Been there done all of that - one day a friend told me to back up and end my story at an earlier point - suggested not telling it all could lead to another story. He was spot on 😉👍
Oooh I like that idea. I don’t think I have enough for another book, especially since romances typically aren’t series. But maybe ending it earlier could be interesting and allow the reader to fill in the gaps
Part of writing a good ending, not necessarily a happy one, is finding what works for your story. If a happy ending does not work then for sure find a way to make it messy
That’s a good point, the ending just has to suite each individual book. I’m fairly certain that a happy ending fits best with mine I’m just not good at writing it haha
I feel like I wrote this myself! It took me sooooo long to finish writing my debut, mostly due to the fact that I could not figure out an ending that gave enough closure without dragging out too long, wasn't boring, and wasn't an unrealistic happily ever after but also wasn't completely depressing lol I changed my ending about a million times and am still not 1000% sure on it, but I decided it was time to send the story to beta readers to get some outside perspectives on it
It’s good to hear I’m not the only one that struggles with it! Yeah it’s definitely a challenge, but that’s smart to get outside feedback on it. We’re often our own worst critics so it’s hard to tell if the ending actually isn’t working or we’re just overly critical. I hope the feedback is helpful!
I know exactly what you're talking about! I had a real struggle trying to write a satisfying ending for my soon-to-be-published novel. What I did was I wrote three totally different endings and then read all three to my writer's group and we discussed the pros and cons of each one. I think I ended up choosing a satisfying ending (I hope!) And BTW--I agree there's nothing worse than a fairytale ending
That’s such a good idea!! A lot of work, but I’m sure it paid off. And that’s so exciting that it’s about to be published, good luck with your launch (:
I never seem to make it to the end of a novel, hence I write short stories because I get to the end, so this perspective is encouraging. I like endings because then I know for sure where it went. It helps to have some beta readers to give perspective though I struggle sharing an incomplete work. Keep writing. Otherwise your readers won’t get to know your characters like you do.
Thanks for the encouragement! And that’s so cool that you write short stories, those honestly feel harder to write than a whole novel, because you have to condense an entire story arc into such a short amount of words. If you can do short stories, I truly believe that you can write an entire novel if you want to. You can just kind of think of each chapter as a short story, and they’ll eventually add up to the length of a whole book (:
I feel your pain... i resolved the ending of my previous novel with ambiguity. It was an ending, but it also could have been a beginning. It took me a year, but in the end the next chapter proved too tempting.
Totally get it. I too am struggling with my duology’s ending, as tying all the plot threads in a meaningful way seems…forced. So, instead of forcing myself to write it, I’m working on other parts. Adjusting the plot and changing previous scenes, and giving myself some time to gather myself before tackling the ending.
I am also a romance writer who hates writing the perfectly happy ending. For me, I've dealt with it by instead shooting for more of a "happy enough" sort of feel -- where things aren't necessarily the perfectly tied-up bow of sunshine and roses that one might typically expect with a romance novel, but it's still toeing the line of happy. And most importantly for me, there is closure across all fronts.
This is so timely because I received a professional critique last week that they didn't like my ending. Called it unbalanced. That was intentional because I didn't want to write a happy ending. That would undermine all the themes in the book. So I agree with you, and thank you for writing this!!
To help you with backstory, work it in through dialogue. Introduce a character who doesn't know what's going on and have them ask all the questions so another character can explain things without info dumping on your reader in an exposition. I'm currently reading Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown and he does a great job at this.
And in terms of your ending, one thing I found that helped me was reading some other books and noodling over them while I worked out, walked, or did something completely off-screen. Then your ideas can percolate until you land on something and you know it's the one! Good luck!
Personally, I prefer happy endings and love to write them, though there was one story where I absolutely aimed to write a happy ending, yet as I kept writing, it suddenly dawned on me that an open ending would fit way better to the entire vibe of the story. So while I planned a happy ending, I ultimately finished the story before it could truly happen. I just stopped mid-way because I got hit by a sudden realization: "That's it. That's the end, right here."
