Would this work for you or annoy you?

JoNightshade · Apr 20, 2008

I'm a bit stuck here and I'm hoping some input from you guys can help me out. Bear with me, the scenario is a little complicated.

So my novel is mainstream/contemporary, and the majority of the plot centers around a middle-aged guy attempting to win the heart of a very unapprochable woman ten years his senior. It's also about him finding his place in life in a new town and new job, so there are about three sub-plots involving other characters.

About 85% of the way through the book, he finally works up the guts to ask her to marry him. She says yes, they get married.

Here's my problem. TWO of the three subplots MUST end in order for the marriage to happen. I am ALMOST tempted to wrap up the book with the wedding, but I feel like the main story doesn't end yet. Both the main guy and girl have some heavy issues going on that would specifically hinder them in the area of sexual intimacy. I can't end with "happily ever after" because that would just be dishonest to the characters.

So what I have now is the last 15% of the book essentially being about just them, after they get married, dealing with living together, having sex, etc.

My question: Would it bother you that...

1) A book which had no main-character sex (but a lot of sexual tension) for most of the book suddenly focused on it a lot? (It's not graphic.)
2) The subplots wrapped up before the end of the book?

I'm not sure if I'm feeling weird about the way this is going because something's actually wrong, or if it's just because writing about their sex lives makes me personally uncomfortable.

Mandy-Jane · Apr 20, 2008

My opinion (as a reader of novels) is that sexual tension all throughout the story is much more powerful than any kind of actual sex scene. But if there's sexual tension throughout then you would expect some activity at some point, even if there had been none all the way through.

As for subplots, the best books I've read do gradually wrap them up in last chapters, so that at the end, you're left with the main plot.

So, no neither of those scenarios would bother me.

But I'm no novelist, so feel free to ignore!

KrishnaJewel · Apr 20, 2008

JoNightshade said:
So what I have now is the last 15% of the book essentially being about just them, after they get married, dealing with living together, having sex, etc.

My question: Would it bother you that...

1) A book which had no main-character sex (but a lot of sexual tension) for most of the book suddenly focused on it a lot? (It's not graphic.)
2) The subplots wrapped up before the end of the book?

I'm not sure if I'm feeling weird about the way this is going because something's actually wrong, or if it's just because writing about their sex lives makes me personally uncomfortable.

Ok, if you have had sexual tension through out the book, you need to fulfil this tension...you dont actually have to write a sex scene if you dont want to...but make it clear they have consummated the relationship, dont leave the reader hanging, or wondering. Its up to you how you want to address the sex.

And yes you need to wrap up your subplots...be it before the end of the book or at the end...you need to wrap up.

You need to look at it as if you are the reader. You have read and followed all these events and situations through out the course of the book...now we come to the end...ok, the main characters are finally together, finally married -WHOO HOO! (Happy Dance!) But then what? And what about this and that that was going on??

sunandshadow · Apr 20, 2008

A lot of romance stories introduce a new or revived/twisted threat that the couple must face together after they have finally gotten together.

Elodie-Caroline · Apr 20, 2008

Hi,
I had this same kind of conflict going on last year with the ending of my book, actually, your story sounds very similar to my own. I didn't finish it via the wedding day, just on the day when they said they loved each other and she took him to bed. But, I knew there was a whole lot more to this story... She was abused, as a child, by her adoptive father and her beau has a very big jealousy issue, so I wrote a sequel to the first book, to address these things.

JoNightshade said:
I am ALMOST tempted to wrap up the book with the wedding, but I feel like the main story doesn't end yet. Both the main guy and girl have some heavy issues going on that would specifically hinder them in the area of sexual intimacy. I can't end with "happily ever after" because that would just be dishonest to the characters.

Elodie

HeronW · Apr 20, 2008

Sexual tension will keep folks reading wanting to know: will they, won't they, when?

Tying up loose ends is preferrable unless you're doing a sequel. Then you can include a few pages of book 2 at the end of 1 so your readers know they're not being cheated.

Sequels can also be headed by different MC's who were secondary in book 1 provinging new viewpoints.

CDarklock · Apr 20, 2008

JoNightshade said:
1) A book which had no main-character sex (but a lot of sexual tension) for most of the book suddenly focused on it a lot? (It's not graphic.)

