This story is 5 years old... Any Advice?

[DaddysTastyTreat]

In 2014, I published this piece called "Weekend with Dad, Pt. 1" with the INTENTION of making it a three part series... 5 years later and, that hasn't happened.

I mean, yeah, I took leaves of absence from Lit. But that story still haunts me. I want to finish it, but I don't want some poorly-written, quickie smut.

I had published a part 2 shortly after the first part, but it was garbage. It was rushed and the characters in part 2 didn't match the characters in part 1...

I don't know the purpose of this post, except to whine and complain about an unfinished piece.

Authors... have you had a similar conundrum? How did you get out of it?

 

[LesDesirable]

Not every tale need be told. - every writer who wrote anything

 

[BrokenSpokes]

Not every tale need be told. - every writer who wrote anything

Legit LOL. Hard same.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sure. I wrote 3 chapters of what was intended to be a 6-chapter series in April 2017. And then I just . . . stopped. Moved on to other stories. I keep thinking about that story, but I haven't gone back to it. I do intend to finish it, rather than let it drop, because I left the story hanging and I have an ending in mind for it. But I haven't gotten quite inspired enough to go back to it, yet.

I felt guilty about it for a while, but I don't anymore. Why? Because I have other stories I want to write, and I'd rather spend my time writing the stories I most want to write.

When I feel satisfied that I have more chapters in me that are just as good as the first three, I'll finish the story, but not before then.

LesDesirable's advice is 100% right.

 

[DaddysTastyTreat]

Not every tale need be told. - every writer who wrote anything

Legit LOL. Hard same.

I felt guilty about it for a while, but I don't anymore. Why? Because I have other stories I want to write, and I'd rather spend my time writing the stories I most want to write.

When I feel satisfied that I have more chapters in me that are just as good as the first three, I'll finish the story, but not before then.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's funny, last night I just started writing something new, just to kind of get something out onto paper.

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks, again.

 

[gunhilltrain]

In 2014, I published this piece called "Weekend with Dad, Pt. 1" with the INTENTION of making it a three part series... 5 years later and, that hasn't happened.

I mean, yeah, I took leaves of absence from Lit. But that story still haunts me. I want to finish it, but I don't want some poorly-written, quickie smut.

I had published a part 2 shortly after the first part, but it was garbage. It was rushed and the characters in part 2 didn't match the characters in part 1...

I don't know the purpose of this post, except to whine and complain about an unfinished piece.

Authors... have you had a similar conundrum? How did you get out of it?

You're under no obligations, but if you feel inspired and have something you like, then write parts 2 and 3. If the first story is still on-line, you can link back to it and some readers may follow.

I happened to read John Updike's Rabbit Redux right after it came out in 1971, but I hadn't read the first novel from 1960 yet. He hadn't even planned a series, but he wrote three more in ten-year intervals.* Sometimes the readers will follow you, even if they have to go backwards like I did with the Rabbit series.

* The last one was a novella that was sort of a coda to the first four.

 

[DaddysTastyTreat]

You're under no obligations, but if you feel inspired and have something you like, then write parts 2 and 3. If the first story is still on-line, you can link back to it and some readers may follow.

I happened to read John Updike's Rabbit Redux right after it came out in 1971, but I hadn't read the first novel from 1960 yet. He hadn't even planned a series, but he wrote three more in ten-year intervals.* Sometimes the readers will follow you, even if they have to go backwards like I did with the Rabbit series.

* The last one was a novella that was sort of a coda to the first four.

Thanks, G! I think I'll take a break from it for now, and work on something else, of a different genre. Then get back to it when I feel so inspired.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I don't know the purpose of this post, except to whine and complain about an unfinished piece.

Authors... have you had a similar conundrum? How did you get out of it?

Putting something on the backburner is fine for six months or so, but longer than that? I reckon it's your mind's way of saying, "This one is junk, you might be a knob if you proceed."

Do what I do with those languishing stories, delete them. If you couldn't finish it way back then, what makes you think you can finish it now? Be ruthless, remove it from the world, move on. Readers will spot immediately if your heart's not on it - if you haven't spotted that first.

If you delete it, and your mind is still nagging, and the idea is that good, you'll start over. But seriously, Weekend with Dad? What has the world really lost? There must have been a thousand finished stories on that topic, since yours .

Move on. Besides, she's five years older now, all grown up. She knows what she wants now, the power dynamic's all shifted. Write her today, that's what I'd do.

 

[Lolita_Slut]

Move on. Besides, she's five years older now, all grown up. She knows what she wants now, the power dynamic's all shifted. Write her today, that's what I'd do.

Thanks for your input.

 

[DaddysTastyTreat]

Thanks for your input.

More like "You're not my dad." lol, am I right?

 

[Lolita_Slut]

More like "You're not my dad." lol, am I right?

I thought it was a good intro. Has potential to be SUUUPER steamy. But at the end of the day, it's up to you. It's your story. If you want to take a break, I think you're entitled to that.

Incest/Taboo genre is in need of well-written stories. There are many already, but I think a good 70% of the genre is like wam-bam-thank you ma'am, one pager's with little to no character development and mostly just poorly written, male-centered, unrealistic sex scenes.

Do whatever makes you happy. I can't guarantee I'll be here in 5 years, but if it takes that long, I'd like to read part 2.

 

[DaddysTastyTreat]

I thought it was a good intro. Has potential to be SUUUPER steamy. But at the end of the day, it's up to you. It's your story. If you want to take a break, I think you're entitled to that.

