Chose between writing a sad ending or a happy one and picked the wrong one

Last night I finished a short story about a guy who finds a lost dog. I had two paths in my head: one where the dog's owner shows up and it's all sweet, or one where the dog is actually sick and the guy has to put it down. I went with the sad one because I thought it would feel more 'real' or whatever. Now I feel like a total downer and I can't sleep because I keep thinking I should rewrite it with the happy ending. Has anyone else picked a dark ending for a piece and regretted it?

3 comments

3 Comments

cameronn6221d agoMost Upvoted

Stick with the sad ending. Dark choices stick with readers longer.

jamiew5312d ago

Saw a study once that said readers remember tragedies 40% more.

the_jordan21d ago

Last year I wrote a story about a couple who find an old love letter in a library book. I chose the ending where they find out the letter writer died in a car crash before he could mail it. I thought it would be poetic and haunting. I spent three days after that feeling sick about it. My wife read it and just stared at me like I had kicked a puppy. I rewrote it a week later with a happy ending where the couple tracks down the writer's family and returns it. Honestly the happy version is way better. Your sad ending might be good but sometimes you just need to let yourself be soft.