Tear Jerking endings

I've always wanted to be able to write such a emotionally powerful ending that makes people cry but I've never had the capability to do it. I've always read all those romance novels by Nicolas Sparks and stuff along those lines and I just don't know how they do it.

My story ending (spoiler alert) ends with a death of one out of 4 main charaters. MMMC and this charater (Talia) are connected because they've always been partners together in this agency, but when the MMMC falls in love for another girl, Talia tries to win Alex (MMMC)'s "love", but in the end she ends up getting killed (can't say how), I wouldn't consider my book a romance novel, but it does incorprate a love triangle (which you probably can see by now), and this scene in particular is supposed to add to that triangle.

Are there any tips for any more experienced "tear jerker" writers have for me?

Thanks

Personally I find it just be adding the element of "loss" in there usually does it for me. In the very few pieces I've done, the reason it hurts me so much if because it hurts one of my characters, and if they're sad, it's much easier to empathize and have a tear jerking ending.

For example, I once won a short story contest in which my MMC went to war and was killed. The FMC learned this but just that alone wasn't enough to cause people to feel... it was how she responded, and sometimes something bittersweet can be more powerful than just straight out bitterness could. Instead of crying and committing suicide or whatever, she took the approach to continue writing him letters despite the death, and an editor told me the letetr were what made it sad.

Not saying to do that, just referencing ideas if you know what I mean.

Whatever the death, it's only powerful if there was some sort of meaning behind the death... in the end, that's really what matters the most, I think.

Difficult, this is the usual "How to trigger an emotional response from people" question.

The easiest way is to give them something they can relate to, showing them how a event impacts those around usually works better than focusing on the center. It's not the death of a person that is tragic (well it is, for those dying and those directly involved with them, but not for us as mere bystanders), it's the loss that death creates and the pain of those left behind.

I agree with Gerd D.

I also think it's not about the ending at all, it's about making the reader care enough about the character and situation through the body of the work that when the moment comes, they are invested enough to be emotional about it.

I was wondering the same thing: I love tear-jerking endings, but i don't think I could kill my MMC to accomplish it. Any other suggestions anyone?

You don't need to go for a true character death, there are other things to lose in life than, uhm, life.
(Stupid sentence end is stupid, but my eloquence completely left me there).

Death is just easiest because it's a kind of loss most people can relate to over a broad spectrum of ages, other kinds of tragic endings often need a certain age to be able to relate to and/or shared experiences; breaking apart, losing the ability to communicate with people you love, illness, lovers separated by circumstances beyond their control, loss of innoncence... the world is full of tragedies, the difficulty as a writer is to make readers care for them or even to get them to understand the impact these things can have on a individual.

Wow...you guys are awsome! I definetly agree with what you guys said and i was thinking of ways I could make the reader more attached to Talia's charater. My dream is that it has the capability to reach standards kind of like what Stephanie Meyer does with her readers, how she splits them agianst each other on who should fall in love with whom. (Team Edward, Team Jacob) I have some really good friends who I ask these questions to and their answer is all across the board, but a part of me wants them to greavite towards Talia because of her personality that collides with Kara's whos more of the girl who likes to sit pretty (if you know what I mean).

If any of you agree with this idea, please don't be shy on commenting. Who would you gravitate to if reading a book like mine? Kara, whos shy and contempt but at the same time valuable and understanding of others; or Talia, who is more outgoing and definetly isn't afriad to speak her mind towards anyone?

Thanks agian to all of those who commented and thanks in advance for those who will like to take my offer, and comment, comment, comment!

You guys ROCK!!

mle160

Well, mine makes me a bit sad but hey, it's my story and I connect with the characters :P Yes, I have done the cliched death. My character gets with his romantic interest in the first chapter. They've known each other since they were little. In the second chapter though my character breaks up with her because he doesn't want to ruin the friendship. The girl gets angry and the boy is forced to leave in order to protect his family. They hadn't fixed their relationship. Yada yada, male character does his thing and realises while he is away that he truley loves the female character. He wants to grow old and have a family with her. Anyway, five years after he left he is sent back to the kingdom in order for an attack on the king. It takes place at a dance (which is a rare occassion) and he spots the female character. He dances with her and finds out she's married. The battle takes place, main character is wounded, talks to love interest one last time but he insists she goes to her husband. When she's gone he dies...

Yeah.