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

[Comshaw]

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.

A factual note? Really? So it's a hard and fast rule like those of grammar is it? Or a judgement call? And "Fini" isn't amateurish, because why? It's not done in the main stream? You're sure of that, are you? In the light of that opinion, I assume you also see an epilogue, since it is a more meaty type of "the end" or "to be continued" as amateurish?

If it's only taken as a slam on a story site like Lit and you are aware that it is, then why even mention it? As far as your copy write comment, I wouldn't know, but it doesn't really fit into the conversation or as an example of the main object of discussion so I don't see why it was included.

As far as "it isn't done in the main stream" I think you are wrong. I've been reading since I was in grade school and over the years have seen many books by "mainstream" authors with a "the end" or something similar at the conclusion of the book. It may be considered amateurish by a faction, but it HAS BEEN done in the mainstream, by some rather well known authors.

As far as my statement of being an unabashed amateur being defensive, my intent was to make a factual presentation of who I am and how I feel about it. If that was not your perception of it, if you saw it as defensive, so be it. Ain't much I can do about how you interpret what was written.

Comshaw

 

[Paul_Chance]

I'd agree with Keith - it's amateurish. I'd also add it's an archiac usage. Go back to the days of serials in periodicals and it was used to signify there were no additional chapters coming, but it's use fell off.

Here though, since chaptered stories are essentially electronic serials, I could see using it (or a similar notation)
to signify the end of the tale, with no further chapters coming. I'd consider it - then edit it out.

 

[DarkRaven13]

I saw this thread earlier, though I have been hesitant on posting a response here, as there are apparently strong feelings on the use of the term "The End." But more of concern to me is my being a little uncomfortable with the rising temperature that seems to have ensued.

But I can be talky at times ... so here goes. (I've been busy at work all morning, but I need a break from madness ... so I'm jumping into the Lit cauldron )

For myself, I tend to not use the terminology, "the end," though for me it has nothing to do with the ending of a story or series. In the few stories I have done, and the ones I am working on ... my stories seem to wind down with no finality, as it were. It's a stylistic thing I think. The conclusions of my stories, like real life, often has no distinct beginning or ending. I guess in my head, life goes on, even after the last word on the page has been read.

From a reader's perspective, I neither care, nor fault the use of the specific term at the completion of a story. That a Lit reader may score it lower when they see that seems to be out of the writer's control. If not that, then another Lit reader will find something else to up-score or down-score I suppose.

Still, many of you have mentioned that the term, "The End," can be a good indicator to readers, that there will be no more chapters in a series writing. And that makes sense to me.

For single short stories, it may not be needed, but that doesn't make its use incorrect, or amateurish in my mind. In fact, I took a look at the OP's Lit page, and he has both single short stories and series writings. I opened about half a dozen various stories, and all had used that term. Even so, it wasn't as if it distracted from anything. It was simple and unobtrusive.

So I say - do what you feel comfortable in doing. Perhaps some readers may not like it, but I suspect most don't give it much thought. The world of writing (and reading) is unimaginably large ... and I think there's room enough for every style and skill level ... even those who use "the end," ... or those who post rambling messages as they try to escape work for 10 minutes...

 

[Comshaw]

I'd agree with Keith - it's amateurish. I'd also add it's an archiac usage. Go back to the days of serials in periodicals and it was used to signify there were no additional chapters coming, but it's use fell off.

Here though, since chaptered stories are essentially electronic serials, I could see using it (or a similar notation)
to signify the end of the tale, with no further chapters coming. I'd consider it - then edit it out.

The thing is tagging it as amateurish is an opinion, not a rule, not a fact. As an opinion you have every right to feel that way. For my part I think it's more stylistic than anything else. I don't use it every time, but there are times, because of the nature of the story, it fits. If it fits, I use it.

Comshaw

 

[Bramblethorn]

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???

Catch-22: some readers absolutely cannot recognise that the story is done without something like "The End", no matter how neatly it's all wrapped up.

If it's that specific combination of words that's causing problems, I guess one alternative is to replace it with some kind of author's note: "Hi, thanks for reading, I had a lot of fun writing this series" kind of thing.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I saw this thread earlier, though I have been hesitant on posting a response here, as there are apparently strong feelings on the use of the term "The End." But more of concern to me is my being a little uncomfortable with the rising temperature that seems to have ensued.

But I can be talky at times ... so here goes. (I've been busy at work all morning, but I need a break from madness ... so I'm jumping into the Lit cauldron )

For myself, I tend to not use the terminology, "the end," though for me it has nothing to do with the ending of a story or series. In the few stories I have done, and the ones I am working on ... my stories seem to wind down with no finality, as it were. It's a stylistic thing I think. The conclusions of my stories, like real life, often has no distinct beginning or ending. I guess in my head, life goes on, even after the last word on the page has been read.

