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I'm currently busy at work on Chapter 18 of Season of the Witch but have hit a little bump in the road. I'm halfway through the chapter and I've come to a point where the story can go two ways.
The first way would lead to a much longer and complex tale, possibly with several more chapters. Where this might sound like a good idea, it would take a lot longer to do. With that said, it would probably be a while before I get the story finished...as I seem to be quite lazy with my writing as of late. The second option would be to wrap things up quickly, ending the story in a few chapters or so. The only problem is that this option might feel a bit rushed and some story elements will be left hanging for a possible sequel down the road. However taking option 2 will allow me to write some of the other stories I have planned much quicker.
Now my question is this: Which path do you think I should take?
EOF
Comments
To quote the famous philosopher, Billy Martin
"I feel very strongly both ways." Do it the way you feel best about it.
Portia
option 1
give Kelly her due. i'd love to see some more of your stories but can wait.
I prefer for a story to be
I prefer for a story to be resolved, and not just finished. If you can resolve it the fast way (Opt2) then by all means, do so. If it will be largely unresolved, then of course option 1 is better.
It is up to you at the end of the day, but I appreciate your writing and know you will do what is best for your characters.
He entered the hall to get warm. She left it two hundred years later.
Faeriemage
Opinions
As my late daddy would say"opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one & some smell bad" ....in other words ,in the end the decision is yours & yours alone to make, what all others think doesnt matter one bit, we all will wait your decision
Longer and More Complex
I vote for longer, more complex and most plot elements resolved, but with you being poked with a good sharp stick to write faster. If you do short, who knows if you'll ever get back to it.
Of course it really comes down to your interest and attention span. Please take the approach that you know you will finish the story(at least to some extent) before you go on to new interests.
More haste, less speed
Please take the time to finish Season; it would be a shame if it ended in a rush.
But you're the writer!
Thanks for a good read (so far).
N Penguin.
Distant Sunshine
Find a third way!
It's quite typical lately to get stories, movies or video games with rushed endings. No thing is worse than that. It's like you past your deadline and have to rush things to get story printed, or you spent all money developing intro and first quest and have no time and resources to create main boss of the game...
So if you feel that story is close to the end - end it. But don't rush things. And leave an out just in case you'll like to continue story line.
Story Question
Leave a hint or clue to how it may have been than think about it while you continue to write the "short version" than perhaps you will find a new story line after this one. ENEMYOFFUN you are a great writer. Remember K.I.S.S.
I will look forward to your next story
James
It depends
A quick ending would leave many open issues. A slightly longer would still have loose ends. I can see there is a potential for a full sequel. You could postpone the sequel until your muse cooperates. This would allow you to fully develop the story line.
In either case, I always enjoy your postings.
DJ
I think you should do what is
I think you should do what is best for the story. I for one will be waiting to wait for the better quality story.
I agree.
I agree.
In my opinion (like that matters!)
I think a rushed ending would be a crime. The story is very, very good, and to ruin the richness of the story with a loss of it's detail and fun would deserve One hundred lashes with the old wet noodle. Don't do it! I prefer the quality-take the time to do it right!
Wren
A good story delayed is good
A good story delayed is good eventually. A good story rushed is bad forever, or at least until a rewrite (which would just take more time anyway).
The third option I think is to write as much of Season of the Witch as you can until you get a nice stopping point ( a nice cliffhanger :-)) and put it on hold while you write some other stuff. And then come back to Season of the Witch when you are ready. Maybe alternating chapters between your stories.
--Brandon Young
To put it simply - do both.
What I mean is that you should look for a good plot point to call the 'end' of this section, but continue to the story on. Nobody has a problem with unresolved plot points if they know that the story will continue. You just need a good place to say "Well, we wrapped this one section up, so we get a short breather before we jump right back in again!"
With that, you don't have to try to wrap everything up quickly. Just wrap up _a_ main section, and leave everything else hanging loose :)
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
my answer
I think the best advice I can give is "Be true to the story." What option makes the story the best story it can be. Sometimes cutting things short is the best way to go, because it makes the story more enjoyable and reading to everyone. If you have too many plot twists, people can get lost in them and the original essence to the story is gone and people really don't know what point the story was trying to make.
However, if you cut the story short, you leave too many loose ends and people are left wondering "what the heck" and feel that they wasted there time and didn't get the reward they felt they deserved for investing their time. I did that with No Greater Love and people are still clamoring for an epilogue. I know that sometimes we, as authors, grow tired of a tale. (Which is why I haven't even outlined the forth book of God Bless the Child (Jenny) and am not inclined to do so anytime soon.)
I just want to remind you that this is a free site... you are under no obligation to finish things up under a tight deadline (though you do owe your readers something). If you feel the story needs to be longer, then take your time with it. If you want to pause for a little while and write something else, no one will stop you (though I know some people can't go back and forth between works, I'm one of them). But, and I'll say it again, be true to your craft and your story and let that guide you. Don't let the opinions of others sway you to produce a less than stellar work just to appease the masses.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Error on the side of quality.
My vote would be to do what is better story telling. I think may be option 1 but parking the story where it can be restarted when you find it convent and not rushed. Rushing a story does not serve any purpose but to move things off the desk. But you also do not need to tie up everything ether. Leaving unresolved issues will allow a book 2 or a part 2 to this marvelous story. You have been a very high quality writer turning out excellent work please stay true to your muse.
Hugs
Misha
With those with open eyes the world reads like a book
I would say
I would say that you should go where your muse takes you. Whether that is the long or the short version. Just trust your instincts ;]
Have delightfully devious day,
If you want my opinion ...
... I'm all for the longer version. "Season of the Witch" is one of my favourite stories right now, and the longer you make it the longer I can enjoy reading it.
--- Martin