26,000 words and no end in sight

[FantasyXY]

I'm working on one of my latest stories and it is sitting at just under 26,000 words. It is by far the longest story I've ever written. I didn't intend for it to be this long when I started, but things just kept creeping into my head. So here the thing sits, with its 26,000 words, and I still don't have an ending. Part of my reason for not having an ending is I have been over this thing so many times I am kind of sick of this story. The other reason I don't have an ending is I have written past multiple endings I had for this story. It seems I just don't know when to quit.

Now I just want the story to end in a way that closes the story for good. Between the other stories I am working on, my job, and my real life, I have been at this particular story off and on for a good four or five years. At this point I am certain that I never want to write about these characters again.

Short of killing everyone off, or stating that they all live happily ever after, how would you end a story that you really want to be over?

Also, (and I know this gets topic kicked around a lot on this forum), would it make sense to post all 26K words at once, or break this pig into chapters? The story is kind of a frolicking adventure and only has one real sex scene at the end (the virgin finally has sex). The story's writing style doesn't lend itself well to being split into chapters, but I don't want it to go unread either.

 

[Handley_Page]

A Lit page is about 3400 words so your 26600 runs to 7 or 8 pages.
This is not a difficult read, so I suggest you let it go at that.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Yes, I've seen plenty of stories much longer than 7-8 pages which have been very successful.

As for the ending? It doesn't have to say The End with a big bang. Sometimes people just end on a gentle low note.

"Mmm, that was good!"
"I think I can make it better. How about we go now and get bagels for breakfast?"
"And eat them in the park?"
"Let's do it."
....
The End.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Or...

After the explosion, John was the only one that died.

The End.

I have written alternate endings to a couple of stories. I once wrote one where everyone died except the villain. Didn't use that one, but it was something I had to get out.

 

[NaokoSmith]

After the explosion, John was the only one that died.

LOL, that is ... twisted! It's a beginning, not an end. I want to know now, how come the others survived?

 

[XerXesXu]

I always start with the beginning and end. I write the opening paragraph and the final paragraph, then navigate between the two. There are many possible routes to the denouement. I plot a route, which will change many times as I dramatise the journey, however, I always have a destination to aim for.

 

[redzinger]

If you don't know how it's going to end, you may want to take a step back and review the structure and pacing of your novella.

 

[TxRad]

Or...

After the explosion, John was the only one that died.

The End.

Only one was killed? In mine everyone was killed.

I used it and i can still hear the howls of the lynch mob.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Only one was killed? In mine everyone was killed.

I used it and i can still hear the howls of the lynch mob.

They escaped the explosion and were killed by a lynch mob? OMG, this story is getting more exciting by the minute! no wonder it's so hard to finish writing it.

 

[NotWise]

~26,000 words isnt' s short story, but it's not that long. I've written a couple stories that just got out of hand. One of them started as a short story and ground to a halt at ~140,000 words. My problem is that I fall in love with my characters and they take over. At that point the story is probably dead.

Since then I've tried to take the approach of framing the whole story -- especially the end -- before I start the real writing. The problem for me then is to stick to that sketch.

If you can't complete the story, then maybe you can pull out parts of the story and rewrite them to stand alone.

 

[SusanJillParker]

I'm working on one of my latest stories and it is sitting at just under 26,000 words. It is by far the longest story I've ever written. I didn't intend for it to be this long when I started, but things just kept creeping into my head. So here the thing sits, with its 26,000 words, and I still don't have an ending. Part of my reason for not having an ending is I have been over this thing so many times I am kind of sick of this story. The other reason I don't have an ending is I have written past multiple endings I had for this story. It seems I just don't know when to quit.

Now I just want the story to end in a way that closes the story for good. Between the other stories I am working on, my job, and my real life, I have been at this particular story off and on for a good four or five years. At this point I am certain that I never want to write about these characters again.

Short of killing everyone off, or stating that they all live happily ever after, how would you end a story that you really want to be over?

Also, (and I know this gets topic kicked around a lot on this forum), would it make sense to post all 26K words at once, or break this pig into chapters? The story is kind of a frolicking adventure and only has one real sex scene at the end (the virgin finally has sex). The story's writing style doesn't lend itself well to being split into chapters, but I don't want it to go unread either.

