Post-climax conflict

[Sage]

So if you read a fantasy novel where the climax ended, thus resolving the main conflict, but there was still minor conflicts that took another three chapters to resolve, would you think that was too much? While I feel cheated when a novel ends right after the climax is resolved, with no actual conclusion, I'm pretty sure mine goes on for too long, & I can cut out some of the conclusiony stuff, but I was just wondering what you all thought about lingering conflict after the Big Bad's been thwarted.

[ChaosTitan]

See: The Return of the King, and its multiple endings....

Can you have those smaller conflicts resolved before the major climax, perhaps saving only one or two for afterward?

[Sage]

There's only a couple that are extending past the climax (& of those, one is resolved pretty soon afterwards... at least as much it's going to be resolved (stupid consequences ;) )). While they are underlying conflicts through the book, they are really brought to light by what happens in the battle, so, unfortunately, resolving them beforehand doesn't work at all.

You know Return of the King came to mind when I was writing this topic, but let's face it, I'm not Tolkien.

[ChaosTitan]

Ah, but who among us is Tolkien, my friend?

If the scenes are necessary to resolve those dangling threads, then write them. I suppose the only way to know if they work or not is for a beta to tell you. :Thumbs:

[zornhau]

The best threads contribute to the overall plot, so should resolve as part of the climax.

[Sage]

The best threads contribute to the overall plot, so should resolve as part of the climax.Are you not a fan of subplots? The subplots naturally contribute to the overall plot, but they don't resolve with the climax. They play a major part in it, but they don't resolve there.

[mdin]

I think it really depends on how interesting and exciting the subplots are. My first thought is To Kill a Mockingbird, which resolved a subplot after the climax. And in that case, one of the effects of the climax was an unexpected catalyst for the subplot.

It can be done. It's up to you to make it work.

[MDavis]

Sage, I know what you're going through. I myself like a lot of fun resolution to go with the characters I've come to love, but it's a fine line between visiting a little longer and overstaying your welcome.

My own WIP goes on too long at the end (and since the entire thing is too long for a debut novel) I'm doing some heavy cutting (so painful! http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/redface.gif).

Fortunately, I discovered a thread that distracted as much as it added to the plot, so that's helped me with some of my cutting, and will in turn help shorten the falling action. This may not help you, but have you looked back through the rest of the story to see if this same thing could have happened? It's the hardest thing to do sometimes: cut a section you think you did an especially good job writing when the content itself is the problem.

I also think something that helps me is to cut and paste the "deleted scenes" into a specific file I have set aside for that purpose. It helps me with the pain of loss (pardon my hyperbole) because at least it's not totally gone, and hey, if they ever make a DVD...well maybe not http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Sage]

Glad to know, I'm not the only one w/ this problem. I've barely started editing, so I know there'll be plenty of opportunity to see if things can be cut down (considering I'm at 131,000 words, I certainly hope so).

I know what you mean about losing scenes & the pain associated w/ it. I have a lot of stuff at the beginning that I'm doing exactly like you are, w/ the separate file for cut scenes (background that almost could stand alone). I have some friends who have been begging me for stories, but I haven't been able to give them anything since I've been focusing on my novels. Maybe I'll send them a couple of shorts that way. I can't do that with the ending scenes, but I probably will save them, at least temporarily, as I try & cut them down.

[DaveKuzminski]

Sometimes you have to include the start of another story or at least hint at it if you're working on a serial. If I'm not mistaken, there's a difference between a series and a serial since a serial technically never ends and you want to give a hint at what the next installment contains.

For instance, in one work I'm finishing, two vessels clash in battle. One is rammed and damaged, but still afloat, fortunately for the good guys. The other is swamped and defeated. Now the reader will know that the next installment will deal with them reaching their destination in what is now a damaged ship in an area prone to several kinds of storms and frequented by two known enemies.

[scarletpeaches]

Oh sorry, I thought from the title this thread was about the time I said to my ex, Martin, "Right, that's me done, you can f*ck off now."

[Maprilynne]

<laugh> and I was wondering it this thread should be moved to erotica.;)