For full details, please see my post at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1021622
Relating the same idea, how do you feel about sad endings with specific regards to otherwise comedic plots?
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"Are you going to kill me?"
"Don't be silly; you're my designated driver!"
50,159 / 50,000
oct. 25, 2007 - 23 08
I think a sad ending could work very well for your story. You might as well give it a shot! You can always change it later.
-----------Saint Savin
8,003 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2007 - 07 24
I like them. Comedy and tragedy can really bring one another out - look at the gravedigger in Hamlet!
30,164 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2007 - 08 59
I think it'll work well. I think you'll be able to pull it off and make it work. It sounds like it'll be an interesting story. It kind of reminds me of that one John Cusack movie, The Sure Thing.
----------NaNo 2006: The Clearing of Lindsey (psychological thriller/drama/whatever)
NaNo 2007: ZOMBUNNIE! (satirical horror)
1,559 / 50,000
oct. 26, 2007 - 12 34
I think it works very well. And, if you ever need to justify it, you can do what Brian Clevinger did for Nuklear Age: call it a joke.
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62,377 / 50,000
oct. 29, 2007 - 06 56
Becket,
My feelings about a sad ending would depend on some add'l variables... For instance, Just how sad is the ending? and What is the character's response to it / development through it? (Disclaimer: I haven't read a great many depressing stories, so for my responses I'm dealing mostly in hypotheticals here, not memories.) The answers to those questions would affect my opinion, in general; I'll come back to specifics on the situation you linked.
If it's really sad: was there any build up? Was it a realistic story, so that I will say, "Oh--well, that's life," and just feel gloomy for a while? Was it a farce, so that I will feel like I got the bait-and-switch? If the tone of the story is lighthearted and playful, and then you hit me with a sad ending out of the blue, that might feel as if you were just being cruel to your reader (and characters). Of course, you're certainly allowed to do that (emphasize your characters), by if I tried I think my reader would scowl at me.
However, if it's a genuinely sad event at the end of a story about funny people in/or funny situations, but they survive the sad event emotionally or face it in a meaningful way, I think I could really accept that as the ending. i.e. using comedy to cope with dying from chronic illness. I might also be content with it if you were doing something artsy with the sad ending cutting off the comedy. Essentially, if it were interesting enough, I might "enjoy" it even if I hate you for the ending.
As for the specific story you describe in the link: if your two J's get together, then I think it would mostly be a sad ending for Dave. The other two get what they want. Now, if they afterwards live miserably ever after and drive each other crazy, that would be a sad ending all around. Or, if you're writing from Dave's point of view, it's going to be a sad story. Otherwise, I don't think you have to worry too much about that being a sad ending. He won't be the first jilted boyfriend in RomCom history. Of course, one of those sad endings might have more bang than if the J's don't get together, if the story ends with it not working out.
You've got lots of options. Have fun deciding!
p.s. Like the sig.