I also have a 26,000 word story that I was going to enter in the Halloween contest. At the last minute, I decided to break it up into six chapters. Now, by the time I'm done writing it, it will double that amount.

Walk away from your story. Do something else. Then, just before you go to bed take the story with you. Literally the last thought you have is what to write for the ending.

Whenever I do this, allow my brain to percolate my story while I'm sleeping, when I awaken the next morning, I can't type fast enough to get it all down before I forget the story.

One last bit of advice, perhaps you haven't developed your main character enough.

When I fully develop my characters, they will literally move from the page to stand behind my chair and whisper in my ear what to write next.

Good luck with your story.

 

[FantasyXY]

~26,000 words isnt' s short story, but it's not that long. I've written a couple stories that just got out of hand. One of them started as a short story and ground to a halt at ~140,000 words. My problem is that I fall in love with my characters and they take over. At that point the story is probably dead.

Since then I've tried to take the approach of framing the whole story -- especially the end -- before I start the real writing. The problem for me then is to stick to that sketch.

If you can't complete the story, then maybe you can pull out parts of the story and rewrite them to stand alone.

Funny thing about this story. Two of the shorter scenes actually spawned full stories that more fully explored the concept these short scenes were based on. One of these "extra" stories ended up consuming two chapters.

This story just keeps on going, and every ending I've tried either leaves things hanging or feels like its killing off the characters... or at least the friendship they forged, which is the bulk of the story.

Like you, I had this story all "framed out", outlined actually. I like outlining my stories first and that usually keeps things under control. This story just didn't want to stay between the lines I guess.

 

[NotWise]

When I fully develop my characters, they will literally move from the page to stand behind my chair and whisper in my ear what to write next.

My characters never want to limit themselves to the story I'm writing. Unruly folks, but I like them that way.

The long story I got really carried away with could have spun off a series of novel-length historical fantasies, but the actual ending (even though I knew what it was) just kept getting farther and farther away as I wrote.

Must have control, must have control ...

 

[SamScribble]

It might be 26k now, but what will it be when you have finished editing? Murder your darlings, sir.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Logorrhea strikes again.

Twenty-six thousand words is 87 print pages. Too short for a book, too long for a novella, though I know of a few masterworks of such length and less. Story length is like cock length, sometimes 6 inches is too much or too little. George V. Higgins said Maxwell Perkins made 4 fat novels from Thomas Wolfe's first draft of LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL.

 

[SusanJillParker]

My characters never want to limit themselves to the story I'm writing. Unruly folks, but I like them that way.

The long story I got really carried away with could have spun off a series of novel-length historical fantasies, but the actual ending (even though I knew what it was) just kept getting farther and farther away as I wrote.

Must have control, must have control ...

Close your eyes and imagine your characters. Wait. Don't rush it. Can you see them? What are they doing? Can you hear them? What are they saying? Can you feel them as if you're them?

Now write them. Describe them. Show us what you see so that we may see them too.

If you can do that, your characters will write the story for you. Trust me, I know.

Having won Literotica's year long Survivor contest, the writer with the most stories in the most categories, three times and finishing in 2nd place three times, I never had anal sex. I never did bondage. I don't have a fetish. I'm not gay or lesbian. I'm not a cross dresser. I don't have any toys or the impulsive desire to masturbate myself. I've never met any celebrities.

Yet, routinely writing in 30 of the 35 categories, I've written dozens of stories in all of those categories. Why? I develop my characters. My stories are character driven. My characters write my stories for me. I couldn't write any of those stories in any of those categories unless I developed my characters.

Develop your characters until you can clearly see them and until they are talking to you. Trust me. Don't worry. When they lock you away in the mental hospital for talking to yourself, I'll come visit you (lol).

"That Susan Parker is hot but she's always talking to herself," said Joe. "She has conversations with herself as if there's someone there listening to her. Is she crazy?"

"Nah, she's a writer." said Bob.

"Oh, then she must be depressed (lol)," said Joe.

