alexThe only endings that really disturb me, are the ones where the guy ends up in his lowest and the girl looses interest in him. For example: Gayle and a few of your other stories. You can be very cruel to your readers.
Yes, I’ve done that a few times. The Lilly Lane story ended like that, and so did The Good Witch. And the "Oh No!" stories all had the main character losing their chance for strength and power to an undeserving woman. But that was the point of those stories.
Contrary to some feedback from readers, I didn’t think the ending in my Jilly Milly story was a negative. Sure, Superboy didn’t get his powers back, but Jilly Milly got her comeuppance and learned a few things, and Superboy seemed happy with his superpowered neighbor. What did you think?
I loved the Superboy story. I thought the idea of the kid loosing his powers to a loved one, who was his carataker (practically his mom), was much more impressive then if it was some hateful enemy (although that works sometimes). Jill Milly getting her comeuppance really saved the story IMO. But that’s just my opinion, since I’m not really into the "super-evil-bitch-getting-everything-she-wants" kind of story. The whole ending was really great, and I remember spending hours trying to imagine a world where suddenly all girls turned into flying, muscular super girls.
And what about A Real Fantasy? Was it too depressing for the main character to lose all his strength? In that story, he got to keep the girl and live out his fantasy. Is that a happy or unhappy ending?
The only thing unhappy about that ending was from his wife’s POV. Specially since she was starting to enjoy being stronger then him. But in a way, him and the crazy chick ended living their fantasy, so it was certainly NOT bad ending.
I can assure you that no real persons have ever been harmed in my stories.
🙄
And do you find the endings in the Brandi series depressing or enjoyable? Of course Mark never gets what he wants, but he always comes back and tries again in the next story. And Brandi certainly is never unhappy … in the end. Her power just keeps growing in each installment. (although I don’t know how I’ll make her any more powerful than she is now)
I never really took the Brandi stories very seriously. I always thought them as a surreal excercise of the same theme, in each segment. Ending with the bitchy girl always getting the power that was intended for the hero in the first place. The last chapter was even more surreal, with her becomming an egomaniac evil goddess and all. 🙂
Anyway, I don’t want my stories to repeat themselves. I like to keep my readers off balance, so you’ll never know quite how my story will end. Let me know if I fall into any disagreeable patterns.(Except that I can tell you now, the Mark in the Brandi series will NEVER get what he wants!)
I think it’s nice when writers are a little unpredictable. And no, I have no hope for Mark. I know that if he suddenly finds a way to gather the power of the cosmos into himself, he will eventually screw-up and give it to Brandi. And she will enjoy it a lot! 🙂