Where does it end???

[Djmac1031]

My query is, how do you decide where your stories end?

I struggled with this question the most while writing my series The Jenna Arrangement.

It started as a very simple story that grew and expanded into what finally became 30 chapters and a prequel.

I realized very early on I had no End Game in mind. I was just writing the continuing adventures of these characters I'd created and come to love.

Eventually, though, I decided i did need to end it. The series was just too long, readers were drifting away and I was running out of ideas.

I decided to end it, not with a sense of finality, but with the inference that these characters would continue on together into the unknown future, we'd just no longer get to follow them.

 

[DynamicFigure]

It ends with her completely ravaged with big sparkly stars in her eyes.

 

[gunhilltrain]

It ends with her completely ravaged with big sparkly stars in her eyes.

If the story goes on long enough, it usually ends in a break-up, which is how modern relationships usually go. That was already true in 1975, fifty years ago. One guy is complaining about being dumped by this girlfriend. He's talking to the girlfriend before her, who also dumped him for an older guy with better prospects. They maintain a half-friendly acquaintanceship anyway.

"I don't know, you ladies don't play fair."

Nora rolled her eyes. "Paul, for better or worse, it's not 1905 any longer. It's a different world now." She sang, " 'Daisy, Daisy, I'm half-crazy, all for the love of you.' " She smiled. "Of course, the song doesn't tell you what happened after they got married."

"So what do I do now?"

"What we all have to do. Start over."

 

[Northstar4695]

I have a story I published recently that was very short. It was just an encounter, about 2500 words. As I finished it, I had an idea for a much longer continuation (maybe 10k words or more, not sure). I’ve done one chapter story before, but the later chapters didn’t get much attention. I was thinking about essentially publishing a standalone full story including the portion already published. I might put a short note at the opening to explain. In this instance I should have kept it going, but I was too eager to get that short scene up.

 

[iwatchus]

I got an anonymous comment last night that is very relevant. First the comment:

You have not finished in the right place. Carol is capable of redemption and Mel has room to flower. You have done ok with the prickly first bits - now we need a strong second half.

This was on an LS story, two main characters had been flirting for months, became lovers, discovered a serious issue blocking the relationship and then resolved the relations. The comment is partially right, in my mind at least. I did not give enough of a calm down in the story after the drama of resolving the underlying issue. I think I would have done a better job if I wrote it now. But it never would have been close to half. Or I could write a sequel, but I actually think it would be boring, no major conflicts to resolve.

I think Carol's path to redemption is obvious once the climax has occurred. Mel will hopefully flower. Those seem likely to happen.

I chose to ease off (too quickly albeit) where I did because I thought that was essentially the end of the story I wanted to tell. The interesting part of THIS story was done. I understand the desire to enjoy the payoff more, but I'm not as interested in writing a really long description of what their happily ever after looks like.

 

[caleb35]

I was just going to post a related thread when I thought I'd jump in on this one instead, provided @ShelbyDawn57 is okay with that. I notice that a lot of erotica tends to fall into one of two categories in terms of endings -- it ends with all depicted sex acts completed, or it ends at the onset or middle of a sex act. Question is, which do you prefer? Is one preferable to another? I sometimes wonder if it's better to keep readers wanting more, or if (at least some) readers are turned off if they don't see all sex scenes brought to completion.

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Sort of a follow on to Where to Begin...

To be honest, all of our stories are just snippets of larger stories. We just choose the slice we want to write.
Everything we write could go on theoretically forever, but we choose where to end it when a specific goal has been met with the characters involved. I get comments all the time asking for more, another chapter, closure for some ancillary theme. The characters are all still there, I've just chosen to stop the story at 'this' point for, well, reasons...

My query is, how do you decide where your stories end?

There are not right or wrong answers. I just thought this would be an interesting discussion of our craft.

Show me this is truly a great topic.
I will tell you for my Marcus Hogue series. I took it to the very end of life.
With a series, I’m currently working on through chapter 15. I haven’t decided where to end at because it’s constantly ongoing like you said we choose to stop the story at whatever point we choose and decide for.

