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?
hmmm. I have a bit of a strange view on this.
Personally, I write for myself first and in that respect I would not let anybody change my work unless it was something that was so obviously for the better.
However, if you decide to put something in the public domain, and you seek the help of a publishing co to do this, then you are putting a certain amount of faith in them.
If they suggested changes to a MS I would be inclined to listen to them, insofar as the essence of the changes and the reasoning behind them. I doubt that they would be so prescriptive as to tell you how you should rewrite something.. ie, making a character live instead of killing them off... unless they wanted you to write a sequel...
I needed more than one chapter to bring the plot and storyline to a successful conclusion.
I'm confident with the ending of my novel and see no reason to change it.
The sense of an ending can be a pitfall for want-to-be authors. Many famous traditional and contemporary authors have failed at the last hurdle. There are many examples where novels would have been acclaimed as literary fiction, if only, the endings had been better.
Authors should give the same care, attention and effort to the ending as their superhuman efforts throughout their novel.
There is no point cramming information into a few pages and ruining the ending.
The hypnotic effect of sticking rigidly to a word count can also undermine an ending. (Do not worry about the word count. If it is necessary, cut earlier passages of text throughout your novel.)
Another error is too rush the ending, or rush the ending in the excitement too cross the finishing line. (Don’t do it) After all the hard work that went into the earlier chapters, why rush now and ruin the outcome?
An ending should comprise the single-most-important ‘Landmark Event’ that your novel is about, and what it has been leading up too.
Also, do not spring a surprise on the reader that has not in some way been referred to earlier in the novel. An example in a 'WhoDunnit' would be to say the Butler did it, when there are no clues to his guilt in any of the previous chapters. You win, but you will have cheated the reader.
I have changed it several times. Inasmuch as I rewrote the book (content), the ending had to be rewritten to accept the changes.
On a different note, I would only suggest changing the ending if the main characters have changed in some way, ie. died, married (either to each other or someone else) change of the embodiment would, most likely, require a different ending, Or perhaps, you just didn't like it. If it makes sense, and you feel it is well written, by all means, leave it alone. Many readers (of all kinds, whether it be friends, editors (if not a part of a publishing firm, ie. traditional, not P.O.D. will always attempt to add their two cents to your work. Forget them.) Trust in yourself and creative ability. Or, if with a publisher, ask if they would prefer or what their suggestion would be.
Stephanie