From a reader's perspective, I neither care, nor fault the use of the specific term at the completion of a story. That a Lit reader may score it lower when they see that seems to be out of the writer's control. If not that, then another Lit reader will find something else to up-score or down-score I suppose.

Still, many of you have mentioned that the term, "The End," can be a good indicator to readers, that there will be no more chapters in a series writing. And that makes sense to me.

For single short stories, it may not be needed, but that doesn't make its use incorrect, or amateurish in my mind. In fact, I took a look at the OP's Lit page, and he has both single short stories and series writings. I opened about half a dozen various stories, and all had used that term. Even so, it wasn't as if it distracted from anything. It was simple and unobtrusive.

So I say - do what you feel comfortable in doing. Perhaps some readers may not like it, but I suspect most don't give it much thought. The world of writing (and reading) is unimaginably large ... and I think there's room enough for every style and skill level ... even those who use "the end," ... or those who post rambling messages as they try to escape work for 10 minutes...

We all write and have our own quirks of language and thought.

Myself, I like writing “the end”. It denotes a finished work and has also been used in art to denote works in a finished or semi-finished state.

In terms of seeming amateurish, I don’t go for that as being amateur and being professional I see as more of an attitude to work rather than the work itself

As long as the work pleases most of our readership, then that should be all that matters.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I guess my own personal take on the use of "The End" is that it lacks creativity.

I believe that if readers don't realize that one of my stories has ended, I have either done a poor job in writing the thing, or they lack comprehension of what has been written.

I have never had any comments or feedback from readers related to questioning when one of my stories ended. I have ended several stand alone stories with epilogues that provided a cliff-hanger leading to a subsequent stand alone story and readers embraced that approach. Under the new series management system, you can also mark a series as completed.

 

[IlsaDark]

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

This sums it up perfectly, imagine having to create a 'forum' account, so that the opinions I post, don't negatively impact any stories I've written.

Yes, people here are weird, and it seems the trolls, or whatever you'd like to call them are happy to invest the effort to comment and rate when so many that might be enjoying a story so rarely do.

Curious.

 

[IlsaDark]

Myself, I like writing “the end”. It denotes a finished work and has also been used in art to denote works in a finished or semi-finished state.

I've done it as well. For me, it communicates that whatever I've written, whether it's been a series that's had many separate chapters/parts/etc or a single story, sometimes:

The End

Says exactly what I want to communicate. Sure, it denotes something is finished, but I've used it to say more than that.

 

[Paul_Chance]

The thing is tagging it as amateurish is an opinion, not a rule, not a fact. As an opinion you have every right to feel that way. For my part I think it's more stylistic than anything else. I don't use it every time, but there are times, because of the nature of the story, it fits. If it fits, I use it.

Comshaw

Yep, it's definitely an opinion. I just formed this particular opinion on reviewing the various literary and short-story periodicals I subscribe to - I don't see it anywhere.

Here, on Lit, I think it's entirely up to the author (no guidance is provided). Normally, I think an editor would cut it out as being unnecessary. Ending a short story is an art form, like all writing, and we're free to make the artistic and stylistic choices we want. I can see using it to end a serial or as a stylistic choice if you were deliberately attempting to mimic the style of a bygone error.

 

[IlsaDark]

I saw this thread earlier, though I have been hesitant on posting a response here, as there are apparently strong feelings on the use of the term "The End."

It's a bit comical, isn't it?

 

[stickygirl]

I'd prefer "Fin" in shaky BW like an old French movie. They don't even bother with a definite article but simply stub out the Gauloise, drain the Pernod and leave you wondering what the fuck you just watched. The French have a talent for giving a shrug "Fin"

 

[Voboy]

I'd prefer "Fin" in shaky BW like an old French movie. They don't even bother with a definite article but simply stub out the Gauloise, drain the Pernod and leave you wondering what the fuck you just watched. The French have a talent for giving a shrug "Fin"

“Fin” is the old-skool version of /thread.

 

[Handley_Page]

I'd prefer "Fin" in shaky BW like an old French movie. They don't even bother with a definite article but simply stub out the Gauloise, drain the Pernod and leave you wondering what the fuck you just watched. The French have a talent for giving a shrug "Fin"

According to my Google, FIN is French for END.

And I prefer to see a real termination.

 

[CuttingEdge]

To me, to write "the end" cheats the reader.

Our goal as a writer is to take a reader out of the real-world and make them feel as they are immersed in our story. To write that just makes them come full stop and stop imagining. Yes, the story has come to a logical conclusion if written well enough, but possibilities hopefully exist for the character of the story, and my hope is to get readers to consider that long after the story is done being read.

Why would I want to stop potential further ponderings by writing that, and incidentally is why it is considered amateurish.

