Friday Favourites - Endings

As a writer I find endings really hard to write... that final sentence can be a killer and often the part of the book I rewrite the most. In some ways the ending can make or break a book. If you love a book, but hate the ending, it really taints the whole reading experience. The last part you encounter in the story, is often the part that can linger in your brain.

From a writing viewpoint, writing the ending is a huge responsibility.

The ending as a whole is much easier for my brain to construct. In fact I usually know the ending very early on in the piece and then work backwards. I always like my books to have a very satisfying ending. I want my reader to close their book, or switch of their e-reader, with a nod and a smile. I want them to feel as though they've had a great experience and the characters have ended up in the right place.

So what types of endings are there?

- The happy lovey-dove ending where the right people end up together and a promising future awaits them.

- The sacrificial ending that leaves you in tears, but the character's growth in the story makes it all okay.

- The cliff hanger ending that has your brain exploding with questions and you scrambling to get your hands on the next book.

- The open ending where it's left up to you to decide where the characters will end up.

- The tied in a neat bow ending where everything is as it should be - all conflicts are resolved and there is no question in your mind about what will happen with the characters.

- The epilogue ending, where you're catapulted into the future a few years and you can see how the characters have ended up.

Am I missing any? I'm sure I am :)

I think my favourites would be the happy ending where the couple I want end up together. I don't mind if there are still questions lingering, as long as I know the couple I like are going to make it. Give me a kiss, a loving statement - something that proves they're together.

If I'm reading a trilogy, I love the cliff hanger ending as long as I can get my hands on the other books quickly.

I'm also a little partial to an epilogue ending. I love to know where the reader pictures the characters in the future. It's fun.

How about you?
What endings do you like?
What books have you read recently where the ending has been exactly what you wanted it to be?