story series that are never finished

[purvis]

Hello everyone:

Does story series that are never finished drive you crazy You really get into it and then the author just seems to fall off the face of the earth! I am especially refering to the following series in the interracial section:

Big Black Man on Campus part 1 and 2
by : Gasliplovers

He has not posted a story since 2004 so I guess he will never finish!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Guilty As Charged

I am guilty of this tendency, although I never did it intentionally. As a writer I like to submit stories on a regular basis to get them out there, and as I submit the first I'm usually already working on the next installment. But then I lose interest or have an epiphony for a new story and get side-tracked. Or I'll write a stand-alone story and get requests for sequels I never intended to write, and get caught up trying to fill those requests thus leaving older series unfinished.

It's a balancing act for me, one I'd like to solve for the readers who might get hooked to a series and want to see where the characters end up. Many other writers have expressed this same juggling-act feeling as well so it's not uncommon.

 

[S-Des]

Me too

I did this too. I always hated an author leaving me hanging. The very first thing I ever wrote was a completion to another author's story (I couldn't submit it, but the damn thing just kept annoying me until I worked it out). Then I did the exact same thing myself (insert Homer Simpson groan). I tried rewriting a completed story after I had the first of three chapters posted. I got slammed because I told it badly, so I tried to make it better. It's been a complete nightmare ever since.

Not only have I had the worst case of writer's block ever, I'm starting to hate the story I used to like because I keep getting emails begging me to finish it. Turns out at least a few people liked it, but I screwed them too. I think people don't realize how much they can intimidate a new author by being really vicious (or maybe they do, which is why they are so mean in the first place). I now have a much more tolerant view of writers who don't finish because you don't know why they haven't finished it. No excuses though, I take full blame for screwing this up. Live and learn (and apologize...a lot).

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I am guilty of this tendency, although I never did it intentionally. As a writer I like to submit stories on a regular basis to get them out there, and as I submit the first I'm usually already working on the next installment. But then I lose interest or have an epiphony for a new story and get side-tracked. Or I'll write a stand-alone story and get requests for sequels I never intended to write, and get caught up trying to fill those requests thus leaving older series unfinished.

It's a balancing act for me, one I'd like to solve for the readers who might get hooked to a series and want to see where the characters end up. Many other writers have expressed this same juggling-act feeling as well so it's not uncommon.

ditto...

 

[MagicFingers]

-Yeah

"Eyes Of Fire"
After 32 chapters I really wanted to know where it was going since it had already convoluted itself into some wierd mass kidnapping, drag through the desert thing. It started with hot sex on a train. No, it's not on Lit that I know of.
The site where it was is in limbo and I may never see the end of the story.

I promise, MY serials WILL end, as soon as I get to writing again.

 

[Guest]

To S-Des (and anyone else who gives a....)

I did this too. ...

Not only have I had the worst case of writer's block ever, I'm starting to hate the story I used to like because I keep getting emails begging me to finish it. Turns out at least a few people liked it, but I screwed them too. I think people don't realize how much they can intimidate a new author by being really vicious (or maybe they do, which is why they are so mean in the first place). I now have a much more tolerant view of writers who don't finish because you don't know why they haven't finished it. No excuses though, I take full blame for screwing this up. Live and learn (and apologize...a lot).

If it's any help at all, try to avoid "writing to order". While most writers write to tell a story to someone else, you don't have to be Sheherazade, telling a story to avoid execution in the morning. Don't put that pressure on yourself. Write only to your own deadlines, or to a deadline for which you are being paid. It's a wonderful feeling to know your story is wanted by readers, but "wanted" can turn to "demanded" and that can kill any impulse to write (as you've seen for yourself.)

As for vicious comments, truly vicious and hurtful commentary is less about your writing and more about the commentor. Someone who has something useful to say usually can phrase it in a way that will minimize the sting. Some people think the world is American Idol and they raise the viewership with the clever, biting sarcasm. You are also under no obligation to please EVERYONE, and under no obligation to listen to ANYONE. Take what's useful to you from comments and flush the rest. (Easier said than done, but, with practice, you can get MOSTLY there.)

Sequels are so successful because people like reading what is familiar. They like knowing the characters, the setting, and more or less what will happen because the unknown is scary and the known is secure. However, for a writer the opposite is true. The known is BORING and the unknown is exciting. I'd be reluctant to turn out stories as a sequel unless I already had at least two sections written and had outlines for the rest -- and the sequels, no matter their linking ties, could stand on their own. Unless you can keep the questions in your story interesting to you, you are going to get bored, irritated and eventually resentful, which can kill your muse off all together.

You might also try this reply to readers who are begging you to finish a story (or create a sequel where you had not intended continuance)

"Dear Faithful Reader, Thank you for your comments and your eagerness to see this story continue. At the moment my attention is turned to other projects while I wait for my muse to get curious about this particular story again. Until that happens, I'd only do a hatchet job and ruin your enjoyment. Please understand that I don't intend to torture you -- however much I like watching you squirm. Sincerely..."

Or words to that effect. Don't apologise for not doing what someone else expects, because you'll just get guilty and that is not much impetus to write.

Good luck!