I find it weird till this day, yet I still wouldn't change one bit.
I am also currently fighting with the ending of my story, though it's a shorter piece, about 20k. I started it with a very clear vision for the finishing scene, and now that I am there and about to write it, I am realizing that... it doesn't make sense. It doesn't fit in there. There is no logical way I could make things play out in a way that would produce that scene that was floating in my mind.
That's a bit of hitting my head against my desk type of situation...
You’re not struggling with the ending. You’re struggling with the funeral. That’s what nobody warns writers about. Finishing a book means standing over the story you’ve been in a long-term relationship with and whispering, “So… this is it.” Of course you’re dragging your feet. You’re trying to figure out if you should say a few words or just quietly walk out the back door.
And honestly, who can blame you? The messy middle is the addictive part. That’s where the story fights you, flirts with you, gaslights you, and then rewards you with one perfect sentence that makes you believe in literature again. Endings? Endings are the part where the story hands you a broom and says, “Clean up.” Nobody likes cleaning. That’s why our species invented teenagers.
When I was writing my book, I had the exact same crisis. I wanted to give a realistic but hopeful ending, the kind that doesn’t pretend all the trauma suddenly got tired and decided to take a nap. But here’s the secret: I don’t trust happy endings. They feel like someone photoshopped life. Cropped out the mess. Softened the shadows. Replaced the existential dread with a golden retriever. A realistic ending, though? That’s sacred. That’s a scar that healed crooked but still held. That’s hope with bruises. That’s the only kind worth writing.
And you’re feeling all this pressure because you think the ending needs to be profound. But the truth is, endings aren’t profound. They’re honest. They’re the one place in the book where you can’t hide behind explosions or plot twists or that one character who won’t shut up. Endings expose what survived the fire. And your discomfort means you’re getting close to the real thing.
Your fear isn’t about the prose. It’s about the shift. When you finish, you’re no longer in the world of “What if?” You’re stepping into the world of “Here it is.” You’re losing the comfort of the draft you know and entering the terrifying freedom of the next one. That’s not writer’s block. That’s transformation. And transformation always feels like someone handed you a parachute and said, “Trust me, the ground is soft.”
But here’s the grip: the fact that you hate the ending right now means you’re doing it right. Writers who don’t care don’t suffer like this. You’re wrestling the part of the story that requires truth, restraint, and vulnerability. You’re resisting because endings demand courage. And courage always shows up dressed as exhaustion.
So finish it. Even if the ending limps. Even if the conversations feel stiff. Even if you feel like you’re writing a self-help pamphlet for your own characters. Put it down. Because you can’t shape a landing until you land.
Real endings don’t feel triumphant. They feel like breath after a long dive.
That's an interesting perspective I've never thought about. I have trouble with the middle but I like them and I like endings. It's like a release after a long journey and having it makes me feel good. But hating endings and loving middles that's really interesting and different.
Yeah, I am also more like that. The middle gets murky, but oftentimes when it comes to the end, it just happens. The things get tied up and there is this point when I realize that while I technically could keep writing, I shouldn't. Because the gist is out there, the story is done, and the rest is just my unwillingness to let go.
I generally tend to write longer stories than I originally set out to, but it's still usually around 100k (or at least should be, once I cut the unnecessary lengthy bs out). What I don't see myself doing is writing one of those never-ending stories, spanning some 12 books and reading somewhat like a TV show that never knows whether they it be prolonged for the next season or not.
Been there done all of that - one day a friend told me to back up and end my story at an earlier point - suggested not telling it all could lead to another story. He was spot on 😉👍
Oooh I like that idea. I don’t think I have enough for another book, especially since romances typically aren’t series. But maybe ending it earlier could be interesting and allow the reader to fill in the gaps
Just have started editing my first draft and finding certain bits very difficult. I too am dreading re-reading and editing my ending.
Yeah I think the ending is tricky for a lot of writers! Hopefully with some more edits it’ll get there. Good luck with your own book!
