When the Ending Comes to Fast...

Finish it, then go back and see where stuff can be added. If you really can't add anything without it being detrimental to the story, then leave it as is. People would rather read something short than they would read something stretched for length. Just my opinion.

If you absolutely must increase your length, think about the plot and try to add another complication. Just make sure that it makes sense, and try to add more to the story. (Don't, for instance, have the MC give up for no reason right before reaching his/her goal just to drag out a few more chapters).

It might just be that your story is fine the way it is. When you edit, perhaps you'll find places that you can expand on.

Anne Mini talks about this all the time on her blog (author! Author!)

It's called "The short road home" it's basically when the writer hasn't pursued all of the opportunities for conflict. This is especially true when the entire book is built leading up to the climax and the "solution" only takes up a few pages.

I have this problem too. Try going back and adding more obstacles in your MC's way.

50-55k is commonly quoted as the minimum for YA books. Though there are a few out there that are mid 30k range (Like Lisa McMann's Cryer's Cross is only at 33k). Don't stress too much about the word count until the story is finished.

I had one of the crims avoid capture in what would otherwise have been the ending, and all of a sudden MC had another problem to solve. It required adding some facts earlier in the plot to make this look like a natural result of the earlier action. Otherwise it could look like a rough add-on.

Sub-plots. I cannot stress this enough. Sub-plots, of all kinds, as long as it's done well!

SMagdalene said:

Sub-plots. I cannot stress this enough. Sub-plots, of all kinds, as long as it's done well!

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But I know you're good in that department AlishaS!

This is quite a struggle for me too. If you feel like your story's complete, it just might be. I broke into someone's interest (my agent) at 31K.

Both novels I've written (that are now published) have been critted on making it longer, developing it more. I have the problem that my characters are a bit under-developed. That doesn't mean it isn't a good story. To me, it means, the reader's reading it want more. More to the story because it may just be a really interesting one, yet not fully sculpted (did i spell that right? anyways) yeah...

maybe the story needs to be more complex and at a deeper level. So I would agree, more sub-plots can and may help that word count woe of yours. IF you think it's filled with enough plot, then I suggest you ponder on your supporting characters (can you give them a tiny story to string along with to add and enhance the end?? Take a look around your book, be inside it more...don't be afraid to explore more background perhaps? (open the doors...umm the words up that way?) It's hard to know what may be causing you these concerns. I would hate to think an execellent story isn't submitted because the writer thought that blooming word count was the very problem. You don't know until you forge ahead somehow.

So it isn't a question about what more do I say, it's a question of is it complete at 46K (beginning, middle and end) Am I satisified with the outcome of the book? IF not, how can I enhance? those are just some questions this YA novelist asks and it has helped me.

Good luck.

*raises hand* I have this problem every time. It's one of the perils of writing without an outline.

Is this a first draft? If so, don't sweat it right now. Finish up the draft and let it sit for a week/month/whatever works to clear the story out of your head. Then read it with fresh eyes.

I guarantee you'll find enough to add to the story to increase it's length. Complicate the main plot, add a subplot or two. Or even things to beef up individual scenes. Focus on lengthening it in draft 2.

KateSmash said:

*raises hand* I have this problem every time. It's one of the perils of writing without an outline.

Is this a first draft? If so, don't sweat it right now. Finish up the draft and let it sit for a week/month/whatever works to clear the story out of your head. Then read it with fresh eyes.

I guarantee you'll find enough to add to the story to increase it's length. Complicate the main plot, add a subplot or two. Or even things to beef up individual scenes. Focus on lengthening it in draft 2.

Click to expand...

yeah. that about wraps it up for me, too. it's a killer if your mind's not in the right place with your wrote, it floats in distraction (in my opinion). *me thinks me needs to outline...the lines of all the lines...line by line? I've expanded my last piece by open up empty spaces to revise on printed paper and that seems to do the trick for me (sometimes, but not always) Everyone has a different way of working on writing. Take what grabs you to again "scuplt" and "craft" and create the newest and best approach on the reader. What do you want them to know? Why have you chosen this target audience? Do you think it will gear towards them in a positive, motivational and contructive way? (I know that's a lot to think about, but hey...we're all in it for the reader's sake, first and foremost...

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What the hell did I just say? (oops, gonna press "submit reply" and wait...and maybe reread my own response...now that's a stretch...hehe

(again....IF this type of approach isn't a good sign MOD's please watch over me and erase...(as the story goes...

According to Don Maass, you can never have too many parallels in a good novel. Exploring your story's potential for effective parallels will inevitably open doors for more layering and subplots. The more threads you have to tie up/resolve at (or just before or immediately after) the climax, the more impact it has, in my opinion. That's the stuff that a BIG BANG ending is made of.

Although, just to be clear, you can have too many subplots. So be selective. Explore all your possibilities and then choose the best ones to actually use in the story.