Never Ending Last Chapter
I've been working hard on Heart Search, and since the set up was so tough and I wanted to get some words on the page I've been writing the climax and last chapter...and the last "chapter" is now approximately 8K. Which is more like the last three chapters. And I don't know that I need all these words, but they are good words and I need wordcount. There isn't even sex in it. But this happens, you get to what you be the penulitmate chapter and it's not. It's the second to the last, or the third from the last, taking you longer to wrap-up than you expect.
So I will probably end up cutting a bunch, when I whip the story/plot into shape, which is depressing.
But the sun has just risen, and the ocean is blue, and though it is too cold now to work outside, it won't be this afternoon.
May you enjoy your surroundings today.
Robin
So I will probably end up cutting a bunch, when I whip the story/plot into shape, which is depressing.
But the sun has just risen, and the ocean is blue, and though it is too cold now to work outside, it won't be this afternoon.
May you enjoy your surroundings today.
Robin
posted by FantasyAuthor RobinDOwens | 5:28 AM
2 Comments:
How do you decide when enough is enough? I've read books that end too abruptly and some that go on too long. Is there a "natural" stopping place, or is this something each author decides?
Well, it should flow, and most of it, like most of writing, is instinct. Both the author and editor should fix such problems before the book is published. Sometimes that doesn't happen.
Ending abruptly -- the author might just have run out of time, was working on other projects and wrapped it up fast, or the instinct was off.
Too long might mean that the author didn't want to cut words or believed some scenes were necessary that you (the reader) didn't think were so.
Instinct is good, but beta readers and editors who aren't so invested in the book as the author are incredibly important.
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