Part of writing a good ending, not necessarily a happy one, is finding what works for your story. If a happy ending does not work then for sure find a way to make it messy
That’s a good point, the ending just has to suite each individual book. I’m fairly certain that a happy ending fits best with mine I’m just not good at writing it haha
I feel like I wrote this myself! It took me sooooo long to finish writing my debut, mostly due to the fact that I could not figure out an ending that gave enough closure without dragging out too long, wasn't boring, and wasn't an unrealistic happily ever after but also wasn't completely depressing lol I changed my ending about a million times and am still not 1000% sure on it, but I decided it was time to send the story to beta readers to get some outside perspectives on it
It’s good to hear I’m not the only one that struggles with it! Yeah it’s definitely a challenge, but that’s smart to get outside feedback on it. We’re often our own worst critics so it’s hard to tell if the ending actually isn’t working or we’re just overly critical. I hope the feedback is helpful!
I am quite opposite, I love writing happy endings! The characters I love so much finally get what they deserve 😅🙈after all they’ve been through
I know I don’t know why I like to torture my characters haha I should want them to be happy
It seems like you have worked hard on this. Congrats on your progress. I hope you find your answers soon.
Thank you (:
I know exactly what you're talking about! I had a real struggle trying to write a satisfying ending for my soon-to-be-published novel. What I did was I wrote three totally different endings and then read all three to my writer's group and we discussed the pros and cons of each one. I think I ended up choosing a satisfying ending (I hope!) And BTW--I agree there's nothing worse than a fairytale ending
That’s such a good idea!! A lot of work, but I’m sure it paid off. And that’s so exciting that it’s about to be published, good luck with your launch (:
I never seem to make it to the end of a novel, hence I write short stories because I get to the end, so this perspective is encouraging. I like endings because then I know for sure where it went. It helps to have some beta readers to give perspective though I struggle sharing an incomplete work. Keep writing. Otherwise your readers won’t get to know your characters like you do.
Thanks for the encouragement! And that’s so cool that you write short stories, those honestly feel harder to write than a whole novel, because you have to condense an entire story arc into such a short amount of words. If you can do short stories, I truly believe that you can write an entire novel if you want to. You can just kind of think of each chapter as a short story, and they’ll eventually add up to the length of a whole book (:
i find that eventually i'm ready to stop writing and start rewriting, so i rush the ending. it's so hard! loved this.
Yes!! I almost feel like I need to start editing from the end so that it gets more attention
I feel your pain... i resolved the ending of my previous novel with ambiguity. It was an ending, but it also could have been a beginning. It took me a year, but in the end the next chapter proved too tempting.
Hey whatever works!
Totally get it. I too am struggling with my duology’s ending, as tying all the plot threads in a meaningful way seems…forced. So, instead of forcing myself to write it, I’m working on other parts. Adjusting the plot and changing previous scenes, and giving myself some time to gather myself before tackling the ending.
You can do it.
You’ve got a much harder task than me! I can’t imagine having to tie up everything for two books, that would be a lot. Good luck with it!
I am also a romance writer who hates writing the perfectly happy ending. For me, I've dealt with it by instead shooting for more of a "happy enough" sort of feel -- where things aren't necessarily the perfectly tied-up bow of sunshine and roses that one might typically expect with a romance novel, but it's still toeing the line of happy. And most importantly for me, there is closure across all fronts.
Yeah I think closure is the thing I’m really trying to focus on. As long as every character/story line has closure, that’s good enough
This is so timely because I received a professional critique last week that they didn't like my ending. Called it unbalanced. That was intentional because I didn't want to write a happy ending. That would undermine all the themes in the book. So I agree with you, and thank you for writing this!!
To help you with backstory, work it in through dialogue. Introduce a character who doesn't know what's going on and have them ask all the questions so another character can explain things without info dumping on your reader in an exposition. I'm currently reading Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown and he does a great job at this.
And in terms of your ending, one thing I found that helped me was reading some other books and noodling over them while I worked out, walked, or did something completely off-screen. Then your ideas can percolate until you land on something and you know it's the one! Good luck!
