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And yet if you cut an ending too much you risk cutting your own financial throat as well. People want to know what happened to the characters that they've spent time and many pages learning about. I know if a book is too boiled down at its ending I may put it down with the thought to avoid that author's work in the future. There is telling and there is showing. Showing takes more words but it is far, far more satisfying to me as a reader.
Example:
John was angry. (Telling) We learn the character's name and that he's angry.
John stomped into the room slamming the door behind him. Grabbing up the whiskey decanter he splashed a generous amount into a tumbler not caring that more ended up on the table than in the glass. He tossed the liquor back and then threw the empty glass at the fireplace with an oath. "Damn her! Damn her to hell!" (Showing)
The 2nd version is longer but we get a better idea of how angry John is. Likewise at the end of a novel the author can show what happens to the characters or he/she can summarize what happens. If I want a summary of a book I'll look for the cliff notes edition of the story not the story itself.
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