On and On it Goes . . . .

[slyc_willie]

You ever get to the end of writing a long story -- you know, one of those in which you've put in the time and effort to make your characters real, quirky, and human, while at the same time including lots of juicy stuff -- only to find that you're not quite finished?

It's damn frustrating.

So I have a 55k-word story (not extremely long, but long enough) that I'll probably chop up into 6 or so chapters when I finally post it. I like my characters. I like the little sidenotes, quirks, and background I've written for them. Not all of those little details supports the main gist of the story -- a pair of detectives investigating a pair of incestuous twin sociopaths -- but I like the extra dimensions they provide.

Anyway, I've finished the main story arc. The good guys confront the bad guys in a terrifically climactic face-off that has the good guys (barely) winning the day. I was rooting for my protagonists as I was writing the final scene.

Except, of course, that wasn't the final scene. I'd forgotten some loose ends I need to tie up. So now I have this wonderfully satisfying (or so I hope) climax that sort of twitters away because of the extraneous stuff I need to wrap up. It's like having a spigot gushing at full stream, then turned not quite all the way off so that it just trickles out.

I could, of course, go back and edit out the extraneous stuff and have the story end with the final fight. But that would take away from some of the characterizations of my protagonist duo, and I fear they may end up coming off as two-dimensional. I'd really rather not do that. At the same time, I don't want the story to hit that climactic high and then just sort of trickle back down to mundanity.

Anyone else ever struggle with this? I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you resolved it.

 

[sr71plt]

You could see if you can tie off those loose ends earlier and leave your ending as the ending.

 

[slyc_willie]

You could see if you can tie off those loose ends earlier and leave your ending as the ending.

A couple of them, yes, I could do that. But one is based on the timeline of the story, and necessarily happens after the climactic scene. I could change that, of course, but I don't think it would feel right.

The problem I think I'm having is that this story will probably be posted in EH . . . but it has an almost Romance feel to parts of it. I'm torn regarding which aspect to focus on. It's not exactly HEA, but there is that definite bittersweet feel.

 

[sr71plt]

Ah, well, it's mostly likely a case where useful help can't be given in the abstract.

 

[Darkniciad]

Lowborn is going to have a climax like that. The final, epic confrontation happens in Ch. 09. Chapter 10 is an epilogue that ties up loose ends, and does some set-up for the future ( Some of which is already posted. I jump around in the timeline a lot, which is why the full timeline is linked in my bio ).

Thing is, it was always meant to have a second climax. There's a thread I've been building up for a couple of chapters by the time I get to the end, and I bring that to a sweet conclusion ( with a bit of humor ) near the end of the final chapter.

Then I wrap it all up in a pretty little bow by tying everything back to something that happens early on in Ch. 01 with the final few lines of the story

Whenever I know I'm going to have an epilogue, I typically plan a second climax tied to another thread of the story beyond what's been driving the main plot. Seems to work pretty well with my readers, and I particularly enjoy those endings. Danica, Merchant Princess, and Blackhawk Hall all end that way. Probably others, but those are the ones that spring to mind.

 

[slyc_willie]

Ah, well, it's mostly likely a case where useful help can't be given in the abstract.

True. I know I'm being vague. I'm just hoping for some examples that might help me out.

Lowborn is going to have a climax like that. The final, epic confrontation happens in Ch. 09. Chapter 10 is an epilogue that ties up loose ends, and does some set-up for the future ( Some of which is already posted. I jump around in the timeline a lot, which is why the full timeline is linked in my bio ).

Thing is, it was always meant to have a second climax. There's a thread I've been building up for a couple of chapters by the time I get to the end, and I bring that to a sweet conclusion ( with a bit of humor ) near the end of the final chapter.

Then I wrap it all up in a pretty little bow by tying everything back to something that happens early on in Ch. 01 with the final few lines of the story

Whenever I know I'm going to have an epilogue, I typically plan a second climax tied to another thread of the story beyond what's been driving the main plot. Seems to work pretty well with my readers, and I particularly enjoy those endings. Danica, Merchant Princess, and Blackhawk Hall all end that way. Probably others, but those are the ones that spring to mind.

