roseleaf
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Quick Poll - How do you feel about 'bad ends'?
🕑 Added 2024-08-09 18:09:29 +0000 UTCQuick Note : This is NOT about Open Trade. Just the idea in general. Don't Panic.
What is this about, then?
So I was thinking about using the Captioned Images to explore some paths not taken, and some alternate outcomes that could have happened to our characters. Some of those paths could be happy. Some could be darker.
What's this about a "Bad End"?
I don't know how universal a term 'bad end' is. But basically I'll frame it as a story that does not end well for our characters. It can still be satisfying, as maybe that person was a jerk and you wanted to see them get cursed. Or it could be the fall of a good person, like Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul.
Bad ends are more often seen in shorter works. For example anthology shows, short stories, one-shots, novellas, captioned images.
Some examples would include Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, What If?, Any Simpsons Halloween Special, many many more.
What's the poll about then?
I'm just curious how you feel about 'bad ends'.
That all??
Pretty much. I guess is there is a 'path' not taken for any story that you want to see (good or bad), leave it below.
Comments
Roseleaf
Thanks! I had a worse ending for Gwen in Con Artist, but ultimately discovered something that worked better. Gwen had so little control of her situation that screwing her over probably wouldn't feel right.
Roseleaf
Never too late. I always read the replied. That makes a lot of sense. The bad end needs to be in-line with the story. And not just misery porn.
Alex Smyth
I'm torn. I enjoy seeing/reading transformations with physical changes and mental changes, but changes against one's will, especially mental changes, are morally and ethically wrong. I sometimes enjoy reading those, but feel bad about it. Like I enjoyed the transformation, but I feel bad for the character who was changed against their will and had their whole life taken away. Not just gender transformations, but all transformations. That's why when I do like/enjoy a bad end transformation story, I usually prefer them with an irredeemable, unlikeable, unsympathetic character or characters. This way, I can enjoy seeing/reading the physical and mental transformations without feeling bad for the character/characters. The only other issue there though, is who or what is causing the transformation. If it's a random object the character(s) shouldn't have been messing with (cursed ring, cursed necklace, magic wand, etc.), then that's fine because that's their fault. But if it's another person, like, for example, a girlfriend/wife whose a witch and she was cheated on, then while I'll understand her anger, changing someone against their will is ethically and morally wrong, no matter how justified you feel. And that's my two cents on this issue. I did miss out on voting, but to be fair, I wouldn't know which option to choose that would match up with my feelings on bad ends.
A.I.A
I personally enjoy bad ends, and when it comes to tg/tf content, tend to switch from good to bad ends regularly depending on my mood. But to answer your questions about your stories, I guess whether I prefer a story to have a good or bad end mostly depends on how realistic it could be. When it comes to fantasy, magic or reality alterations, I love seeing them backfire because the bad end can be quite harsh yet “unrealistic” - I’d have enjoyed for Con Artist to end badly for example. On the other hand, more grounded, realistic stories can make bad ends trickier imo - I wonder how enjoyable an Open Trade bad end could be, especially if it stems from Stephanie and Lexie getting stuck in legal limbo. But overall, seeing bad ends on your Patreon would clearly interest me!
terry gene
>>>None of the Above<<<< I'm writing a reply, INSTEAD of clicking on the poll. The selection doesn't capture the issue, not a dig on you, but bad endings is a MAJOR stretch for ANY fiction writer. Now to get specific. In the USA, there was something called the Comics Code. It prevented much of the age inappropriate sex, violence and general anti-social from being peddled to children. A good thing, most people would agree. However, it became the excuse for poor or non existent plots, collapsed character arcs, and cut off most themes beyond "good will always win." Your mission, if you want to accept it is to write Meaningfully! Much of what I see missing in serial fiction these days, and unfortunately dominating Patreon, is the grinding episode after episode of consequences without motivation. Specific, what motivates the antagonist. It is a sign of the baby writer when the antagonist (person, event, society, group, et.al.) only briefly makes the scene, sets up the consequences and effectively leaves to return at the end or not at all. In the case of secondary antagonists, a glimpse into their motivations at the start of their arc, with further disclosure downstream, increases the depth and encourages the reader to read more. Swinging back to the original question, bad endings, I see you questioning as a Good Thing. Bad endings free up the artist/writer, much as the Comic Code collapse matured the comics industry. A bad ending without a fully motivated reason is cause for me to quit an artist/writer. I Believe in You. Stretch, take risks with character arcs, especially antagonists. Your readers will applaud. Terry Gene