I’m a romantic at heart and most comments I get reflect how I end my stories with pure romance I think the unknown and happily ever after is a nice thing considering all the negativity

 

[YmaOHyd]

I was just going to post a related thread when I thought I'd jump in on this one instead, provided @ShelbyDawn57 is okay with that. I notice that a lot of erotica tends to fall into one of two categories in terms of endings -- it ends with all depicted sex acts completed, or it ends at the onset or middle of a sex act. Question is, which do you prefer? Is one preferable to another? I sometimes wonder if it's better to keep readers wanting more, or if (at least some) readers are turned off if they don't see all sex scenes brought to completion.

I guess probably the former...? I haven't ended a story at the start of or in the middle of a sex act yet. It's erotic fiction; people want to see the boots knocked. But I see the sex as just steps in the relationship the stories are about. So April's Fool ends after the special sex the girlfriend arranges for her partner to fulfill a fantasy she can't. Plugged In ends after the sex but right as the two characters are beginning to contemplate a relationship (and half the comments are asking for a sequel).

 

[caleb35]

I guess probably the former...? I haven't ended a story at the start of or in the middle of a sex act yet. It's erotic fiction; people want to see the boots knocked. But I see the sex as just steps in the relationship the stories are about. So April's Fool ends after the special sex the girlfriend arranges for her partner to fulfill a fantasy she can't. Plugged In ends after the sex but right as the two characters are beginning to contemplate a relationship (and half the comments are asking for a sequel).

I will have you know that just a little while ago I saw that there was a Literotica April Fools contest, and I thought to myself, "You know, 'April's Fool' would be a good title for a story, I should develop that before someone else does"

 

[Djmac1031]

I will have you know that just a little while ago I saw that there was a Literotica April Fools contest, and I thought to myself, you know, "April's Fool" would be a good title for a story, I should develop that before someone else does"

I did one close: April Fools Daddy

https://www.literotica.com/s/april-fools-daddy

But I think you'll be okay on yours

 

[NaughteeDragon]

IMO, the story should end when you’ve resolved the issue that launched the story. If those characters have another story to tell, write a sequel.
I have a story I’m writing called My Sister’s Wife, about a man who becomes the baby-daddy for his lesbian sister in law. However, the story is not about him getting her pregnant, it’s about the changes the family goes through to find happiness.
I could make the whole story about the pregnancy, but instead I’m putting that in chapter 5, and it will take another 5-7 chapters to get to the “happy ending.” My story A Different Kind of Valentine is part of chapter 6 of that story.

 

[CalBishForNow]

I was just going to post a related thread when I thought I'd jump in on this one instead, provided @ShelbyDawn57 is okay with that. I notice that a lot of erotica tends to fall into one of two categories in terms of endings -- it ends with all depicted sex acts completed, or it ends at the onset or middle of a sex act. Question is, which do you prefer? Is one preferable to another? I sometimes wonder if it's better to keep readers wanting more, or if (at least some) readers are turned off if they don't see all sex scenes brought to completion.

I've done both. I like ending it in the middle of the sex act when there was some emotional or interpersonal conflict and resolving it led to the sex. On the other hand, when the story is just about hot sex, I like to "cut to black" after it's over, when the couple is turning out the light for the night, or laughing at some personal joke or something.

That being said, I find it hard to imagine ending a story in the middle of the only sex act in the story. In the end, this is still erotica. Leaving the reader with blue balls like that seems cruel.

 

[DynamicFigure]

If the story goes on long enough, it usually ends in a break-up, which is how modern relationships usually go. That was already true in 1975, fifty years ago. One guy is complaining about being dumped by this girlfriend. He's talking to the girlfriend before her, who also dumped him for an older guy with better prospects. They maintain a half-friendly acquaintanceship anyway.

"I don't know, you ladies don't play fair."

Nora rolled her eyes. "Paul, for better or worse, it's not 1905 any longer. It's a different world now." She sang, " 'Daisy, Daisy, I'm half-crazy, all for the love of you.' " She smiled. "Of course, the song doesn't tell you what happened after they got married."

"So what do I do now?"

"What we all have to do. Start over."

Paul can take some time off from women abd identify his pattern. Specifically, why he keeps attracting women that eventually abandon him.

You always get a version of your mother until you resolve your issues with your mother.