I have been toying with a sort of second climax, a bit of revelation at the very end some readers might love, and others would send me hate-mail for. I've already written it, but am unsure if I should include it in the final draft.

Thing is, if I include it, some readers may be expecting a sequel, which I don't really intend to write at this time.

 

[Darkniciad]

I have been toying with a sort of second climax, a bit of revelation at the very end some readers might love, and others would send me hate-mail for. I've already written it, but am unsure if I should include it in the final draft.

Thing is, if I include it, some readers may be expecting a sequel, which I don't really intend to write at this time.

It depends on how strong the sequel lead is, I suppose. Leaving that opening is pretty much my standard procedure as RejectReality. Every one of those stories ends with at least a little somewhere still to go. Hasn't hurt my readership at all, and I haven't had any nasty comments about leaving a story unfinished.

Almost done with my first sequel in that name, so we'll see if that changes once I actually continue one of them

 

[sr71plt]

My mainstream mysteries typically have a wrap-up/review chapter coming after the climax of the mystery--usually purposely leaving some secondary threads to be tied up with twists or something humorous pulling up references to earlier occurrences. And, yes, something that can be attached for continuity to a sequel without screaming "there's going to be sequel."

 

[Noira]

Most mainstream stories don't end right after the climax. There's usually a chapter or two of tying loose ends off, letting the reader catch their breath, realize that the stream is coming to an end, to stand up and shake themselves off. If you end right after the explosions, when you later on read your story you'll probably ended too fast.

Seriously. I recommend instead of asking questions, you grab a book or two in the genre that you're writing (erotic mystery?) and give them a read. You'll see. The end never comes immediately after the climax, there's a little bit of petering off. Or how about the trope of bookends, tying the beginning in to the end. That's a classic way of ending satisfactorily.

Anyway, my point is, the story never ends with the resolution of the final fight. There's always a bit left, and that's important, because it lets the reader relax, and find their way back into the real world. Keep your final chapter short, though, and make sure it tidily resolves things... any meandering will feel like cheating.

I'd also like to note another classic trope.

There's always a point in a story where it ought to feel like it's ended, you're anticipating that the end will come... and then holy shit, it keeps going, and then there's another climax, and you come out feeling even more satisfied because you thought it was done, you would've been happy with it ending there, but then there was EVEN MORE STORY and it was awesome.

Do what feels right.

But seriously, if you're having trouble reconciling I really suggest stepping away for a day or two, to have a read of a story in genre, to compare notes with.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I posted a story about a month ago the ending took me 5 years to get right. The fix was simple, when it came, but back in 2008 I was clueless, and so was my editor.

Its my nature to take all the time in the world to do anything. This attitude makes people crazier than most of the stunts I pull that really make people hate me. But I wont be hurried. That said, I never miss a deadline or an appointment or a commitment. It all gets done, on time; but plenty bite their nails watching this tortoise poke along.

At the moment my file contains 2 stories that are 'done;' one of them is 8000 words or so, and I cant even imagine how to shoehorn a wink, much less sex, into it. Its a Whitmans Sampler of characters and strange scenes that begins with a young man amputating his arm with an axe, and ends with another young man hanged for murder. The other story is common raunchy sex capped with the shooting death of the lover. And if it takes 5 years to finish them, so be it.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Most mainstream stories don't end right after the climax. There's usually a chapter or two of tying loose ends off, letting the reader catch their breath, realize that the stream is coming to an end, to stand up and shake themselves off. If you end right after the explosions, when you later on read your story you'll probably ended too fast.

See also: "Lord of the Rings".

 

[lovecraft68]

This is what I refer to as "Writers cube" its like the od rubics cube but with your story lines and ideas. Its all there you just have to keep spinning it until all the sides line up.

