Bad ends or good beginnings?

Discussion in 'Authors' Hangout' started by Testytesterton, Feb 5, 2021.

  1. Testytesterton

    Testytesterton Really Experienced

    I recently decided to take an unambigious bad ending and develop it into the best possible ending path. I'd experimented with this a bit in previous stories, but never to the degree of sheer depravity you sink to before climbing your way up the path of redemption.

    I haven't seen this done before here and I was wondering if I had and missed it. I think there is something hopeful and positive about making the most awful choices still be something the reader can choose to fight back from. Is this something you think there should be more of? Would you consider writing some yourself? I'd love to see someone take one of my darker bad endings and make it a path to a positive one. I'd also love to see any examples of it used in other stories.

    Here's hoping...
     
  2. Jaegarblk

    Jaegarblk Experienced

    I think this is a good idea. It might be worth highlighting this possibility at the start of the story though. Some readers won't necessarily want to get through the dark stuff if they don't know there is light.

    Interestingly I am writing an epilogue ending for a character that effectively is this, but summarises the path of redemption. No reason why it couldn't have been a full CHOYA path though. I might post it later today.

    I have also written a similar alternative ending for the same character but the motivation is revenge rather than something positive (the character is pretty villainous anyway).

    (Shoubu University in case your interested).
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2023
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  3. ACE THE GOON

    ACE THE GOON Really Experienced

    I think the best way to do this would be to link the bad ending, with a chapter the only becomes available once you reach the bad ending and then you go backwards throughout new chapters in choices
     
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