Too much thinking?

[thatrcooper]

You know, I don't know why I write so much or why I feel the need to show every little thing a character is feeling, but it really makes stories go long. Usually much, much longer than I'd intended.

I mean, I plot out an arc about growth and realization (and love and sex) and I swear, I never think it's going to end up as complicated and drawn out as it always does. And it all feels essential and right (if in need of trimming and cutting out my insane love of commas). Then, 350 pages later, I realize that no way would anyone sit through 400 pages of fluffy romance (or 475 pages of non fluffy romance, in the case of Ideas of Sin) and I have to make cuts.

Which leaves me wondering if I could end something, say the Charlie and Will manuscript, which has not even been titled for all that it's now epic length, earlier than I'd intended and if it would still seem complete to people.  If maybe I'm the only one who needs the After.

Because seriously, my endings are um...a bit anticlimactic, really. Aren't they? 475 pages of struggle and then...something small. They walk away. He says a name. They open a door, etc...

Or it's just a day for self-doubt.

Thinky thinky thinky.

Comments

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Okay, it seems to me (having read the majority of it) that the ending should solve two issues. (1) Charlie and his self-esteem issue. (2) The one fault that I see in this story (and it's so intriguing that I didn't realize this until now) is that Will needs an issue. That only Charlie can solve for him. Perhaps expand on the "daddy" thing. Keep the kink but put the kink in context so that it's both pervy and healing? The ending is the recognition on some level that these characters mesh and can move forward in all their imperfect selves. Once you reach that point, then there's nothing left to say. It seems to be that throughout the entire novel (at this point) that Charlie is constantly fighting the relationship on some level. Whether his self-esteem is so in the toilet or he has issues with his gay, I don't know, but it needs to be dealt with. Will? Not sure. Perhaps his escape into movies? Something can be pleasure and a problem. Maybe he and Charlie need to have a knockdown drag out fight how all of Will's refernces are to something celluoid. That he's rarely on this earth. None of these things needs to be RESOLVED you understand, but they need to be out there, and we, as the reader, need to understand on some level why they work together. What do they offer each other so that the puzzle piece fits? That Charlie has faith that Will lusts and loves him, and Will has faith that Charlie ???????????

That's what you're working toward.

[r-cooper.livejournal.com]

Between you and Kittie, you've actually been really helpful. Because I still have my ending (usually vague but stronger lately) in mind, but it's the length that always throws me. I don't know why I go on so long, but yeah.

Will's problems. Well he has the movie thing, and then that Charlie is sort of right for doubting him, Will's never had to stick around before. Wanted to, maybe, but never had to make himself stay and deal with the unpleasant side of things.

She just reminded me of what you said about answering questions. That's comforting. I should trust my brain in the answering the questions department...

Just maybe not the shut the hell up already department. :)

[paraxdisepink.livejournal.com]

That Charlie can be his Spank Daddy without thinking less of him? That he can be kinky without being degraded/used? Hmm.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

YES! I like this. But, um, not writing it. But I would definitely buy it in a heartbeat.

[r-cooper.livejournal.com]

Hmm I come back and find there's a spanking discussion that I totally missed. No fair. haha

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Kittie and I are evol. You know that.

[r-cooper.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. I was kind of going to go there, but now I guess I HAVE TO.

More spanking prons for me...