November 2nd, 2009 | by PJ Mellor |
OKAY EVER AFTER?
As romance writers, we were “taught” the determining factor of romance is the HEA(Happily Ever After). In recent years, that factor has been redefined. Now it just has to have a “satisfactory ending”. How do you determine satisfactory? I think it means giving the reader hope that things will, indeed, ultimately end with the hero and heroine together with or without benefit of matrimony. Hey, I write contemporary romance, so no marriage is okay. But, I admit, sometimes I catch myself tacking on a last minute proposal toward the end. Old habits die hard. Whenever I do this lately, I usually do something to cancel it out—the heroine punches the hero/turns him down etc. I even had a heroine slam the hero’s fingers in a window once. Hmm. I just realized I may have latent tendencies to violence.
How many of you have watched a movie and thought you could write a better script or at least a better, more satisfactory ending? I first realized this when I was about eight and saw Gone With The Wind for the first time. I wanted so badly for Rhett to walk right back in the door and sweep poor Scarlett off her feet and tell her he was wrong to leave her and then beg her forgiveness. How about you?
One Fine Day is another movie I would have rewritten. They spend one day together that is, well, “fine” and then nothing? Huh? At the very least the characters should have had hot sex!
Of course, I can’t talk movies without mentioning one of my all time faves, Romancing the Stone. It had it all, humor, sexual tension, action. . .and a satisfactory ending. And then there was the sequel, Jewel of the Nile. Sigh. After the satisfaction of the first movie, we were clambering to revisit our old friends, Jack and Joan. This movie, too, had action, at least attempted humor, and a definite HEA—with a wedding, no less! And yet. . .
More recently, the movie 27 Dresses had a HEA, with the main characters getting married, yet I felt a little let down. The writers did such a fabulous job of layering conflict onto the hapless heroine throughout the movie, maybe it set up unrealistic expectations, especially for writers.
I was recently appalled to realize I had written two endings to one of my books. I didn’t realize this until my editor pointed it out. I still admit I have no idea how it happened. I just knew it didn’t seem to be working for me—maybe I just kept writing until it did. It was easy and relatively painless to cut the first ending and the book read so much better! I can’t help but wonder if some of the screenwriters would benefit fro doing the same thing—write past their original ending to see where it leads, then decide which ending to cut.
How about you? Have you seen a movie recently with just an okay ever after ending? How about one that was great? What was it about the movie and/or the ending that worked or didn’t work for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts! As usual, I will pick a commenter to receive a free book.
PJM
The movie I’d rewrite the ending for is Sumersby! Everyone called it a chick flick, but the hero is hung in the end and asks the heroine to be there for Pete’s sake! If it were truly a Romance, they’d have found a way to save the plantation and he’d stick around to help her raise the child she was carrying. Had to have been written by a man.
by Cheri Jetton · November 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 amWhile not a romantic movie, I was completely taken aback by the ending of The Mist, based on Stephen King’s novella.
I had not read the book and so I was surprised by how violent and deeply sad the movie ended.
However, I do love a good story that ends with the unknown.
by Jenn! · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:12 amGreat post, PJ, and LOL Cheri. Yeah, men (and Oprah
) do tend to like those dismal endings.
For me, as a reader and as a writer, I have two pretty strong beliefs. First, if the book or movie is a romance, it should have some sort of happy ending in terms of the romance. If the couple split up or one of them dies, that’s going to disappoint and annoy a lot of readers. (Me included!)
Second, it’s all about being true to the characters (as is everything else in the book or movie). I write a lot of romances where the heroine and hero start out as strangers and the story takes place over 1 or 2 weeks. Rarely do these stories end in an engagement, much less a marriage, but they do have a “we’re in love, or definitely falling in love, and we’re serious about each other and ready to make a commitment” type of ending. I think that’s more believable.
Yes, it’s romance and I want that wonderful “sweep me off my feet” glow of first love, but I want the reader to know there’s more to the relationship than a first grand passion that could lead to a quickie marriage and fizzle within a month or two. I think the reader needs to see that love develop and be tested (even in the cases where it’s a “love at first sight” scenario). So, my heroes and heroines go through their struggles, the internal growth ones and the relationship ones, and by the time they reach the point they’re ready to commit, I think the reader has a sense that they’ve worked hard as individuals and as a couple to get there, and that they’ll continue to do that, and their love will grow firmer, deeper, and even more passionate.
For me, that’s the true romance!
by Susan Lyons · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 amWhat comes to mind for me are three of my favorite romantic comedies in recent years: Holiday (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz); Knocked Up and The Proposal (Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds) and an old one called Something New with Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker (seriously hot sex in this one, people!).
The endings worked for me except for The Proposal, which felt rushed and the ‘office kiss/office full disclosure scene was trite – like the restaurant scene at the end of White Palace (a guilty pleasure from way back – that I would LOVE to rewrite). In coming up with this list, I noticed a few things about me (like I didn’t know this already lol). Hot sex or implied hot sex makes me happy (I had to be satisfied with a nude Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal, but you know, that ain’t bad. All of the movies I mentioned have the wedding scene – except for Knocked Up, which didn’t need it. And of the lot, I’d say Knocked Up and Holiday had the most satisfying endings (staring at the screen as the credits role with a big silly grin on your face) – and neither ended with ‘the wedding scene’ or proposal. It was implied though.