You do know when you have landed the right spot - everything falls in place and editing becomes fun rather than toilsome
Personally, I prefer happy endings and love to write them, though there was one story where I absolutely aimed to write a happy ending, yet as I kept writing, it suddenly dawned on me that an open ending would fit way better to the entire vibe of the story. So while I planned a happy ending, I ultimately finished the story before it could truly happen. I just stopped mid-way because I got hit by a sudden realization: "That's it. That's the end, right here."
I find it weird till this day, yet I still wouldn't change one bit.
I am also currently fighting with the ending of my story, though it's a shorter piece, about 20k. I started it with a very clear vision for the finishing scene, and now that I am there and about to write it, I am realizing that... it doesn't make sense. It doesn't fit in there. There is no logical way I could make things play out in a way that would produce that scene that was floating in my mind.
That's a bit of hitting my head against my desk type of situation...
You’re not struggling with the ending. You’re struggling with the funeral. That’s what nobody warns writers about. Finishing a book means standing over the story you’ve been in a long-term relationship with and whispering, “So… this is it.” Of course you’re dragging your feet. You’re trying to figure out if you should say a few words or just quietly walk out the back door.
And honestly, who can blame you? The messy middle is the addictive part. That’s where the story fights you, flirts with you, gaslights you, and then rewards you with one perfect sentence that makes you believe in literature again. Endings? Endings are the part where the story hands you a broom and says, “Clean up.” Nobody likes cleaning. That’s why our species invented teenagers.
When I was writing my book, I had the exact same crisis. I wanted to give a realistic but hopeful ending, the kind that doesn’t pretend all the trauma suddenly got tired and decided to take a nap. But here’s the secret: I don’t trust happy endings. They feel like someone photoshopped life. Cropped out the mess. Softened the shadows. Replaced the existential dread with a golden retriever. A realistic ending, though? That’s sacred. That’s a scar that healed crooked but still held. That’s hope with bruises. That’s the only kind worth writing.
And you’re feeling all this pressure because you think the ending needs to be profound. But the truth is, endings aren’t profound. They’re honest. They’re the one place in the book where you can’t hide behind explosions or plot twists or that one character who won’t shut up. Endings expose what survived the fire. And your discomfort means you’re getting close to the real thing.
Your fear isn’t about the prose. It’s about the shift. When you finish, you’re no longer in the world of “What if?” You’re stepping into the world of “Here it is.” You’re losing the comfort of the draft you know and entering the terrifying freedom of the next one. That’s not writer’s block. That’s transformation. And transformation always feels like someone handed you a parachute and said, “Trust me, the ground is soft.”
But here’s the grip: the fact that you hate the ending right now means you’re doing it right. Writers who don’t care don’t suffer like this. You’re wrestling the part of the story that requires truth, restraint, and vulnerability. You’re resisting because endings demand courage. And courage always shows up dressed as exhaustion.
So finish it. Even if the ending limps. Even if the conversations feel stiff. Even if you feel like you’re writing a self-help pamphlet for your own characters. Put it down. Because you can’t shape a landing until you land.
Real endings don’t feel triumphant. They feel like breath after a long dive.
And you, my friend, are seconds from the surface.
That's an interesting perspective I've never thought about. I have trouble with the middle but I like them and I like endings. It's like a release after a long journey and having it makes me feel good. But hating endings and loving middles that's really interesting and different.
Yeah, I am also more like that. The middle gets murky, but oftentimes when it comes to the end, it just happens. The things get tied up and there is this point when I realize that while I technically could keep writing, I shouldn't. Because the gist is out there, the story is done, and the rest is just my unwillingness to let go.
Truly I think it's that type mentality that lets me know that while I sometimes like a long series I would never write one
I generally tend to write longer stories than I originally set out to, but it's still usually around 100k (or at least should be, once I cut the unnecessary lengthy bs out). What I don't see myself doing is writing one of those never-ending stories, spanning some 12 books and reading somewhat like a TV show that never knows whether they it be prolonged for the next season or not.
Yeah same. It's not for me.