An Epilogue?

[Kantarii]

On my first two short stories “My Brother’s Ghost” and “The Diablo Masquerade” I found it easy to bring the stories to an acceptable ending, but once I started writing “A Slut’s Triangle”, things got a bit more complicated. It’s a longer storyline with four “main characters” and quite a few supporting characters. There are even several minor characters. The story built and expanded well beyond what I could have envisioned from the beginning despite having a clear direction of where I wanted to take the story. For the most part, it ended how I planned for it to end.

Now that the series is finally over, I still have a lot of workable ideas and material I can still use effectively for whatever reasons to possibly write an epilogue and a “bonus chapter” for the series to tie up the loose ends. At first, I was against it, and thought about using it for another storyline but, now that I have had a couple of months to think about it, the idea kind of makes sense. It doesn’t help when I find it hard to let go of some of the wonderful characters that I created.

For the writers on the forum: Would you write an epilogue for one of your stories or just let it go and move on to the next storyline?

 

[sr71plt]

I'd do whatever my Muse nudged me to do with it.

 

[HisArpy]

I once wrote a book that had a definite ending. As it turns out, the ending cried out for a sequel. That sequel, in turn, spawned 3 more books which followed the original plot line. I have 1 more book left in that entire series of stories which remains unwritten.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If an epilogue seemed right, of course I'd write it. It wouldn't matter how long after, either.

I envisage coming back to at least one of my story cycles to write a final chapter (possibly even chapters). I'm letting my characters live their lives in the meantime.

 

[49greg]

I'd go for it. Like the other have said, if you feel like you want to do.

In the sixties people said something like: "if it feels good, do it."

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Yeah, if you have a story to tell, and an epilogue is the best way to tell it, you should write an epilogue.

 

[Kantarii]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I’m deadset on and actually looking forward to doing an epilogue and an expansive “bonus chapter” for the storyline “A Slut’s Triangle” now. There’s just too many notes and great ideas that would potentially enrich the storyline and lead to a more refined ending - one that I’m sure readers would enjoy readingThanks again
Kant

 

[kurrginatorX]

re: Epilogue

I just recently was faced with the same dilemma. In my story Ensorcelled, https://www.literotica.com/s/ensorcelled I was happy with the way the story ended, but like you, I felt there could be a bit more. I included an epilogue, but the problem I ran into was that the main story was written in first person perspective of the lead character, and since what took place occurred after he left, the epilogue had to be done in third person omniscient. I think that change may not have resonated well with some readers. I guess what I am saying is to ensure it all lines up in the end. Good luck with it.

https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=3938682&page=submissions Complete Submissions List

 

[oggbashan]

I have a slightly different problem.

I started writing a story for last years Summer Holidays contest and it stalled. I looked at it again recently and it has given me an idea for Valentine's Day. But that new idea for a story would be an epilogue to the previously incomplete story.

So I'd be writing an epilogue to an unwritten story for a contest. I can't submit it as Chapter Two when there's no Chapter One, and I can't submit a chaptered story as a contest entry.

I still like the idea that might be the epilogue. But I can't write the first part in time and complete the epilogue as well.

 

[StrangeTamer]

If you feel that you should then I think it's your muse telling you that the story isn't done yet and there is still more to write.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have several stories, not post here, with not only a prologue but also an epilogue. In one case the characters just couldn't find the end of their story, so I ended it for them with the epilogue. In other cases it just seemed the way to end the story and bring it all to a conclusion.