Last Week’s WW: Finishing

And they all lived happily ever after.  Or, maybe not.  These days it seems like most books have a hero’s journey.  Or, at the very lease, a happy ending.  People like stories that make them feel good.  But that doesn’t mean that it’s the only way.

I’m currently working on a series of short stories, and I’ll be honest, I’m a little worried about them.  Why?  Because they don’t all have happy endings.  Sometimes, the protagonist fails.

Their used to be a time when tragedies were common place.  And there are a great many people who like a drama.  But most people want to have something to root for.

And that’s fine.  Give them that.  While your story doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, there should probably be some small victories along the way.  Whether that’s the protagonist getting something they’ve always wanted, or learning some truth, or just dying happy.  If you give readers a little something, maybe they won’t hate you quiet as much for making them sad, and making your protagonist fail.