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Innocynce
Sep '23

If you suddenly had to write a end to a series, what would or could you do to end it in a (at least somewhat) satisfying way???

Would you be able to do it at all from where you are? Or would you need to complete it/do every plot point on a short notice before it could end?

In my case; I actually ran into this situation a couple of times... I hate leaving things unfinished, so I quickly would either erase or do a ending from where a novel was at that time.. As for comics, most actually have been completed except UBERNATURA and it's abridged comic; which is why one is being reposted as a novel. And if I had the time and means, I'd do a surprise ending for the au version.

So what about you? Have you had to do this? Could or would you do it now? Or just for fun; what kind of surprise ending would you suggest as a "in general" ending for a series?

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    Sep '23

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    Sep '23
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Lensing
Sep '23

Writing good ends is one of the hardest part of writing imo and also something
you should have early on in the writing process.

I just finished a 24 pages script and I didn´t know how to end it. I have
a satisfying end now, I think it´s pretty good but I only came up with it when
I was developing the last part of the story. It would have been better to know
the end early on so I can build my story better

powerplantanimations
Sep '23

A good ending to me recontexualizes the entire series and makes the reader want to read it again, giving them a new experience while making them appreciate the story way more. Think New Game +. Like how Venture Bros. (SPOILERS BTW) ends with you understand WHY Rusty clones his kids whenever they die despite him being a horrible dad.

BoomerZ
Sep '23

A story should have have an ending before you even start. You should know where you plot is going and where it will end. If you have the ending already in mind, most of the time you can work to it pretty quickly if you have to.

julias_art_universe
Sep '23

I couldn't end my comic now without it feeling very random and unnatural to the story the mc needs to go through his character arc at the very least. Also the plot twist I has planned I feel makes the story that much more compelling

Innocynce
Sep '23

I should've explained better, because I agree with you about having a goal in mind early in the process. I actually start many stories with a scene that's awe inspiring or would be enticing enough to make someone want to see how it got there (at least what I believe would be exciting) I remember watching something that showed part of the ending first, and it was AWESOME to say the least!

But I meant something like ...abruptly having to end a series. Maybe someone would have a ending in mind, but for reasons within or beyond their control: the series must end at that arc. But it's nowhere near what was planned out, it's a emergency ending more so...

I guess what I'm asking is if for any reason you had to cut a series short; what kind of emergency ending would you do?

cherrystark
Sep '23

I think a good ending should resolve the main conflict in the book somehow. For a plot-centered book, it would be like destroying the Death Star or restoring the king to the throne. Once that big "event" is completed, have the celebration and end the story. Like in Star Wars original trilogy, we don't need to know if Han and Leia get together or what Luke decides to do.

In character-driven stories, the most satisfying ending should either be Happily Ever After, Happy for Now, or "Character Has Grown and is in a Position to Move on".

Serial fiction has its own rules I'm still trying to figure out for endings. But if you're trying to write an ongoing piece of fiction, you need to time your endings to fit with your larger main series idea. An example of this would be having your main couple not get together officially until several books into the series instead of that being the first completed arc of your series.

For an "emergency ending" - you might need to rethink if you are a book series or a serial. With a book series, you have the freedom to plan everything out. You ultimately have unlimited time to write your work and put out the best possible story. If you're writing something more serialized, you run into more emergency situations. In that case, write the ending like the season finale of your favorite TV show. When a season comes to an end, the showrunners might have no idea if they'll get another season. So they write the finale to be a big in case that is their show's permanent ending. (idk if this helps any)

julias_art_universe
Sep '23
Innocynce

Well I would quickly wrap up whatever I was talking about surely there is some explanation. Also I do have a way I could end my comic 6 chapters early if needed sooo... I picked the story I did because it was shorter and easier to plan since this is my first webcomic

Innocynce
Sep '23
julias_art_universe

You have it down to a specific number? Lol, if I ever do have to drop everything; it'll be so much more chaotic/jammed into one chapter.. It's sad, but I couldn't begin to know how to plan a emergency story ending so meticulously

julias_art_universe
Sep '23

Yeah I'm a bit meticulous with my comic plans mainly bc I wanna create comic professionally in the future. Sooo I have pretty much my entire comic planned and over half of it scripted lol.

TheLemmaLlama
Sep '23

Wellll I haven't really set up any big plot yet, so I guess I'll just change the current scene to yet another joke/gag instead of something that sets up my currently planned future story, and end it there XD

In practice though, I'll just never put myself in a situation where I have to end my story abruptly :stuck_out_tongue: I intend to try animating my comic in a 'modular' way that never gets permanently cancelled and people can always pick it back if they want to, and if it's successful hopefully future series can follow suit and not succumb to the dreaded fate of forced abrupt endings ever again :coffee_love: