Writing 'The End' at the end of a story.

[DanDraper]

So this happened a few times already where someone commented on a story complaining about my use of the line "The End" at the end of a story.
I had someone recently say that it was juvenile because you can see that the story ended.
And a couple of people have said that line cost me a star rating.

I've been seeing "The End" my whole life, and many times in stories written on this site.
The story had concluded and there won't be a continuation in further chapters, so I see no problem with using that line.

I guess I could just let the story end without mentioning it, or write something else in it's place.
But is writing The End at the very end really a problem for some people?


.....

 

[TheRedChamber]

Just the one star? I'd dock you at least three for such an assault on my sensibilities.

Seriously, people are weird. People on Literotica are extra weird.

But no it's not strictly necessary so boost your ratings by keeping it off???

 

[SimonDoom]

It seems nuts to me that anyone would be bothered by it. I think it's useful because it signals that the story isn't going to continue, which is something that many Lit stories do and that many Lit readers ask for. Whenever I remember to do so (which isn't always) I always insert The End at the end to indicate that I do not intend to continue the story.

 

[Rustyoznail]

It must be an issue for some. It puts a definite full stop to anything further, so I understand the logic. To be totally honest, it does seem a bit fairy tale-y to me, but I've read quite a few stories that use it. Personally, I try and use dialogue to indicate the end of the story.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Cry me a river. Seriously? I don’t use it, but can’t see anything wrong with it.

 

[KeithD]

Yes, it's amateurish. I doubt you'll see it in the mainstream anywhere. It certainly isn't worth downgrading a rating for. I put "Fini" at the end of my last chapter posting in a series (because that's often what the publishing house will use internally for multiparted works, but that's because, although I say up front how many chapters there are, I don't expect the reader to remember that to the last chapter.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't use it here, but do in my e-books. I don't see where it would be an issue either way
But if I had to guess maybe the complaint for some people is it signifies that's it, and it won't turn into a never ending saga like a lot of stories here do and that seems to be what a faction of people want.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I can't believe anyone would knock a star off if someone put The End at the end of a story. That's monumentally stupid.

I've put "To be Continued" on occasion, where I've had a definite intent to write more. But I've said that a couple of times and not written another word so now, I stay silent - but at least the first parts were concluded so far as those stories went.

 

[Voboy]

I don't put "the end," and I wouldn't. I see it as unnecessary. Like others, I think taking a star off for it is silly.

A lot of my stories end somewhat abruptly; I don't always enjoy giving closure to my readers. But the end is still obvious, and it's usually telegraphed. And in case they miss that, for contest entries, I put a little blurb at the tail-end thanking them and encouraging them to read all the other stories, so that's pretty obvious too.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I think if you're doing a multi-part story it is vital as it lets the reader know that this is the final part.

I guess if it's a completely self-contained story then that would be a bit weird but I wouldn't dock people stars for that.

Unless your "The End" featured like the end of Kafka's The Castle, where he died before finishing it and so it is ambiguous.

Then I would dock you.

The end

 

[NightPorter]

I think if you're doing a multi-part story it is vital as it lets the reader know that this is the final part.

I guess if it's a completely self-contained story then that would be a bit weird but I wouldn't dock people stars for that.

Unless your "The End" featured like the end of Kafka's The Castle, where he died before finishing it and so it is ambiguous.

Then I would dock you.

The end

I like this. Stand alone stories don't need it but you should probobly lets your readers know that a long running story is done. Should hopefully cut back on the "Where's the next part?" questions.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I've placed "The End" before adding an Author's Postscript, just to highlight that what follows isn't part of that story.

I've also used "The End ... for now", to indicate I might write more for that story line later.

I tend to use "The End" because I've read some stories here which seem to leave you hanging with "WTF, you just wrote a scene with no beginning or end, and stopped when you were bored with the writing?" I wondered if the author realized they had not yet ended their story, and maybe clicked "Publish" by mistake.

So, if someone gives me a 1-star for "The End", I'd laugh at that. If that's all it takes to get a 1-bomb, I've wasted a lot of time writing much more shitty content.

 

[Bazzle]

I'm currently writing a story where I've ended it "Potentially the end?" As I've written about 5 different endings

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I'm currently writing a story where I've ended it "Potentially the end?" As I've written about 5 different endings

Still better than the end of the FLASH GORON movie which features “The End?” with a gloved hand fingering Ming’s ring.

 

[SimonDoom]

One thing is for sure: I'm going to stop doing this. I thought I was doing readers a favor by letting them know in a multi-chapter series that this was the last chapter, or letting them know I had no intention of continuing the story. But if it creates a risk of getting a lower score, to heck with it.

 

[NakedNymph]

I think the longer the story, the nicer it is if it has a satisfying, cathartic ending bookmarked with a "The End" or "FIN". It feels less necessary on shorter stories, but I like seeing them on long journeys.

 

[lovecraft68]

One thing is for sure: I'm going to stop doing this. I thought I was doing readers a favor by letting them know in a multi-chapter series that this was the last chapter, or letting them know I had no intention of continuing the story. But if it creates a risk of getting a lower score, to heck with it.

And this is why the majority of the topics discussed here have nothing to do with writing or creativity, "OMG my score might go down"

Whatever

 

[KeithD]

One thing is for sure: I'm going to stop doing this. I thought I was doing readers a favor by letting them know in a multi-chapter series that this was the last chapter, or letting them know I had no intention of continuing the story. But if it creates a risk of getting a lower score, to heck with it.

