Does the novel's side story count as the ending?

Usually, the novel's side story and the original ending did not follow. This was because the creation of a novel usually unfolded in the order of the development of the story, and the extras were usually added at the later part of the story or after the ending, which was different from the original ending. Although some novels would set up a side story that was closely linked to the original ending, such as the side story of "Dream of the Red Chamber","Lin Daiyu's Lifetime Happiness", this was only a special case and not all novels would set it this way. Extras often have a major impact on the development and ending of the original story or bring new clues and plot developments to the story, so they are usually an indispensable part of the novel.

Was the novel's side story and the original ending continuous? Not necessarily. This depended on the author of the novel and the plot arrangement. Some novels may change the original ending or shift the story line to another place in the off-screen, while others may be directly connected to the ending in the off-screen. It depended on the plot of the novel and the author's arrangements.

Yes, it has a rather sad ending. The tragic fate of the main characters leaves a poignant impression.

No, it doesn't. The ending of West Side Story is rather tragic.

Whether or not blank spaces counted in writing a novel depended on the situation. In some cases, a space may be considered a word count, and in other cases, it may be considered a wasted character. In traditional sci-fi, fantasy, and martial arts novels, spaces are usually regarded as word count because they are usually used to separate chapters, describe scenes, and monologues of characters. This usage often causes the reader to be confused when reading because they don't know if these spaces count as words. However, in modern novels, such as modern horror novels and urban novels, the use of spaces is more flexible. Some authors might use spaces to create tension or to emphasize the inner struggles and thoughts of the characters. In this case, blank spaces are seen as an important writing technique that can help readers better understand the story. Therefore, whether or not spaces were counted as words depended on the type of novel and writing style. When writing, it is best to decide how to use spaces according to the style and story.

Whether or not the punctuations in a novel counted as a word count depended on how the novel was published. Punctuation marks are usually considered a part of the word count in traditional print and electronic publication because they affect font size and line spacing. In e-books and online publishing platforms, punctuations are usually not counted as words because they are usually compressed or combined into a single character. However, the use of punctuations in a novel may also have a certain impact on the number of words. Some authors may try to use punctuations to increase the legibility and attractiveness of the text, while others may ignore the use of punctuations and make the text too concise. Therefore, when writing, one needed to decide how to use the punctuations reasonably according to the style of the novel and the needs of the readers.

The ending of West Side Story is rather tragic. The main characters face a sad fate.

A novel's side story usually referred to the subsequent plot or supplementary content that usually appeared at the end of the novel or after some chapters. These extras could be a continuation, an adaptation, or an original story. The story was different from the main plot of the novel, and sometimes it would bring different experiences and feelings to the readers. Outsiders were often used as a supplement or expansion to provide readers with more information and stories to better understand the theme and characters of the novel. Some side stories could also be used to add suspense and tension to the plot to attract the reader's interest and attention. Outsiders could be used for entertainment and reading, and could also be created and published as literary works.

It depends on your perspective. Some might consider it a bittersweet ending rather than strictly happy.

The sad ending of West Side Story might be to emphasize the tragic consequences of violence and prejudice, making a powerful statement about society.