There is always discussion about happy endings in literature. Readers have distinct opinions about what they want to happen with the characters they have become attached to...and writers have equally strong opinions about what should happen to their characters. So how should you decide if your protagonist should get happily ever after, devastation and loss or something in between?
Here are three things to consider when you are working on your ending...
1. What genre are you writing in? Readers of certain genres have expectations about story endings...the Romance genre for example tends toward having happy endings for their heroines. Not always of course, but readers tend to expect it. You should know which genre(s) you are writing in and take into consideration the trends of that genre.
2. What is authentic for your protagonist? Is your main character someone who has been down on their luck the whole book, nothing going right, forces aligning against them? If so would a happy ending fit with your book? Is it believable that someone who has had bad stuff happen for 200 pages suddenly gets it all right? Maybe...but it would be a hard sell.
3. What is authentic for your the author? Your writing style and approach play into this question as well. Can you write happiness in a believable way? What about unhappiness? You need to be true to yourself (as well as your character) in order for readers to find you authentic.
If your approach to your ending is thoughtful and in line with your genre, your character and yourself you will find that happy or not, readers will respond to it.
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