I'll add one more: its arrogant of the writer.

Our part may be done, but who are we to tell the reader they must be done thinking about the book?

What do I mean by all this? Well consider my latest ending of a novel. It ends at a wharf with the abused son getting his comeuppance from his father as he starts a life with newly adopted parents. As they walk off, the story has naturally ended, but readers may continue to think about what life will be like for them now as newlywed parents of adopted children. If I was to write "the end", I have arrogantly stopped the characters from fading into the foreseeable future in the reader's mind.

I do recognize that writing "the end" is very satisfying for writers. I get that. So my suggestion is, just type "the end", and when you edit it, delete it and you get the best of both worlds. As writers of published literary works, we must put readers first.

 

[lovecraft68]

I do recognize that writing "the end" is very satisfying for writers. I get that. So my suggestion is, just type "the end", and when you edit it, delete it and you get the best of both worlds. As writers of published literary works, we must put readers first.

Or just leave it there because no one really cares.

FFS, why is something this simple-and in some ways traditional-such an issue? Opinions on it, are fine, but I see the "no" faction as the one acting pretentious and snotty about it.

As for put readers first? Again, 12 years here and its the first time I ever saw someone say a reader complained. People should change because minute number of readers either have a pole up their ass or is more likely the case they're so immature they get upset when they're told a story is ending? And one more time for the slow people here, this is the exception in complaints, not the rule.

How about we follow this "You feel free to feel free, but don't feel free with me"

12 years here, and I am still blown away by the sheer pretentiousness of people writing smut on a free site.

 

[Bramblethorn]

To me, to write "the end" cheats the reader.

Our goal as a writer is to take a reader out of the real-world and make them feel as they are immersed in our story. To write that just makes them come full stop and stop imagining.

As a reader, this has never been my experience.

What do I mean by all this? Well consider my latest ending of a novel. It ends at a wharf with the abused son getting his comeuppance from his father as he starts a life with newly adopted parents. As they walk off, the story has naturally ended, but readers may continue to think about what life will be like for them now as newlywed parents of adopted children. If I was to write "the end", I have arrogantly stopped the characters from fading into the foreseeable future in the reader's mind.

This is a rather ... imaginative ... interpretation of "the end", and not one I have previously encountered in several decades of voracious reading.

If readers choose to imagine some interpretation beyond the commonly understood "this is the end of what I'm writing in this story", and to get offended by that imagining, that seems to me like their own lookout.

 

[Duleigh]

People find the dumbest things to whine about. Once upon a time almost every movie ended with The End or Fin to let people know to vacate their seats in the theaters. That ended when anyone involved with the movie had to be listed in the credits or was it when we started seeing "James Bond Will Return In...

I don't use "The End" because I don't end my stories very often, if I like my characters and settings I always come back for more.

 

[SimonDoom]

It astonishes me that people actually have strong opinions about this. The presence of "The End" at the end of a story has never had an impact on my appreciation of the story, and I can't imagine it doing so.

I'll note that The Lord Of The Rings ends with "The End," and I wouldn't call it amateurish. I think it's probably more accurate to say that it's a convention that is mostly out of fashion in modern fiction. But to the extent it serves a purpose--and in some cases, it does--I don't understand objecting to it.

I don't know why one would write "Fin" at the end of an English-language story rather than "The End." If you think "The End" seems amateurish, then you should think the same of "Fin," and it has the added defect of being slightly pretentious. Why end an English-language story with a French word?

 

[KeithD]

It astonishes me that people actually have strong opinions about this. The presence of "The End" at the end of a story has never had an impact on my appreciation of the story, and I can't imagine it doing so.

I'll note that The Lord Of The Rings ends with "The End," and I wouldn't call it amateurish. I think it's probably more accurate to say that it's a convention that is mostly out of fashion in modern fiction. But to the extent it serves a purpose--and in some cases, it does--I don't understand objecting to it.

I don't know why one would write "Fin" at the end of an English-language story rather than "The End." If you think "The End" seems amateurish, then you should think the same of "Fin," and it has the added defect of being slightly pretentious. Why end an English-language story with a French word?

But you're not participating in the silliness you identify, right?

 

[lovecraft68]

But you're not participating in the silliness you identify, right?

He's not the one insulting people, I believe that was you, as usual.

 

[KeithD]

Oh, look, my personal stalker of a decade and a half can't, like Trump, not take the chance to attack from the wings.

No, sick puppy Lovecraft68, the personal attackers on this thread were you and one of your fan club members.

But, just to excite you, I'll note that your half-sister still isn't into you and your feet stink.

 

[AlexBailey]

And they all lived happily ever after.


(Aw shit, I used an adverb!)

 

[lovecraft68]

 

[TheRedChamber]

How do people feel about:

'The End?'