I do put a "Fini" at the end of my last entry in a series to assure readers it's done and I recommend doing so. I don't do it for standalone stories. I don't give a thought to how the reader will react to this in voting. Someone who would vote the story down because I did or did not put "the end" at the end isn't really mature enough for me to need/want as a reader.

 

[Comshaw]

Like Simon, I use it many times at the end of a standalone story, or the end of a series to indicate I won't be revisiting or continuing it. Even with that I've had plenty of readers complaining I don't continue. I've never had anyone complain that I used it at the end of a story, or mark a story down because of it. If I had I'd mentally put them into the category of an anal obsessive moron, ignore their ass and move on.

As far as being amateurish, I AM an unabashed amateur and don't see that as a bad thing. Being an amateur does not mean one is bad at a chosen endeavor. People like Francis Ouimet proved that.

Comshaw

 

[SimonDoom]

And this is why the majority of the topics discussed here have nothing to do with writing or creativity, "OMG my score might go down"

Whatever

Please. This is ridiculous.

Putting "The End" at the end of a story is not an act of creativity and has nothing to do with writing quality or principles. It's a purely practical act. If it turns out that as a practical matter it puts my stories at risk of getting a lower score, then there's no reason to do it.

Do you have any self-awareness that you are the MOST sanctimonious contributor to this forum, despite how much you deplore others for being sanctimonious? You are BY FAR the biggest hypocrite in this forum.

 

[Comshaw]

Please. This is ridiculous.

Putting "The End" at the end of a story is not an act of creativity and has nothing to do with writing quality or principles. It's a purely practical act. If it turns out that as a practical matter it puts my stories at risk of getting a lower score, then there's no reason to do it.

Do you have any self-awareness that you are the MOST sanctimonious contributor to this forum, despite how much you deplore others for being sanctimonious? You are BY FAR the biggest hypocrite in this forum.

The problem as I see it isn't just about a certain phrase that a reader is going to mark a story down because it is included. I've had readers do that because they didn't like the name of a character or because they didn't like my description of a location. The thing is that each of those mentioned are anomalies, outliers, singular incidences that, as I see it, do not require me to change the way I do things. Now if I had half a dozen comments, or even a few, about it, I'd consider it a problem. You can't satisfy all the people all the time or even some of the time. A down vote or a reduction of one star on a vote on a story ain't gunna kill it, or me.

Comshaw

 

[KeithD]

Identifying putting "the end" at the end of standalone stories as amateurish is simply a factual note. It is only taken as a slam on a story site such as Literotica if you want to be defensive about it. It's not done in the mainstream. Just like putting a copyright notice on top of a story isn't done in the mainstream unless it has been formally registered with the Copyright Office. It doesn't add any protection and the U.S. Copyright Office actually holds that you shouldn't do it in the United States unless you're formally copyrighted it. There's no reason why writers here shouldn't get the benefit of being told how something works in the mainstream in case they want to try to publish in that realm. No one is saying a writer here shouldn't do it here if they want to.

 

[lovecraft68]

Like Simon, I use it many times at the end of a standalone story, or the end of a series to indicate I won't be revisiting or continuing it. Even with that I've had plenty of readers complaining I don't continue. I've never had anyone complain that I used it at the end of a story, or mark a story down because of it. If I had I'd mentally put them into the category of an anal obsessive moron, ignore their ass and move on.

As far as being amateurish, I AM an unabashed amateur and don't see that as a bad thing. Being an amateur does not mean one is bad at a chosen endeavor. People like Francis Ouimet proved that.

Comshaw

TX Rad always brings up the story he wrote years ago where the main characters died, and he still was asked to continue the story. I had someone today on a one shot story post a long comment going on and on about where it could go.

And I like that because it shows people cares enough to think about it. My stories, like many here, have open doors as in I could just come back and show what happens afterwards etc, but I'm a thrill of the kill writer, once that first encounter takes place its on to the next.

I close my stories with an author's note and pretty much thank people for reading and votes comments are appreciated. In the market I do post the end.

As for amateurish, you're referencing the dweeb who constantly references mainstream even though the discussions are on here and about here. But just for fun, yeah "Fini" is so much more professional and I've read a lot of novels and never recall seeing it used, but have seen The End a few times.

I've published stories here since 2010 and read here since 2009, and the OP's post is the first time I've heard someone complain about 'the end' so although I have no doubt there are a few people it annoys its a very insignificant number and it's laughable this has people saying "Oh, no, better not do that,"

 

[KeithD]

I don't put "the end" or "Fini" in anything sent to the marketplace. It's not the way it's done. I have publishers who are invested in my work there and know and are using publishing norms; it's not just me self-publishing. I suppose self-publishers do whatever they want to do in that vein. They are the only ones deciding the work is good enough to publish and vanity can lead them to do all sorts of unresearched things.

As noted, already, I can see where something terminal would be helpful in the last intended posting of a serial at Literotica--since so many of the serials are never actually completed here. It's what I do to assure the reader I haven't asked them to read and invest their time in something that hasn't been made into a complete story.

Beyond that, Lovecraft68 is just being his usual asshole self here.

 

[oggbashan]

I write 'The End' only when I have no intention of adding a sequel or prequel to the story. I have finished with it. Don't like that? Tough. You can add to the other 1 bombs I get.