

It sounds like you need a new beta reader. 

Yes, I wondered about that.

@Jason RimbaudIs the story your are telling not leading to its natural conclusion? Can you elaborate on the dilemma you are facing?

[Jason Rimbaud]

5 hours ago, lawfulneutralmage said:

Yes, I wondered about that.

@Jason RimbaudIs the story your are telling not leading to its natural conclusion? Can you elaborate on the dilemma you are facing?

As usual the poll and the question I wrote wasn't worded right so everyone missed the point I was hoping to make. I don't need help finding my ending, nor am I asking people who never read the story in question to give me an ending. 

This entire poll was more of a thought experiment between me and one other person. We had/have a good natured debate about the merits of happy endings vs a natural ending and what type of endings readers on GA prefer. And as I love to argue/debate (make an ass out of myself), I really wanted to see which one of us was right, hence my question. My beta reader, who is not a member of GA, is definitely a happy ending type of guy, and when I gave him two endings, he naturally fought for the happy ending. 

I approached this story from the perspective, readers just want a good story. No matter the ending, if it's written well, they will be along for the ride. And for full disclosure, the reason I had two endings in the first place, I was trying to get around having to use a certain warning at the beginning of a certain chapter to avoid spoiling what I think is a strong ending. To me, having the trigger warning would lessen the impact of the final scene. 

But it was all very esoteric and not at all literal. And I think with @Mattyboy comment I have gotten what I needed to win the argument in my head at least. 

PS: I found it ironic that you asked what my dilemma was, when the story is posted, if it ever will be, you understand why I say that.  

Edited September 5, 2024 by Jason Rimbaud
Clarification

[Mattyboy]

I think the literary theorist  Roland Barthes once said something on the lines of  "there's no reason to assume that the author knows what his story is about"   

So listen to your beta reader !

 

[LJCC]

I prefer a story with a happy ending. But they have to earn it, slog through it, lose all limbs if possible, and there has to be a sensible struggle not because you want your character to be a paraplegic who'd won the Olympics 3x in a row for no reason, but because his/her circumstance has led him to such avenue that he has to overcome it; otherwise, the author decides to kill him off—which is a bad alternative if I were that character, knowing my maker will murder me if I don't win said struggle.

Or if not, if it's a horrible ending, then the good ending the main character should be getting has to carry through with someone in that universe getting that person's good karma. You can't just leave a story ending in senseless nonsense by giving everyone eyeball cancer for the hell of it. It has to mean something like they get eyeball cancer because the next generation of eyeball cancer patients would be getting the cure from their sacrifice (you get what I mean?).

There always has to be a cause and effect. And the cause and the effect have to always be justifiably sane.

[Bill W]

I believe I've only written one story with a sad ending, and that was my very first story, A Tragic Love.  I wrote it in response to the Matthew Shepard murder, which also had a sad ending.  Since then, I have included many sad and tragic events in my stories, but I always leave them with a happy ending.  From the comments I've received, it seems to be what the readers want.  

[Zombie]

On 9/18/2024 at 8:45 AM, LJCC said:

the author decides to kill him off—which is a bad alternative if I were that character, knowing my maker will murder me if I don't win said struggle

yeah, authors really don’t want to find themselves in a Stephen King revenge scenario…   

[Mattyboy]

On 9/20/2024 at 3:38 AM, Bill W said:

I believe I've only written one story with a sad ending, and that was my very first story, A Tragic Love.  I wrote it in response to the Matthew Shepard murder, which also had a sad ending.  Since then, I have included many sad and tragic events in my stories, but I always leave them with a happy ending.  From the comments I've received, it seems to be what the readers want.  

Lit-crit profs used to think that gay stories would be inherently stories  about people leading miserable lives, chasing the "love that dare not speak its name"  and the best that could be hoped for was successfully hiding.  And yes,  stories like Matthew Shepard's  needed (and need) to be told. 

But it's one of the really cool and positive things that the generation of writers since then have shown that there are some many more kinds of stories that can be told.   HEA sometimes gets labelled as lightweight stuff,   but it's also signposting the way to better human lives, and that's not lightweight at all.  

[dannyportwersburghuk]

Think endings that happy better. As I read alot and helps me escape from things like being bullied or feeling awkward. Can have sad bits in middle of stories as then I relate to them but just feel better if ending more happy.

[Rowdy Reader]

sad endings can leave it open to have a sequel to achieve that happy ending.  also sad endings can be relatable because life isn’t always a happy experience.  just my opinion. sometimes the villains win or the darkness of sickness and weakness. shows real life. 

[dannyportwersburghuk]

Suppose. If like sequel then not so bad and some villains like in films ot tv turn out to be cool but not read any yet that want see win. Yeah know life not happy all time and books show that cool 2 as me can relate to them to. Just if like read book where all sad at end just not so good as if bit happy ending. But mix good 2 suppose.

[Cane23]

My question is what is happy ending? Does it, necessarily mean, happy couple, staying together and HEA?! I don't think so. I've read some wonderful stories where couples don't stay together but end is perfectly happy.

For example, @Headstall wrote amazing short story Merry Christmas - Fiction - Gay Authors where the main character finally leaves boyfriend after years of cheating. He is not happy; he still has feelings for his ex, but a feeling that he, finally, stood for himself is great relief worth of reading. 

Another interesting example is Deer in Headlights - Fiction - Gay Authors recently posted by @Salerion. Betray, cheating, disappointment...but the way the main character cut the situation - determined, without hesitation, leaves a feeling that he is not week victim, but somebody who has taken his own life in his hands.

Ending has to be meaningful and logical. Dying in Auschwitz is tragedy but, if idea of author is to show the horror of the Holocaust, to shake readers and warn them something like that should never happen again, than sad ending has sense. 

Maybe answer to the question is not happy or sad ending, it is good ending I like! 🙂

 

 

Edited September 26, 2024 by Cane23

[CassieQ]

I prefer ambiguous endings myself. 

I think more important than sad or happy, which seems to be a personal preference, is that the story has a satisfying ending.  Genre plays a part too.  Romances should always end happily (or at least happily for the characters).  Happy endings for horror or thriller novels might be weird, but that also depends on the book.  As long as the ending, happy or sad, matches the tone and style of the story, I would be pleased.   

[Ron]

2 hours ago, CassieQ said:

I prefer ambiguous endings myself. 

I was thinking this very same thing as I was reading the responses. I'm all for a happy conclusion, it's nice when it's called for. And even sad endings can be appropriate to a story. But give me a well thought out finish that leaves me wondering, or lets me imagine what comes next, and that can be a marvelous thing.

 

Edited September 26, 2024 by Ron

[Zombie]

3 hours ago, CassieQ said:

personal preference, is that the story has a satisfying ending

yup, that’s it! the writer knowing when to “put down the pen” at a satisfying point, because no ‘life story’ ends until the MCs are dead +buried ☠️ 🪦 👻 🧛‍♂️ 🦇and I recall reading a ‘saga’ (nifty?) where that’s exactly what the writer did…

[Jason Rimbaud]

In reading all the comments, the question I asked was flawed. Though I do have the answer I needed and @CassieQ said it best, happy or sad it must be satisfying. 

And completely off topic, why is everyone opposed to writing things out, I had to look up HEA, and in another thread, I had to look up DNF, which means do not fart, off topic I found out HEA means Hello every Asshole. Though how that pertains to anyone's ending is beyond me.  

Good thoughtful responses from everyone, thank you.