Just when I think that I'm out, it pulls me back in.

A similar situation happened to me. I write a series. I've written it for a very very long time. I was always told that for a series to survive, for it to be picked up and liked each story had to stand alone. So that's what i did. Each book was a new story, what i thought made it a series, was the same characters. the way you watch they grow up, there abilities morph and enhance, there bond together strengthen.

Then i watched the last Harry Potter movie. I'm not a fan of Harry Potter, never was, never will be, but my boyfriend was and drug me to see it, like he did for the last three of those movies. As i was watching it i could hear kids and adults alike crying over it. For some reason this bothered me. I wanted to know what made them cry over the ending of this series, what made this last movie and book "SO EPIC" as everyone told me. Some told me it was the characters, some told me it was simply because it was the end. Then i asked my boyfriend. He simply said "it so amazing because its a battle you watch/read for years and finally the side you pray and wish to win does. Everything is put to rest and its a peaceful epic ending."

It all got me thinking. Like really thinking about where my series was going. it didnt have that OMG epic ending. The last book was just going to bring up some old characters previously thought to be died, and end it all. I realized the whole series was just a gigantic let down.... it didn't end with a band at all. I sat there thinking that if my series were to be made into movies, not a single person would feel the same way towards my ending as they did to Harry Potter.

One day driving home from work it was really bugging me. I felt like i just couldnt pull off my series now because there was this huge problem with the stupid minimal ending. I dont really know how the thought came to me... Honestly i think it was always there i just thought it was to drastic. TOO much of an "OMG NO WAY" kind of deal. That it wold throw the readers through too much of a loop, but the more i thought of this concept the more i realized. I didnt need to re-write a single thing. All the slight plot holes that no one would even think were plot holes but just bugged me, would be instantly solved, every single question revolving around the entire series answered. Everything would fall into place so perfectly it was shocking. All i would have to do was add one last book (or split it into two, havent decided yet) that would bring the ENTIRE series to a full circle epic ending.

My boyfriend who is my only fan and the only person who knows every aspect of my series, i thought wouldnt like this new idea. I thought he would think it was stupid but i told him anyway... told him i was considering it. We were driving and after i told him he was really quiet. I looked over at him and his jaw was just dropped as he stared ahead. Then all he could say for the next 10 minutes was "Oh my God, Oh my God!" Low and behold he loved it even more then me. SO now problem solved.

Makes me now wonder why I didn't come up with the idea sooner.

I don't have a similar story yet but I am hoping that this happens to me. My first WIP is going great right now. I love the story and the characters. The plot is working out fine. I just feel that by the end it will not be a very big bang. I'm afraid it will not have the kind of effect on the reader that it is giving me, because I just don't write big enough scenes. So for now I am just plugging away. On my edits I will re-read and try to up the action if necessary.

I think when were are in the high of the creative act, we can't see the wood for the trees. It's only after we've typed 'the end,' and stepped back that we realise that something isn't working.

I left my book for 3 months between drafts, sometimes it can just be relaxing in front of a tv/movie. When I came back to my *awesome* book, I discovered plot flaws, flabby pacing and whole scenes that needed deleting no matter how beautifully written they where.

That's great, Gonzo.

I did have a similar experience, though minus the staying up all night. I was happy with the WiP overall, but I had that nagging feeling that there was still just something missing. I don't remember how I found that missing thing - it wasn't an 'Ah HAH!' kind of moment in the shower or anything like that, I think I just kept poking around with a pointed stick until something occurred to me, but once I did that I was even happier with what resulted.

How very awesome for you Gonzo. Congrats!

Congrats, Gonzo!

I've not had it at the same stage as you (my WIP is considerably less advanced), but I certainly know the feeling!

There's nothing better when you have a plot holes/something not quite figured out - and then all of a sudden an awesome idea just seems to fit perfectly! Almost as if it made to be neatly inserted into the story.

Strange how the mind works.

I had a similar experience. It wasn't that something needed to be added. It was that a relationship needed more definition. Doing the rewrites was easy and it made the whole story better.

Dr.Gonzo said:

It's all fallen into place, like it was meant to be there,

Click to expand...

Thank your Muse, or she'll set you on fire while you sleep. At least, mine would.

A bottle of Jack Daniels, at the minimum.

Definitely has happened. My last WIP (accepted by the publisher btw) was a journey story, and at the time it left me thinking something was missing in the middle, leaving it kinda stale. I can't remember when the thought came to me, but I finally figured it out and added in the right conflict at what I feel was the right time.

I tend to be a bit of a pantser when it comes to writing the less fleshed out area of a story, especially around the middle. I write my outlines, but sometimes I just don't listen.