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I've been wondering about two stories, and what happened. Anastasia Allread wrote Healing a Princess, and Admiral Krunch did Christina Chase. Both have lain fallow since the last chapters were written, though neither story felt finished to me.
Penny Lane's Somewhere Else Entirely seems to periodically get charming carry on chapters.
I suppose HAP could have ended with one more chapter? It is not said what happens to Christina Chase though there is a strong implication that something would follow.
I'm thinking of reading all three of these stories again.
Gwen
Comments
I've Checked In With A.A. Here...
..occasionally via PM -- she's not here very often -- hoping for the rest of Healing a Princess. Back in October 2016, she told me that she'd lost 30 pages in a hard drive crash the year before -- "a pivotal chapter" -- and needed re-figure the details of "how things worked" there before she could resurrect them.
Although she told me this past January that she intended to complete all her serials here, she said that regarding HaP, she'd love to continue but "my Muse is elsewhere". I'm still hoping for more, but it's certainly sounding as though she found the loss insurmountable.
I'd originally thought as you did that we were just a chapter or two from the resolution -- at least of this story line; she wanted to chronicle their return as well -- but A.A, wouldn't have put Malden in such turmoil if things were going to move smoothly. I wonder if the halfling healer is going to be abducted tonight. Sadly, we may never find out.
Eric
I can understand ...
... how it could be difficult for Anastasia to continue her story. Even if she hadn't lost pivotal work, just try to write something while your muse is elsewhere sounds really difficult. Of course, that doesn't stop me from hoping to see more. But if she never does, I'm still glad I got to read what she's shared with us. :)
Matters Anmar
One problem with writing almost any story is that it must inevitably be a snapshot in the lives of all the characters. After the end of whatever is presented, those characters still have to live out the rest of their lives. It is natural for any reader to want to see "what happens next" when they reach the end of something, be it a film, a book or whatever. Unless "they all die in the end" there are always going to be dangling threads.
Regarding Anmar, I had specific aims when writing SEE which mostly worked as intended. Eriana's appearance was entirely left field and I did not foresee the need for Maralin until well into writing SEE. So, as they say, stuff happens and SEE ended up about 50-60 chapters longer than originally intended.
While writing SEE I mused on what might become of Eriana and her crew and thus the "Voyage of the Visund" became more than just an idle idea. As Anmar itself began to emerge as a rich source of stories I began writing VotV as a sort of sequel. This now weaves into the overall timeline in a way I never anticipated when I started it.
One always has occasional ideas about "what happens next" and that has prompted some of the short stories such as "Snep's Day Out" and "Return of the Prince". I didn't want to go into too much detail since I was very aware that I could become trapped in yet another long novel; good for my readers, perhaps, but not for my own lack of time and resources. Still, one or two of those threads deserve following up. If only I had the time...
For example, Milsy's parallel story has turned out to be as important as that of Garia. I quickly realised that she would be around when Eriana arrived and this could be the source of much confusion and fun. In fact, Milsy's story would form an arc which encompasses all of Garia's tale, but sadly I have had to pause development since it requires considerable cross-referencing and I just do not have the time right now. Maybe later...
It has also become clear to me that there should be a third part (of the trilogy) which would deal with what happens when Garia returns to Palarand. I already have some good ideas about that and have created an overall timeline. All I have to do now is live long enough to write it...
Thanks for the note, Gwen. I understand your frustration and that of many readers, including myself. Just note that us writers can be just as frustrated by the same process.
Penny
Writing endings ...
... can be challenging. I think the best I've managed is writing until I've reached what feels like a good stopping point. There's plenty of things I've written that hasn't even reached that stage. While I do worry about people being frustrated about that, I started worrying a bit less when I found myself enjoying stories others have written, even when the story didn't feel finished to me. I just hope people feel okay enough with the partial stories I've written to be able to enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed what others have written. :)
Finishing Something
I am trying to end a story that is now more than twice as long as I had intended. Now I don't know what I am going to do. The story is at 7800 words now and I'm at my muse's mercy.
Gwen
If your muse ...
... feels like it's drifting from your story, maybe you could take a break rather than trying to push things? I usually find it's hard to force a story.
Karen Page released the first
Karen Page released the first chapter of A New Style of Education in 2005 and more chapters appeared from time to time, until chapter 70 was declared to finished that book, in January 2022. Karen has made some hints in the comments (and even shared some work in progress) about which parts of the story she will continue in future books.
Judging by the comments, Gwen, you may have read this story more than once.
There Is A Short List
I am unapologetically a Science Fiction Geek with at least some Fantasy added. There are stories that have snuck onto my short list perhaps because they are so well written. Angrahard's "Bike" is timeless. Penny Lane's "Somewhere Else Entirely" also. Amethyst wrote "Twice Removed", while lots of her work is great also.