This is a completely hypothetical question - I haven't even finished my manuscript yet.
I'm just wondering if people would be willing to change the ending of their novel if a publisher asked them to or would you want to keep the original story that you created?
You will have to excuse me if I confused anyone. When I previously said to kill a character or make them disappear, this would only be appropriate, if it wasn't a necessary character, a main character or one that was not needed for the story line. Or better yet, one that you really didn't like. A very well known, famous, if not the best known in the country told me "don't be afraid to kill someone, if they are not needed or their death adds to the storyline. More importantly, he told me "point blank" DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH ALL YOUR CHARACTERS. It prevents you from changing their position from protagonist to antagonist within the embodiment of the story. It's very easy to fall in love with main characters, however, they too have skeletons in their closets. He said, "try opening the door." AND KEEP WRITING.WRITING,WRITING. Rome, after all, wasn't built in a day. These last two lines came from the author I was speaking with. He made me promise not to mention his name. I used "he or his", but it wasn't necessarily a male. He (she) gave me some excellent advice, albeit, none that I would have thought of. Live (long enough to finish the manuscript) and Learn (while my brain is still readily available. Thanks for pointing out oversights that would make killing off a character if you were asked to write a sequel. Unless, you want to write the character in as a ghost or spirit entity. Remember "Ghost"? Can't see him or hear him, but by golly he's there. Somewhere.
Thanks again,
Stephanie
I've been asked to change things, though not an ending. I reckon if the publisher's idea was better I would, but if it wasn't I'd argue the case not to.
It's a really difficult judgement call. Personally I don't think I'd want to put my name to something I wasn't happy with. Maybe it's my age, but I tend to go along with the saying 'quality is remembered long after price is forgotten'.
If I might add my thought on this, if I were an unpublished author and a publishing house was offering to pay me for my first novel then yes I would change the ending. It's not about money it's about getting someone to recognise your talent and if you are talented enough to change the end then I think the end in this case justifies means. no pun intended, well not unless anyone thinks it's a clever one then it was intended!!!
But again that's only MY opinion.
Regards Paul.