How long after a marriage? Are we talking weeks (expected), months (plausible), years (okay, hold on now)?

2) The subplots wrapped up before the end of the book?

All of them, or just a couple? If it's all of them, why would I keep reading?

And how far before the end? Are we talking twenty pages or two hundred?

JoNightshade · Apr 20, 2008

CDarklock said:
How long after a marriage? Are we talking weeks (expected), months (plausible), years (okay, hold on now)?

Just a few days in terms of on-the-page action, actually, and no longer than about 2 or 3 weeks in real time. The book takes place over the course of a school year, so the book skips over weeks at a time anyway.

All of them, or just a couple? If it's all of them, why would I keep reading?

Two of three subplots end. I still have one more subplot to play with and of course the main conflict.

And how far before the end? Are we talking twenty pages or two hundred?

Er... probably about 10K out of 100K. So 20-30 pages?

Also, a couple people have suggested sequels, but this is not enough to make a sequel out of. The main dude's goal is to win this woman's heart, but I want to show that marrying her doesn't necessarily mean someone just hands you over all of their trust. She is still in hiding, emotionally. So even after they get married, it takes him time to win her over completely.

Okay so actually... you guys are making me feel better saying that subplots should wrap up before the end. What I mean is, I guess I had the idea that I was supposed to have ALL of my plots and sub-plots come to a close at the very end, like wrapped up in a nice little package. Instead, it happens gradually. First one ends, then another, until finally only the main plot is left for the MC to take care of.

And yeah... I guess it is reasonable to satisfy the reader after an entire book of sexual tension. Haha.

Okay. Maybe I am on the right track after all.

ishtar'sgate · Apr 20, 2008

If you're uncomfortable writing about sex then you probably shouldn't as your discomfort will likely be reflected in your writing. As you haven't told us WHY these subplots have to be concluded in order for them to have sex, it's pretty hard to form an opinion. In general, subplots should be wrapped up by the end of the book. Loose threads are a frustration to the reader although sometimes a well crafted ending lets the reader fill in the information in a way that satisfies the reader and that can work too.
Linnea

Pike · Apr 20, 2008

Hey Jo. I've read a handful of reviews of current novels with a major beef about subplots left dangling. Novels aren't real life (I know, you know it and I'm spelling out the obvious) so all subplots should end before the final page. They may not be tidy, but don't leave them hanging or you'll piss of your readers.

Pike

JoNightshade · Apr 20, 2008

Okay, so I have no intention of leaving any subplots dangling. My question is whether I can have the main plot continue beyond the subplots, or if I need to wrap them all up at the same time. But I guess that's already been answered.

Pike · Apr 20, 2008

Technically, the main plot should run the entire length of the book. Though it sounds like when the subs wrap up then you MC can finally find happiness which resolves the main plot. I think you've got it covered.

Pike

JoNightshade · Apr 20, 2008

I think I'm just freaking out and being anal here. Big surprise. Sigh.

angeliz2k · Apr 20, 2008

Yes, it does sound like what you're doing in legitimate. As long as you have some tension through the end, you can tie off those subplots earlier. In fact, that's probably the best way of doing it, becasue when a writer ties everything off at once it tends to seem contrived and story-book-ish.

Pike · Apr 20, 2008

JoNightshade said:
I think I'm just freaking out and being anal here. Big surprise. Sigh.

Join the club. Been trashing my current WIP because any motivation for my MC just isn't perfect. Got to be perfect. Can't be anything else but perfect. Do this sound familiar?

Pike

melaniehoo · Apr 20, 2008

I want to throw in my vote for approving of sexual tension. I don't like writing sex scenes, either, but I do mention that sex occurred. You can always show their newfound closeness (after the fact) with a caress or them holding hands, if that's something they didn't do before they did the deed.

Constantine K · Apr 20, 2008

If you stagger the subplots ending it probably wouldn't annoy me. It's nice to have things resolved as the story nears its end, but still have the bigger problems waiting for climax.

JoNightshade · Apr 20, 2008

Pike said:
Join the club. Been trashing my current WIP because any motivation for my MC just isn't perfect. Got to be perfect. Can't be anything else but perfect. Do this sound familiar?

Pike

LOL, that's me exactly. Haha. My story structure MUST BE PERFECT.

