figuring out the story ending -- after you've already posted it

[caleb35]

A couple of months ago I posted my story "Roles." I like it; I think it's a good story, I'm (moderately) happy with its 4.31 rating, which I believe is fair. Rarely (for me), I was thinking back on the ending of that story and realized that I could have given it a better ending. It's okay as is; but I can see now a way to have made it better (IMO) and it's kinda ticking me off. The fact that I also likely submitted it to the wrong category -- Lesbian Sex, instead of Reluctance/NonConsent -- is just furthering my annoyance. It's to the point that I'm halfway tempted to delete it and resubmit a version 2.0 of the story but I doubt I will (and the reasons both yea and nay to do so for a generic story were covered in this thread from August).

[Specifically, in the posted story, I wrote out two brief scenes between the protagonist's decision to have sex with the antagonist and the actual sex. I wrote it that because I thought readers would want it that way instead of what I thought was best for the story. In retrospect, I should've had a more abrupt, quick transition from the decision to the sex scene in media res.]

So, does this happen to anyone else -- you see a more ideal version of the story after it's already out there in the wild?

 

[WittyUserName]

A couple of months ago I posted my story "Roles." I like it; I think it's a good story, I'm (moderately) happy with its 4.31 rating, which I believe is fair. Rarely (for me), I was thinking back on the ending of that story and realized that I could have given it a better ending. It's okay as is; but I can see now a way to have made it better (IMO) and it's kinda ticking me off. The fact that I also likely submitted it to the wrong category -- Lesbian Sex, instead of Reluctance/NonConsent -- is just furthering my annoyance. It's to the point that I'm halfway tempted to delete it and resubmit a version 2.0 of the story but I doubt I will (and the reasons both yea and nay to do so for a generic story were covered in this thread from August).

[Specifically, in the posted story, I wrote out two brief scenes between the protagonist's decision to have sex with the antagonist and the actual sex. I wrote it that because I thought readers would want it that way instead of what I thought was best for the story. In retrospect, I should've had a more abrupt, quick transition from the decision to the sex scene in media res.]

So, does this happen to anyone else -- you see a more ideal version of the story after it's already out there in the wild?

100% yes. I think of better things I could have done, there are mistakes that make me cringe. Especially since I learned by writing and posting, so my earlier stuff is much worse than my 'almost not-quite bad' stuff that I post now. I even caved to pressure and changed how a story was going. All you can do is learn and move on. Or you can submit an edit and move the category, post another story with an 'alternate ending' or something like that.

 

[dirk2024]

I had a somewhat similar experience with my first submitted story. My mistake was not editing it enough, not taking a break from it before reading it again. The result was a lot of little molehills that added up to ( at least for me) a mountain.

I was advised to let it go and learn from it. What I learned was that I couldn't let it go and four months later uploaded an edited version. I'm sure it's still not perfect, but I can live with it now.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Don't sweat it.

Simply edit the existing story by changing what you want changed and submit it using the same title, followed by the word "EDIT".

You will retain the scores and comments from the original and future readers will be none the wiser about the changes.

 

[cw5523729]

So, does this happen to anyone else -- you see a more ideal version of the story after it's already out there in the wild?

Probably with everything I've ever written ever. Do I go back and change it though? No. I might if there was some serious flaw or issue that I missed but not just because I had 'writers remorse' afterward.

I have changed or rewritten stuff that I've posted on an entirely different site though.

 

[CalBishForNow]

I often have minor regrets about my work. It's always tempting to keep tweaking.

I've never felt it was worth the trouble to go through the editing process so far, but I might soon. I'm contemplating sequels to my Halloween story, but there are two or three glaring problems with it, to me. I'd hate to have a story like that be the start of a series and either ignore those problems or incorporate them into the continuity going forward. If I get around to the sequels, I'll edit it to fix those problems first.

 

[caleb35]

I often have minor regrets about my work. It's always tempting to keep tweaking.

I've never felt it was worth the trouble to go through the editing process so far, but I might soon. I'm contemplating sequels to my Halloween story, but there are two or three glaring problems with it, to me. I'd hate to have a story like that be the start of a series and either ignore those problems or incorporate them into the continuity going forward. If I get around to the sequels, I'll edit it to fix those problems first.

In this instance, is it possible/preferable to rewrite the earlier stories and reissue them (along with the sequels) as a complete series? You might need to re-title it or similar to make clear what you're doing -- call them "author's preferred edition," or something

 

[CalBishForNow]

In this instance, is it possible/preferable to rewrite the earlier stories and reissue them (along with the sequels) as a complete series? You might need to re-title it or similar to make clear what you're doing -- call them "author's preferred edition," or something

Possible? I don't know. Preferable? Not to me. What you're talking about seems like more work, to make it worth whole separate stories, and also more confusing to me and future readers.

There already is a process for editing stories. I haven't gone through it for incidental errors because it's not worth the time and trouble. But it would be if I actually do have multiple sequels to that story someday.

 

[cw5523729]

Possible? I don't know. Preferable? Not to me. What you're talking about seems like more work, to make it worth whole separate stories, and also more confusing to me and future readers.

There already is a process for editing stories. I haven't gone through it for incidental errors because it's not worth the time and trouble. But it would be if I actually do have multiple sequels to that story someday.

Just don't hold your breath. I've had an edit pending since October.