Now for irony – kind of – I write urban fantasy/paranormal with strong romantic elements – and marriage is rarely in the mix for my gritty gals, but true love, oh yes.
I like the sound of your contemporary romances because I typically shy away from the ‘old-school’ perfect ending except when I watch a movie. Odd? don’t know. But thanks for the topic and I plan to check out your books.
by Denny S. Bryce · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 amLOL Cheri! I’d heard that about Someersby and decided not to watch it. Now I’m really glad I made that decision! I need to keep it in mind when I’m tempted to take a peak!
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 amGood to know, Jenn! note to self: don’t ever watch The Mist! I hate being sad. . .
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 amThanks, Susan! i agree, and it goes along with my hating to be sad comment, I do not want to watch or read anything where one of the main characters is killed off. Total downer.
Which, now that I think about it, is probably why I watch, read and write romantic comedies. 
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 amThanks for commenting, Denny! I have The Proposal in my to-be-watched pile. Ryan Reynolds nudity? Yet another plus!
Hot sex an/or implied hot sex always make me happy too–in books and movies too. 
Thanks for commenting! Good luck with your writing!
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 amI have to admit I don’t see a lot of movies. I saw The Proposal and despite it being predicable in every way I thought it was entertaining.
I can’t think of a movie off the top of my head that I wished the ending would have been different. I know that there have been many…just can’t think of one. So instead I am going to list one of my fav movies. Again the ending you could see a mile away, but it was the road that lead to the HEA that I loved and made the movie…You’ve Got Mail.
So sometimes I don’t think that the ending needs to be spectacular, or different or revealing as long as the story that leads up to the ending is great.
Love your books PJ and can’t wait for Between the Sheets!
by Booklover1335 · November 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pmlove romantic movies
by kh · November 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pmloved briget jones diary whoo
enchanting with dempsey
i like ending of the prince an d me she chose school
congrats ont eh books
Thanks, Boollover 1335.
I’m so glad you love my books! Yes, i saw the ending a mile away on You’ve Got Mail, too, but still loved it. Did you ever see the original, Shop Around The Corner? I enjoyed how You’ve Got Mail updated the story. Funny, when I first saw You’ve Got Mail, I was somewhat disappointed. Maybe b/c I had such high expectations. But each time I watched it on TV, the more I liked it. Now it’s also one of my favorite movies! In fact, I can’t believe I forgot to include it in my blog. 
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pmThanks again!
PJM
BTW, i forgot to mention BETWEEN THE SHEETS–my “fractured” fairy tales book–will be released in February. Can’t believe I forgot to mention that!
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pmYour post reminded me that I haven’t seen much in movies for quite some time. I will therefore use a film that I loved and worked for me. Four Weddings and a Funeral hit all of the right notes for me at the time. The ending was not what a conventional HEA might require but worked considering the experiences with commitment that both hero and heroine had outside of their own relationship. Besides, it left open the possibility of formalized commitment over time in my view. So loved that film.
by Little Lamb Lost · November 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pmI agree, KH! Romantic movies–especially romantic comedies are my all time favorite. Thanks for stopping by!
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pmPJM
Hi, Little Lamb Lost! Four Weddings and a Funeral–you know, I always meant to see that one and for some reason just never got around to it. Now I will for sure check it out!
by PJ Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pmThanks!
PJM
I definitely expected a happier ending for the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I loved the ending from Roman Holiday even though it was bittersweet.
by Jane · November 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pmHi, Jane–I agree, Roman Holiday had a bittersweet ending. I remember being sort of disappointed with the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie–maybe it was due to the ending.
by P.J. Mellor · November 2nd, 2009 at 6:44 pmThanks for stopping by!
PJM
It’s not a recent watch, but I’ve always loved the ending of 50 First Dates. It chokes me up every time.
Deidre
by Deidre · November 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pmHi, Deidre! 50 First Dates–I’d forgotten about that one. The ending choked me up too. Of course, being the eternal optimist, i kept hoping Drew Barrymore’s character would somehow miraculously recover.
I guess that would be one movie I would have written differently. 
by P.J. Mellor · November 3rd, 2009 at 6:33 amPJM
Denny S. Bryce won her choice of books from me! Congratulations, Denny! Please contact me at pj@pjmellor.com with your snail mail address and let me know if you’d prefer my recent release in the anthology Under The Covers, or one of my backlist books.
by P.J. Mellor · November 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 amThanks to all of you who commented–I hope you will stop back on the 2nd of each month.
PJM
I just caught Atonement on TV and I knew going in it would be a sad and poignant story, but the ending was so depressing and really bittersweet. I didn’t know how to feel at the end. The leads never get their happily there after, but on the other hand there’s a twist to the story telling where the woman (the heroine’s younger sister, now a famous author) recounting their story decides to change the ending. As an author is it really that simple?
by Sue A. · November 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pmSue A–I think, as authors, it really can be “that simple”.
Of course, it depends how invested everyone is in the story. Then again, that’s why I write fiction! 
by P.J. Mellor · November 4th, 2009 at 12:27 pmThanks for commenting!
PJM
I just wanted to shout out a huge thank you to Pam for my book, Under the Covers – the Christmas anthology, which I chose because it just made sense since I’m in a holiday mood already! Many thanks again, and I’m looking forward to reading it!
by Denny · November 5th, 2009 at 5:23 pm