I am writing the short story that would not end. Will. Not. End. It's my own fault. I went into it with a premise I liked, but not a lot of structure. It took off on me and I'm having a great time with the characters and the dialogue, but I'm nearing 10,000 words and it's not ending.
My darling Andy pointed out that it might be helpful if I knew how I wanted it to end and I do think that's part of the problem. There's really only one good ending. The bad guy has to die. He's a threat that can never be neutralized. He's driven, he's got nothing to lose and he feels that he's on the side of the angels.
I don't think I can stand to kill him, though. I know what happened to him. I know the horror of it all. I know he's certain that he's out slaying the dragons that threaten all that's good and pure about our world. How can I kill him?
The problem is, how can I not kill him?
And so the story keeps going. Help me. Please.
10 comments:
oh my gosh - what a delimma?! Can you twist so he doesn't get killed, is there another pay off to keeping him around?
He could go back to the facility for the criminally insane, but is that really better than killing him?
Sounds like it wants to be a novel...
Killing people in print is never my problem, so not sure I can be of help, but I think Kathy is on the right track.
I think Kathy's on the right track, too... Maybe if you put him back in the facility for the criminally insane, or otherwise contain him in the short story, it can be like a prequel, (or even a sequel), for a new project? Sounds like an awesome character.
No no no. Not a novel. Novella at the max.
But keep it open for a future novel. :)
You know if you don't want to kill him, that will probably connect with the reader who won't actually want him dead despite what he's done, so when he does die you'll have great impact... so...there's that....
I'm with Maureen. Kill him... then bring him back in some reincarnated form for the book you obviously want to write about him.
Nice point, Molly. I do think those things come through even if they're not implicitly stated.
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