How did you know when it was "The End?"

cscarlet · Feb 9, 2010

I'm in my first editing overhaul. It's been quite a journey (to say the least)!

I went from knowing NOTHING about writing fiction, to having something that (at least loosely) resembles a YA novel!

But my MS still needs a lot of work, and there's one thing in particular I'm struggling with right now: whether or not to extend the ending.

Now, I like my ending. It wraps everything up quite nicely, but has enough edge that it's not necessarily a "happily ever after" (which is what I was going for). But I also love my characters and have a whole book's worth of stuff I could picture them doing next, and I can see how they COULD reach that "happily ever after" if they wanted to.

Since my current work is only 55k words, there is plenty of ROOM to make it longer if I wanted. So, part of me now is wondering if I should just keep going. (According to one outline, this would end the book at about 80k words - which is still reasonable for a YA science fantasy).

The word count isn't the issue - it's the story. Do I give up my edgy ending to make a longer book with a "Happily Ever After?"... I don't know. Or do I leave it as it stands and polish it up? Am I just "not wanting to let go" of my characters because I'm attached to them? Or can the story really use some additional fleshing out?"

*sigh* I know, those were rhetorical since you can't answer without reading.

I guess I just wanted to see if anyone else has had this internal conflict before?

How did YOU know when to say "THE END?" And more importantly, have you ever second-guessed yourself? How did that work out for you?

thothguard51 · Feb 9, 2010

With my first agent, she had me cut the last 3 chapters from the book, one in the center of the book and suggested ditching the prologue, as is. The prologue and one in the center I could see. But ditch the last three when they wrapped up the book so nicely after this long advenure? I told her I felt the last three chapters made the book stand alone, even though this was the first in a series. She said, the reader understands its a series long before they get to the end, and the wrap up does not need to be that complete. She liked the last line of a chapter 3 chapters before the ending and said that was my ending, leaving the reader wanting more.

I had to think on it and in talking to my daughter, she agreed with the agent.

So, the book did not end where I thought it would end, but where someone more wiser and experienced than I thought it should end. I took this advice to the other books in the series, always leave the readers wanting more...

Chris P · Feb 9, 2010

As to your general question, I just sort of knew. The stories (so far, 1 novella, 1 novel and a dozen or so shorts) said what I wanted them to. When adding more made the book cuter or funnier and didn't add to what we already knew about the characters, it was time to stop. I've had very limited publishing success (so far

) but I had to be satisfied with the stories first.

cscarlet · Feb 9, 2010

Thanks for your input guys

It does feel strange to second guess myself. Maybe I'll keep it as-is. I don't think I'd get REJECTED per say for having a short(er) YA novel (I know, that's a broad assumption - so any experience or knowledge to the contrary is welcome).

And I suppose if it ever came up, I'd always have an outline done for the extra chapters and could indicate a willingness to make changes...

*sigh* I'm probably getting too far ahead of myself anyway. LOL

yvonne58 · Feb 9, 2010

It doesn't hurt to submit a longer manuscript to give the agent or the publisher more options. That way, you get to put in all your favorite scenes, and let them decide where the ending really should be. They might surprise you.

Jenifer · Feb 9, 2010

There's something to be said for leaving the reader craving more. I won't say I'd be turned off by an in depth wrap-up, but if I'm left wanting more, I'm more likely to pick up the author's next book to seek it out. But I'm a character junkie; even if the next book doesn't include the people I miss from the first, oftentimes I'll settle for new ones from the same writer to fill the hole!

Danthia · Feb 10, 2010

My stories end when the protag resolves the goal she's been trying to achieve most of the book. There's usually something major driving your protag, and though other subplots pop up and things need to be done, that major goal is the point of the book. When someone asks, "what's your book about?" this is the thing you tell them. When that's done, the story ends. There's some wrap up, but there's nothing left to finish.

It doesn't have to end with happily ever after. It just has to end in a way that satisfies the reader and answers the story question you posed at the start of the book.

How did you know when it was "The End?"

cscarlet

AW = Procrastination.

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

cscarlet

AW = Procrastination.

yvonne58

Jenifer

Now with extra neurotic filling.

Danthia