It’s Monday, already! I don’t think I was ready for Monday, were you? Over the weekend, I turned one book into my editor and started a new book, so it was a fairly productive weekend. But this morning, I’m just not feeling it…
Happy Endings… Does every book end with a Happily Ever After? Not all of them, but in the romance genre, they need to end on a happy note. Of course, if it’s a series that continues from one book to the next, then it might not be a happy ending, but the final one should be if it’s a romance. Why is that? Well, let me explain.
Did you know that most editors, well the big publishing house editors, have in their submission guidelines for romance that it has to have a happy ending, if not, they won’t even look at it? Have you ever thought about it? Romance is a special genre, well, in my opinion. When someone picks up a romance novel, they’re wanting that good feeling that a romance can give them. They want to be taken to another world, away from the one they’re in. Romance novels should move you, give you hope, maybe make you cry or laugh, but when it gets to the end, well, the guy should get the girl. That’s why it’s called romance.
Now sometimes, if you’re writing a series and the book ends on a cliffhanger, then the happy ending will come at some time, but the series should end on a happy note. It’s just a reality of writing romance.
Have you ever read a romance that ended badly? I have and it left me feeling horrible, not the usual feeling at the end of a romance. I was stunned, to say the least. I could have expected this at the end of maybe a science fiction, or other genres, but not romance. The guy didn’t get the girl and at the end, they went their separate ways. All I could do was think, ok, there has to be another book coming, but that wasn’t the case. I felt empty inside.
So, does your romance have a happy ending? Does your reader have that satisfied feeling? Think about it, don’t you spend the whole book trying to get these two together, so why would you throw that out the window at the end?
Just a little food for thought on this Monday morning…
As always, good writing and May God Bless You…
Stephanie Hurt - Romance Author 
Another very interesting post, dear Steph. My books (romance plays a big part in them, but my main genre is suspense) will always have a happy ending, I promised myself. Because the world sees so much tragedy these days, the world is in a bad place. It doesn’t need more bad places from me. And, just like, you, I felt empty inside with romances that didn’t end on a happy note. I loved Hoffmann’s “The Left Hand of God,” and the only reason that kept me from buying the last book was because it ended badly (I researched first, because the last book I read from him hinted at a sad ending of the series). When you fall for a character, you don’t want them losing the girl, or end up suffering. I could write a whole book on this, but luckily reason’s here to pull the reins on the heart LOL.
Thanks Ana! You’re so sweet and thoughtful. As you say, this world needs happy endings, especially now. Keep up the writing sweet friend!