Anyway I think I'm feeling anxious about this because I'm nearing the end, and because of the sex issues. I'm totally fine with writing sex scenes, not a big deal, but the problems my characters are dealing with are very close to some personal stuff. I think that's what's really got me hung up - am I brave enough to dig into these issues? This happened a little on my other novel but it wasn't nearly as close to the bone. This time it kinda hurts.

Okay, I can do this.

Feathers · Apr 20, 2008

The way you're describing your story, I would say no to both 1&2. It sounds fine. The 15% may be a leetle long for the amount of conflict/plot left, but as long as you keep up the tension, and it sounds like you will, it should be OK.

-Feathers

Claudia Gray · Apr 20, 2008

I think you needn't worry about #1. In this case, the sexual tension between your leads isn't "will they/won't they," but whether they will be able to make intimacy last and work. So the tension doesn't end when the they marry -- you have to take them through to the ending to really resolve that question.

#2 I think is more problematic, but I am not 100% sure what you're referring to. If you wind up too much too soon, and the last 15% of your book is nothing but their new marriage, I suspect you're going to feel a lack of narrative drive. I'd want to carry through at least one of the subplots through nearly to the end, I think. (Maybe they marry in the belief that one of these subplots is resolved, but it isn't?)

Phaeal · Apr 20, 2008

Oops, it's going to be the dreaded answer again: It will work if it works.

jbryson · Apr 21, 2008

JoNightshade said:
Okay, so I have no intention of leaving any subplots dangling. My question is whether I can have the main plot continue beyond the subplots, or if I need to wrap them all up at the same time. But I guess that's already been answered.

Okay, if they get married, of course they have sex.

If problems remain, it's not about the sex. Well, it is but...

So, if the wedding is not the end of the story, and you probably need to establish that in the reader's mind before the wedding happens.

As for subplots: The tension in the subplots need partially to direct that of the main plot. In that sense, they are a part of the main plot; otherwise don't bother with a subplot. IMHO, they can be resolved anytime after they've had their effect on the main plot--even on page 23. As most here have already said, you do need to tie up all the subplots, and pretty quickly, once the main plot is resolved. In fact, you need to quit writing soon after that.

mikeland · Apr 21, 2008

I'm going to read between the lines on your message (with the caveat that I am often horribly off-base when I try to read between the lines).

It sounds to me like the real issue may be whether or not you maintain a consistent tone for the book before and after the wedding. You don't want the reader to feel like the ending is from a different book. The transition from "will they, won't they" to "can they, should they" could be jarring.

Knowing nothing about the actual work, it sounds like the first 85 percent could be rather light-hearted and fun. Sure there are going to be bumps in the road and painful moments, but basically you're taking the reader on this guy's quest after the unattainable woman -- and the reader will be pulling for him. But then, you seem to be saying that there are going to be "heavy" issues in the bedroom. Those scenes could have a drastically different tone than the previous pages. That would be a problem.

Let me throw out some questions to consider:

Does the reader know about the intimacy problems before the final 20 pages? Will the reader be surprised at the difficulty they have with sex?

Is the main plot the guy's pursuit of the girl? Or is the main plot the guy and girl's trouble with intimacy?

What is the POV of the book? If we have been inside both characters' heads, the transition will likely be easier. If we have only been inside the guy's head, the reader could be in for a surprise.

Caveman · Apr 22, 2008

In my humble opinion, it sounds like they are getting married too soon. Maybe they should talk about any potential problems they may have BEFORE they are actually married. It may be difficult for them to discuss very intimate details of sex without actually having slept with each other yet, but they should work out something first, or at least know where they stand. Being married to the most wonderful woman in the would will be a major drag if they are not at least compatible in bed.
Maybe i am just showing my age.

BlueLucario · Apr 22, 2008

JoNightshade said:
1) A book which had no main-character sex (but a lot of sexual tension) for most of the book suddenly focused on it a lot? (It's not graphic.)
2) The subplots wrapped up before the end of the book?

I'm not sure if I'm feeling weird about the way this is going because something's actually wrong, or if it's just because writing about their sex lives makes me personally uncomfortable.

#1: Is awkward. No sex character? How will you write this sex scene then?

#2 would definitely work. It saves time. And it could be pulled off it the resolution of the subplots could be mentioned later.

Would this work for you or annoy you?

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