I really would like some feedback

[nakdsub]

I have received a lot of e-mails saying they enjoyed my story, "Bill and Amber," but felt I rushed the end. Some were disappointed they did not stay together. Of course the trolls had problems with the fact that he stayed as long as he did.

I probably did rush the end. I work on these stories at 2 and 3 am and it takes me a long time to write them. It seems I get close to the end and just want to get done. I've done that a couple times now.

My question is; Should I do it? I have been toying with the idea of reuniting Bill and Amber after many years of them being separated. I think I can make a moving and emotional story out of it, but I've done this now with several of my stories and I wonder how the rest of you feel about trying to improve a story with a, "last" episode your weren't planning on originally.

 

[hotdamnazgirl]

Link please

I would like to read your story if you would kindly add your link (otherwise I wander around aimlessly due to my computer illiteracy )

 

[PacoFear]

Hiya nakd,

It's hard to say, a priori, whether your addition will help or hurt your storyline. Obviously, you run the risk of jumping the shark. It's going to boil down to the quailty of this newer idea you're considering and your ability to execute on that idea in a way that will entertain your readers and, of course, yourself.

I can't give you answers, but here are some of the questions I ask myself in your situation:

Does the continuation make sense in the context of the story?
I've shelved follow-on chapters to a few of of my posted stories because, while I thought the characters might be fun to play with in some new way, I couldn't figure out how to maintain the same tone.

Does the continuation deepen the original story?
IMHO, one of the best uses to a closing chapter, or even a spin-off, is to explore the motivations for what happened in earlier chapters and show how the characters either change or don't change. A nifty way to keep things fresh while continuing is to shift the POV to another character's.

How good is this new idea, really?
It's tempting to answer the pleas of your readers, but just because your fans want something, doesn't make it a good idea. The masses demand their HEA and if they don't get it (their personal vision of it) sometimes they whine. But good writing doesn't happen by democratic process. It's what happens when one clever bastard sits down alone for hours in front of a keyboard.

As motivating as praise is, I'm equally motivated by the potential horror of watching the same folks who were applauding my efforts turn their backs and find someone else to read just because I served up a dud.

Hope this helps,

-PF

 

[sr71plt]

I like to ask a different question: Will this redirect and make something entirely new and interesting of the story without being contradictory to anything going before it?

 

[nakdsub]

Wow! fantastic thank!

First, Hotdamnazgirl, here is the link to my stories. The ones in question are the three chapters of, Bill and Amber." If you do take time to read them, I hope you will give me a fair assessment.
Thanks. http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1111099&page=submissions

PF and Sr; thank you. I see I invoked the help of some wise people. I read through your questions and tried to answer them as brutally honest as I could. Based on your questions and my answers I believe I'm going to give it a go.
Thanks again.

 

[estragon]

This is self-indulgent, off-topic spam. Will report to the mods.

 

[nakdsub]

What?

I thought this was supposed to be a forum for writers asking for feedback, and I'm told my post is self-indulgent?

 

[PacoFear]

No no, estragon was responding to a post on this thread that has now been deleted. You missed it. You're not self-indulgent, just a li'l needy. That's okay, I'm needy too.