Incest/Taboo genre is in need of well-written stories. There are many already, but I think a good 70% of the genre is like wam-bam-thank you ma'am, one pager's with little to no character development and mostly just poorly written, male-centered, unrealistic sex scenes.

Do whatever makes you happy. I can't guarantee I'll be here in 5 years, but if it takes that long, I'd like to read part 2.

That is kind of you to say. Thanks, babe If you have any ideas, or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Maybe I just need a muse

 

[KeithD]

How did you get out of it?[/b]

I don't start posting any chaptered story until all of the chapters are completed.

 

[gordo12]

In 2014, I published this piece called "Weekend with Dad, Pt. 1" with the INTENTION of making it a three part series... 5 years later and, that hasn't happened.

I mean, yeah, I took leaves of absence from Lit. But that story still haunts me. I want to finish it, but I don't want some poorly-written, quickie smut.

I had published a part 2 shortly after the first part, but it was garbage. It was rushed and the characters in part 2 didn't match the characters in part 1...

I don't know the purpose of this post, except to whine and complain about an unfinished piece.

Authors... have you had a similar conundrum? How did you get out of it?

I would think after five years your writing must have improved. Also your outlook matures. Would you even look at the circumstances of the story the same way?

As EB says write it for today. I'd rewrite the original, toss the second chapter for the reasons you mention and finish the story like Keith suggested. Get the old one deleted 'cause simply editing it doesn't get it space in the new offerings.

Start with a completely fresh story to attract the readers.

I was talking about this yesterday with my wife. I have a two year old story (not published) and I'm reluctant to offer it. The original plot is good, but looking at one section is mmmm not great. It's kinda stupid...yet! I've vacillated about deleting that section, but it fits the story and even had a section of dialogue leading up to the expectation of it earlier in the story. It does call for difficult decisions sometimes.

If someone posted a third chapter to a story five years old I wouldn't take the time to go read it.

 

[Tabithablack]

I laugh when I read comments on a story that is several years old that say can't wait for the sequel

Maybe they don't look at story dates because it seems to me if there hasn't been a follow up in a few years then either one was never planned or the author just lost interest/motivation.

 

[LesDesirable]

Wait a minute.

You are really George R.R. Martin, aren't you.

It's OK, you do not need to finish Song of Ice and Fire. I do not want to read two books influenced by the last three seasons of the HBO show.

 

[Tabithablack]

Wait a minute.

You are really George R.R. Martin, aren't you.

It's OK, you do not need to finish Song of Ice and Fire. I do not want to read two books influenced by the last three seasons of the HBO show.

I imagine it would be impossible for him not to be although when the ending was seen by many as unpopular, and I'm one of them, he claimed his ending would be different which may be a lie, but I guess he knows what not to do.

People who were upset over the ending shouldn't be upset with HBO they should be upset with Martin who has been on a look at me trip since GOT started and will never finish the series. Where HBO does lie at fault is starting something based on books that weren't finished and by an author who previously took years in between books.

But Martin and HBO made their money and that's what counts to them.

 

[TornConflict]

Honestly, I was in the same boat with Heat Wave Love. It was my first time posting a story on Lit and people seemed to like it ok but felt like something was missing. I rewrote part two at least a dozen times before just giving up. Recently, the story has seen some new traction and I decided to give chapter 2 a shot again. I was pretty happy with it this time and even made some changes to the original plot line idea.

Give it some time and if the muse for that story come back try again. Don't be ashamed of an unfinished story. A lot of my favorite authors here on lit don't finish their stories.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Don't be ashamed of an unfinished story. A lot of my favorite authors here on lit don't finish their stories.

Not ashamed, maybe, but should be a little bit embarrassed.

Lit has a plethora of unfinished stories, we don't really need more. It takes a little discipline to finish something before submitting, or being prepared to complete something once started, sure, but it can be done.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Honestly, I was in the same boat with Heat Wave Love. It was my first time posting a story on Lit and people seemed to like it ok but felt like something was missing. I rewrote part two at least a dozen times before just giving up. Recently, the story has seen some new traction and I decided to give chapter 2 a shot again. I was pretty happy with it this time and even made some changes to the original plot line idea.

Give it some time and if the muse for that story come back try again. Don't be ashamed of an unfinished story. A lot of my favorite authors here on lit don't finish their stories.

So true. There's many exceptional stories here that were never finished, for many reasons.

Real life is an unfinished story, too; a far more important one demanding immediate attention.

 

[maxpotter]

I returned to a story over a decade after my last posted chapter (on another site, not allowed here). My life had changed, and I always intended to return to it, and I have. I put in a header explaining I had changed and that truthfully I always wanted to continue.

Given the age, I'd suggest re-writing chapter 2, so you are happy with it. Finish a couple other chapters, so your fans will get more of the story.

I'd rather leave the old chapter, pick up and say "I wanted to do a better job, so this picks up after chapter 1". The few times I've seen big edits, I want to see the original as well.

 

[JLCC]

It goes both ways

My first published story was on a different site than here. It was just a sex scene, reasonably well-received from what I could tell.

I then found Lit and submitted a couple of other short stories. Feedback I received pointed to overall better development of the story and characters.

I returned to the first story I mentioned and took it way further than I originally intended for submission here. I am really quite pleased with the results. But I did have a vision for it and did finish it. I was asked for more but why? Maybe, if I have a good/great idea for carrying on, but that's unlikely.

So, it's really up to you. Maybe you start it all over with knowledge you've gained. Maybe just leave it. Maybe...