If you're having issues with it what has helped me in the past is to get away from it for a little while and let your mind reboot because something like this can get frustrating and you can sometimes end up forcing the issue and lose story flow.

 

[LaRascasse]

Post the link on this thread when it's posted.

The good guys confront the bad guys in a terrifically climactic face-off that has the good guys (barely) winning the day. I was rooting for my protagonists as I was writing the final scene.

Spoiler Alert AND major buzzkill. I was so hoping for the sociopaths to win.

It reminds me of a story arc in the anime Black Lagoon involving Romanian orphan twins. That story was brutal and the ending was brilliantly fitting.

 

[D_Lynn]

I have three suggestions, and two of them have already been mentioned.

1. You can write an Epilogue. If you need two chapters, write a Prologue and an Epilogue. The Prologue will come at the beginning of the story, of course, but in terms of sequence of events it happens after the body of the story. Sydney Sheldon wrote all his novels this way. Made for an excellent hook.

2. Just keep writing without an end in mind. One will pop up out of nowhere and you'll recognize it right away. But if you keep looking for it, you'll miss it.

3. Walk away, get OUT of the house and/or away from your usual writing space. Seek stimuli that will take your mind off of writing. If possible, do this for at least one whole day. If you can stand it for longer, do that and then go back to the beginning and read the whole thing through.

That's all I've got.

 

[slyc_willie]

A lot of votes for letting it sit for a day or two and then coming back to it. I feel like I've been letting it sit for too long already, but maybe I could occupy myself with something else. As for getting out of the house, I have class on campus tonight, so that's convenient.

I knew that the story wasn't going to end right away with the climactic fight. I just didn't want to drag out the wrap-up for more than another thousand words or so. But if I condensed it too much, readers would probably think I ended it too soon.

Thanks for all the input. It really is helpful. I hope the resulting story matches my mental version of it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

As a reader, I prefer a coda, or epilogue, after the big climax of a story. it's like afterglow at the end of a strenuous sexual encounter...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

What usually stops me in my tracks is the missing right word. Looking for the right word for finger curling the best I found was DOG CALL. Apparently summoning someone with a curled finger is the gesture for your dog to come running, too. But it fails the clarity test. When I was 13 we called it a QUEER MAGNET but that's not right either.

 

[Stella_Omega]

What usually stops me in my tracks is the missing right word. Looking for the right word for finger curling the best I found was DOG CALL. Apparently summoning someone with a curled finger is the gesture for your dog to come running, too. But it fails the clarity test. When I was 13 we called it a QUEER MAGNET but that's not right either.

Try 'beckoning finger.'

 

[sheablue]

What Stella said, exactly. Now, an epilogue can't go on and on, but it can be a shortish chapter, I believe.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Try 'beckoning finger.'

I was thinkin maybe stud-muffin magnet or shitbird magnet, depending on the object beckoned.

 

[sr71plt]

What'sa matter, JBJ? Aren't getting enough attention on your own multiple "look at me" threads?

 

[Stella_Omega]

What'sa matter, JBJ? Aren't getting enough attention on your own multiple "look at me" threads?

On and on he goes...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

On and on he goes...

Is Rodney Dangerfield starting happy hour early again?

I've never known a pilot who could fly a barstool right.

 

[desertslave]

Many of the mainstream books I've been reading, especially if they're a trilogy-type, have an outright epilogue or at least part of the final chapter that functions the same way.

I agree with Noira, it's a gentle transition back to the real world.

 

[slyc_willie]

But seriously, if you're having trouble reconciling I really suggest stepping away for a day or two, to have a read of a story in genre, to compare notes with.

While I value everything you posted, and what most of the others had to say, the part I bolded is probably the most applicable to me right now. One of my major shortcomings when it comes to writing fiction is that I don't read a whole lot of fiction. I used to; a read a ton of it when I was younger, up through my twenties and early thirties. But as more than a decade has passed since then, and I haven't read much outside my favorite non-fiction subjects, I guess I'm a bit out of touch when it comes to reader expectations and acceptances.

I suppose I should fix that.