Happy Endings: Yes or No?

Hint: the answer to the question in the title is yes. I know, I'm biased. But the whole point of this post is my argument on why we should be writing happy endings in our books, or at least leaving people with a peaceful feeling.

There is nothing I hate more than reading a book that leaves me feeling depressed. Or sad. I want to finish a book and feel secure in the knowledge that things are going to be okay.

I know people may say that's unrealistic. Sometimes things aren't okay. We live in a dark world and our fiction should reflect that. I agree.

That's why having happy endings is important. Especially as Christian authors. We know that even though life might suck now, we're going to a better place. And it's our job to share that hope with others, in hopes of pointing them to Jesus.

How can we share that hope if all our stories end in depression? I'm not saying you have to make a cheesy kids movie ending where all the issues are resolved and everyone's having a dance party with the "bad" guys. All I'm asking is that you leave your readers with a sense of peace and happiness.

One of my favorite examples includes the ending of the Darkest Minds series. They've beaten the government. The kids have been freed from the camps. But people are still afraid of them and things seem to be going downhill. Yet the last scene is of the kids driving off into the sunset in their car because they can, and it leaves you feeling peaceful and satisfied.

Or the end of A Monster Calls. I read the last sentence and bawled like a baby. And yet you feel okay when the book is done, because the monster not only helped Conor through his grief, he helps you.

That's the sort of feeling I think we should strive to leave people with. No one wants to be told that life is depressing and short and that's all there is. We're all looking for someone to tell us that it's going to be okay.

So go ahead and write that dark story. Write about the things you feel called to. I just ask that you give us a bit of happiness at the end. Something that leaves us smiling and hugging the book to our chest (my favorite kind of ending). Even make people laugh, if that's what you're good at.

So, what are your thoughts on this topic? What's your favorite kind of ending? Tell me in the comments.

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