"Of course she's depressed. Duh, she's a writer," said Bob. "What writer isn't depressed sitting alone day after day after day writing and writing and writing?"

"I'm going to go ask her out," said Joe.

"I wouldn't do that," said Bob.

"Why not?"

"You'll never be alone with her. They'll be a dozen other people there with her," said Bob.

"I'll order a bigger pizza," said Joe.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Absurd.

It all comes from somewhere, and somewhere aint OZ, its from the space tween our ears. So who wears the pants in your head?

 

[SusanJillParker]

Absurd.

It all comes from somewhere, and somewhere aint OZ, its from the space tween our ears. So who wears the pants in your head?

Did you not take your medication today? Are you off your meds?

Nurse! Please take Mr. Noirtrash back to his rubber room. And do us all a favor and tie the back of his hospital gown. He's saying stupid stuff again. He thinks his finger is a gun. He's already shot me twice with make believe bullets.

Rest Mr. Noirtrash. Rest.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Did you not take your medication today? Are you off your meds?

Nurse! Please take Mr. Noirtrash back to his rubber room. And do us all a favor and tie the back of his hospital gown. He's saying stupid stuff again. He thinks his finger is a gun. He's already shot me twice with make believe bullets.

Rest Mr. Noirtrash. Rest.

When I come to the AH the experience is often like a Hillary Clinton press conference.

 

[SusanJillParker]

When I come to the AH the experience is often like a Hillary Clinton press conference.

Alas, if only Sarah Palin would only partner up with Donald Trump as his running mate, I'd cancel Netflicks and HBO. It would be much funnier watching those two run the country and do their part to ruin the world than watching any comedy on TV.

I can just see Donald being caught lining his pockets with billions more dollars while Sarah had sex with every Secret Service man.

Sarah thought Secret Service meant the men she fucked and sucked would be discreet. Little did she know they'd come out with a tell all book, Sex with Sarah, parts I, II, and III.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Alas, if only Sarah Palin would only partner up with Donald Trump as his running mate, I'd cancel Netflicks and HBO. It would be much funnier watching those two run the country and do their part to ruin the world than watching any comedy on TV.

I can just see Donald being caught lining his pockets with billions more dollars while Sarah had sex with every Secret Service man.

Sarah thought Secret Service meant the men she fucked and sucked would be discreet. Little did she know they'd come out with a tell all book, Sex with Sarah, parts I, II, and III.

Hillary made hundreds of millions doing tax payers.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Hillary made hundreds of millions doing tax payers.

Bill made even more.

If a politician, sorry, public servant, is speaking, they're lying.

Hillary is already bought and paid for. Just like all of the others who run for president and/or congress, she's beholding.

I think and I'm just saying, you, James Johnson, should run for president of the United States. You could have made Scouries your VP only, he's not an American citizen. He was born and France and now living in England.

Rather than run with you, I'd rather be the Secretary of the Treasury. In the way that Henry Paulson passed out billions of dollars of our money to investment houses, banks, insurances companies, and auto manufacturers, those who didn't need it, I'd pass out billions of dollars to average people. I'd give your mother a billion dollars. I would. Yes I would.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Bill made even more.

If a politician, sorry, public servant, is speaking, they're lying.

Hillary is already bought and paid for. Just like all of the others who run for president and/or congress, she's beholding.

I think and I'm just saying, you, James Johnson, should run for president of the United States. You could have made Scouries your VP only, he's not an American citizen. He was born and France and now living in England.

Rather than run with you, I'd rather be the Secretary of the Treasury. In the way that Henry Paulson passed out billions of dollars of our money to investment houses, banks, insurances companies, and auto manufacturers, those who didn't need it, I'd pass out billions of dollars to average people. I'd give your mother a billion dollars. I would. Yes I would.

I'm the Fascist candidate for President. I wanna be a kinder gentler Hitler.

 

[SusanJillParker]

I'm the Fascist candidate for President. I wanna be a kinder gentler Hitler.

I'm glad I'm Czech and not Jewish (lol).

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I'm glad I'm Czech and not Jewish (lol).

I like Jews, and 4 of my sisters are 1/2 Checkers. Gays and perfessers and criminals not so much.