The Little Story that could is now the Little Story that won't stop!

[flawed_ethics]

Bewrare - I ramble.

So I conjured up an idea for a short story (~ 2-3 Lit pages desirable) about a year ago, and got cracking at it. I hit a writer's block, but overcame it not long ago. I finished it up as I originally envisioned it, ran it by a few people, and got ready to post it.

Only it doesn't seem as fulfilling a story as it once did. All the sexy bits are there, and are indeed the focus. But looking at the characters, their actions seem so shallow given the underlying motivations with what is going on in the story. They could be doing so much more! In my mind, they are. But the context of the story, which set out to describe this wonderful transformation, doesn't require it, and subsequent actions would be uneccessary filler/postscript.

So then I think to myself, why not expand the scope of the story. Bring the contrast of the character's ideals to light, thereby adding the element of role reversal to the story (which would be a natural fit and wouldn't conflict with the existing nature of the text). And sure, I could do that. But it would not be as short a story anymore. Seeing how the additional elements would also need their own resolution, it would be like two stories in one.

So I could split it into chapters, right? Yet that's still against what I set out to create! I could say fudge it all and go ahead but there's a nagging voice in my mind that says it will only pollute and tarnish my original story's vision, making it a side note in the overall scope of things.

Do I let my characters rot and just release what is already done? Or do I let my characters act out their own personal dramas and let the original text become a side story?

(Damn characters wanting to come to life. They're just gonna cause trouble. mumble... grumble...)

 

[English Lady]

If those characters want a series of stories-give'em a series of stories or you'll go crackers!

believe me, I'm on chapter 7 working with one set of characters, I have 3 chapters of another story waiting for a lull so I can satisfy their need for a whole damn novel and....yeah, just do what the characters want -it's the only wayto sanity in the end!

 

[flawed_ethics]

I think that's just it though. I could go bonkers and expand it to a two or even five chapter set. Although they could go on with their adventures, it'd be more of the same after a while. I don't care to write about them doing the same old thing because it doesn't interest me. If no interest or passion exists, then why bother? There is an interest and passion to get this particular story off the ground, and the subsequent events would be a nice follow through, but beyond that - meh.

My other hang-up (which I failed to mention) is that this would be a spin-off of someone else's series. I have his approval, and he rather liked the semi-final draft I sent him. If I did add-on the story-line, I would (of course) re-run it by him to make sure it's still to his liking. I do not want to hi-jack his story-line though. His tales are a bazillion times better than anything I can commit to disk, but since he does encourage others to write in his universe, I figured I'd take a crack at it.

And I have two projects with a hard Thanksgiving and Christmas deadline. Confound it all!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Compromise. Make it two chapters, or three. Long enough to satisfy yourself.
One of the hardest things to do is wind up a story gracefully!

 

[cantdog]

I like cutting it off, myself.

If there's more in your head, begin again with a fresh set of assumptions and a new slate of characters. It may take a while to re-envision the thing, but really, make it your own.

 

[TxRad]

Last time this happened to me it ended up running to 287 pages..... and now they want a sequel........AGH... or two.....