Finishing Stuff Off

Or the series could gradually fade away until there was nothing left but a Cheshire Cat grin, hopefully on the face of the reader.

I can SO relate. On another board that I belong there are two series that i began reading that the authors have apparently abandoned. In both cases, what they have written is very good. On still another board, there is a non spanking serial I'm reading which is nearly a million words long so far. The author has been writing it for 3 or 4 years, and still posts more or less regularly, about 1 chapter a month. In a recent exchange of E-mails, he admitted he has no plan to finish the story, he's just seeing where it takes him. I find his approach very frustrating, and am tempted to quit reading it. The problem is, the technique works for him. Each chapter he turns out is really, really good, and his characters are really, really interesting, especially his lead character. So I keep reading to find out what happens next.

Thanks for all the interesting comments. I'm glad it isn't just me who has these lapses



Yep, sound advice.

A million words long and still not finished? You need some staying power to sit and read all that never mind the actual writing of it. Although there is much to be said for not being unduly prescriptive and seeing where a story takes you, something of those elephantine proportions could end up in a real tangle!

My problem, well amongst others, is sequels. I just have a mental block. I have literally a hundred unfinished stories but on the positive side I find the more I struggle the better the story. Most of the time at least!

flopsybunny

I rather wish you would carry on with the Secret Spanking Society one, I was validating that and quite enjoying it

Oooopsie - I'll do you a deal. First I'll finish a new one I'm writing called Thirteen Jericho Place (where lots of weird and whacky things go on) and THEN I'll finish off the Secret Spanking Society, or I'll eat my hat ... or would if I had one.

OK deal and I will provide the hat

I know you flops

A chocolate hat please

flopsybunny

I was thinking a nice rare steak hat Get writing