A Choice of Endings

A dilemma has come to visit - entirely unexpectedly, and without so much as a "by your leave", as sometimes they do.

I spent some of last night tieing down the details of the end of the new tvdetective book, and found myself with this problem -

I thought I knew exactly how I wanted it to end, but now I can see a different denouement is not only possible, but perhaps more appropriate, given the subject and the roles of the various characters.

Cue some agonising, searching of the soul (or what's left of it after all these years as a reporter), lots of scribbling, lots more crossing out, and (more happily), several tins of beer to help me wrestle with the ogre.

I still haven't quite resolved it, but I'm mostly sure which way I'm going.  Forgive me for not revealing too much, as it could spoil the book for you if you come to read it, but what I can tell you is this.

It's a classic issue which has faced authors all down the years - whether to go for a happy or sad ending.

It's also caused huge debate throughout history.  Years ago, I read with fascination about Dickens battles with himself - and indeed his publishers - about how he should end his books.  Great Expectations was the argument I found chimed particularly.  I was never convinced a more optimistic ending worked.  As, indeed, was the great man himself.

In America, when churning out another film, Hollywood won't abide a sad ending because audiences hate them (and thus may not come back to the cinema for too long = less money for the producers etc.)  But they're often so much more true to life.

So, with this dilemma I shall be spending the next few days, and we'll see how it all gets resolved. 

But I'm not so unhappy about having a decent problem to work on - it's all part of the writing business, and keeps me entertained.  I'm seldom more contented than when armed with a notepad, a pen, and some thinking to do.

Finally then, another choice of tune to go with this musing, and today it's Blondie, and One Way or Another, because it's kind of in keeping with the blog, but also because it's a darned fine song.