How to continue

[lilith1979]

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to continue a story and make it into a series. I have 2 stories I want to do that with, and I can't figure out how to continue!!! I know what I want to have happen, but I don't know how to get there.

To be fair, I'm good w/ writing short stories-but nothing longer than that.

 

[carsonshepherd]

If if was me, I'd move on to something else. If the story doesn't tell you how it wants to continue, you're probably wasting your time try to force it. Put it away for awhile, and see if anything comes to you. (My personal opinion anyway, since you asked.)

 

[Boota]

I have to agree with Carson here. At least wait for the inspiration to strike. Don't force a series out of something that maybe should be a stand alone story. If a really good idea comes up on how you can continue it, then go for it. If you force it it will look forced.

 

[Just_John1]

Chapters

Lilith,

The most chapters I've ever had in a story was three but, IMHO each chapter has to stand alone if the reader doesn't want to go back and read the first few chapters. If you do a review of the previous chapter make it extremely short. One trick I try to do is to make the character remember the key scenes of the previous chapter while thinking, dreaming or something that is germaine to the story instead of telling the review like a narrator.

The other thing I'll do is read the last few paragraphs or pages as the case may be and just start writing. If you know where it wants to go just keep writing it. I've really enjoyed writing second chapters to some of my stories. I've enjoyed going back and re establishing the ties I have to the characters. Sometimes it makes them really complex because i'm in a different mood for the second chapter. Now that I read this it seems pretty eclectic. Hope it helps.

JJ1