Mythopoet
Auror
Recently I've read a couple books that really disappointed me with their story resolution. Not plot resolution, or climax resolution. I mean the way the story as a whole is brought to an end.
You see, these books had zero denouement and little falling action. Both ended mere moments after the conflict was won by the heroes with someone making a flippant remark. And then BAM the book is over. Technically, the story has answered the major questions and resolved the plot. But I still find myself extremely dissatisfied. I feel like I've just had the door to the story slammed in my face after being given the bare minimum of an ending. What happens next? How is all the fallout from the conflict resolved? What happens to the supporting characters? How does the climax and it's results impact the world and characters at large? Endings like this very rarely answer any of these questions. I don't feel like I've been told a complete story.
So I was wondering how others felt about this topic. Do you prefer quick, snappy endings or longer, more thorough endings? Do you like to have as many story questions as possible answered or are you content to have only the major questions answered? And does your preference as a reader influence the way you tell your own stories?
You see, these books had zero denouement and little falling action. Both ended mere moments after the conflict was won by the heroes with someone making a flippant remark. And then BAM the book is over. Technically, the story has answered the major questions and resolved the plot. But I still find myself extremely dissatisfied. I feel like I've just had the door to the story slammed in my face after being given the bare minimum of an ending. What happens next? How is all the fallout from the conflict resolved? What happens to the supporting characters? How does the climax and it's results impact the world and characters at large? Endings like this very rarely answer any of these questions. I don't feel like I've been told a complete story.
So I was wondering how others felt about this topic. Do you prefer quick, snappy endings or longer, more thorough endings? Do you like to have as many story questions as possible answered or are you content to have only the major questions answered? And does your preference as a reader influence the way you tell your own stories?