One of the writers I respect a lot on this site recently was talking to me about "Story Endings".
We are taught from an early age of TV Sitcoms that stories have to have a satisfying conclusion. An Episode of Leave it to Beaver followed a simple format:
1. Beaver encounters a problem
2. Beaver tries to solve it but fails.
3. Beaver turns to his parents who set him straight.
4. Problem usually solves itself.
5. "Gee Dad, you are the best"
There is this happy conclusion so that from one episode to the next you aren't wondering what happens.
Then there are serial stories that follow a long arc. Game of Thrones, Walking Dead etc and as we all know if we watch those shows that they often fail to "end" in any satisfying way. Lose ends still not wrapped up, main characters blown off a bridge or buried under a falling castle without any sort of epic conclusion etc.
The problem is that in real life - there is no real "ending" to the story and even when there is - it is usually not epic or satisfying.
So any time we want to make a story that is plausible, with relatable characters that we want the reader to fall in love with - we tend to find it difficult to add an 'ending' that is going to please them.
I hate endings to stories when I've fallen in love with the characters.
A lot of people are fans of the site "Literotica" which was literally designed from the get-go for short attention wank stories. Read just enough to get horny and then jerk it before you finish the first few paragraphs and close the browser.
Many people get overwhelmed by long stories. They don't realize each chapter in a long story could be seen as a mini-short story just related to the last chapter.
Short wank stories aren't my cup of tea though. I need a story with a set up, and relatable characters that has an arc. I also don't like wish-fulfillment stories.
"There I was surrounded by pussy on all sides, with more wealth than I could spend and more on the way. I had magical powers of course, and I could reverse time in case any decision I made was flawed in some way and relive the outcome a different way. I could also mind control anyone if they disagreed."
There is no challenge, no risk/all reward. Some people call it "Mary Sue" style writing. Very boring to me.
I want my protagonist to get beat up, knocked down along the journey. I need them to struggle in order to enjoy them overcoming.
The problem is that with an arc there needs to be an end. The problem is once they overcome - is there any other challenges?
This is a dilemma for me. Writing that ending where the reader agrees it is time to stop the story.
I have to decide when the characters ride off into the sunset or if I leave room for another adventure or not.
So as I write Naked Summer Vacation and It's Not Cheating if you watch, I am aware that readers are waiting for some 'ending' and at the same time dreading it because they want more of the characters.
I'd like to encourage my readers to understand and respect that I don't know that they really have 'endings'. They just have "This is where the story stopped for now," because the characters are going to continue on.
I'd like to encourage my fellow readers not to be afraid to stop a story when they feel it reached a natural conclusion but not to get overwhelmed by the concept of "Must have an ending" unless that ending is satisfying to THEM as an author.