Writing your fic's ending

[Redenne_Moon]

I've been writing the final chapter of a fic I started in 2023 and the idea of it ending doesn't feel real 😂

Real life is slamming me atm so the progress has been mega slow anyway, but I've also noticed that even though I'm excited about finishing the story and reaching what I've been building up to this whole time, I'm hesitating and putting off working on it. I find endings hard to write, especially with a big emotional climax. Expectations feel high. It's also hard to say goodbye.

What are your experiences writing the end of your multi-chapter fics? Do you also find it hard? In what way? Any tips? Any fun stories to share?
Just curious to hear how others feel! I've only finished one multi-chapter before this, and I wrote all the chapters simultaneously so it felt different

 

[CuteBunnyGirl]

I have never actually reached the ending when writing multi-chapter fics. Usually, the ending is the part I come up with very early into planning, but it's basically the last part I actually write. And that is if I manage to write it before getting distracted by a new fic idea.

 

[Redenne_Moon]

I have never actually reached the ending when writing multi-chapter fics. Usually, the ending is the part I come up with very early into planning, but it's basically the last part I actually write. And that is if I manage to write it before getting distracted by a new fic idea.

Ahhh I getcha, I'm also writing this fic chronologically. It's hard to avoid getting tempted by other fic ideas after writing one story for a long time, if only just to shake things up. I have taken a few breaks to write one shots here and there for this reason. I'm basically chomping at the bit to get to the next fic set after this one, because it will be a totally new setting and adventure, but I gotta wrap this one up first.

 

[SparklingBlue]

There's simultaneously that sadness of saying goodbye to a world you've been in for a long time, and the pride and satisfaction of knowing it's done.

 

[Oceanside Lowlife]

I always have a great sense of pride and satisfaction with myself. It's like finishing a chapter you were stuck on x 100. Mind you I haven't written a lot of fics, but the whole process of creating, writing, and (hopefully) sticking that landing is exhausting. I usually go and celebrate with a drink (or five). I tend to stick to one project at a time, so I don't have the melancholy of saying good bye to the fic, which is odd to say. But usually I'm so jazzed about getting to sink my teeth into my next idea that I tunnel on that once the celebration phase of finishing a fic is over.

 

[133TFR33k]

I've logged a ton of hours working on my fic. I've been pouring my everything into it.

When I stop a moment and consider the feeling of having it all written and ending it... I don't think it would be easy.

Is THIS why some fics are over 1,000,000 words? I feel like it would be great if we got input from one of the mega-length authors too.(unless one of you already is one)

Sadly, I won't be able to stretch my fic to anywhere near 1,000,000 words and I think if I were to try, it would drag down the average quality. Better to be short and sweet than long and mediocre. Length is relative though I suppose. I'm told over 100k words for a fic is rare for a first-time author.

 

[Redenne_Moon]

There's simultaneously that sadness of saying goodbye to a world you've been in for a long time, and the pride and satisfaction of knowing it's done.

I know I'm gonna feel sooooo satisfied when I can mark it completed

I always have a great sense of pride and satisfaction with myself. It's like finishing a chapter you were stuck on x 100. Mind you I haven't written a lot of fics, but the whole process of creating, writing, and (hopefully) sticking that landing is exhausting. I usually go and celebrate with a drink (or five). I tend to stick to one project at a time, so I don't have the melancholy of saying good bye to the fic, which is odd to say. But usually I'm so jazzed about getting to sink my teeth into my next idea that I tunnel on that once the celebration phase of finishing a fic is over.

I love that!! I'll definitely have to celebrate and treat myself to something after. And I don't think it's odd to say, I totally understand what you mean about feeling so ready to get to the next idea you've been putting off until the current project was finished. It's exciting to start something totally new!

I've logged a ton of hours working on my fic. I've been pouring my everything into it.

When I stop a moment and consider the feeling of having it all written and ending it... I don't think it would be easy.

Is THIS why some fics are over 1,000,000 words? I feel like it would be great if we got input from one of the mega-length authors too.(unless one of you already is one)

Sadly, I won't be able to stretch my fic to anywhere near 1,000,000 words and I think if I were to try, it would drag down the average quality. Better to be short and sweet than long an mediocre. Length is relative though I suppose. I'm told over 100k words for a fic is rare for a first-time author.

Gosh yeah 100k+ words is long for sure! Really impressive for a first story. It will probably feel super surreal when you finish. But it also means that you have lots new possibilities, and you can fall in love with a new story ❤️

For my work, I decided to make a series and write separate fics of different fun adventures throughout the timeline that lead to the ship getting together in the final fic, rather than putting them all into one mega long one. But if you consider them one body of work since they're all connected, I suppose it could be like a longfic (I wonder what the total word count will end up being...). But at this stage the ending of my series feels so far off that I can't even imagine what that'll be like lol

I'd be very curious about the process and experience of writing/finishing a longfic, especially ones that get into the millions!

 

[K_S]

I've been writing the final chapter of a fic I started in 2023 and the idea of it ending doesn't feel real 😂

I've been there. Actually low grade blue screened when i got to my set aside time to work on a wrapped up fic and was like;

"oh yeah.. its done...huh"

Then the feels came out of the box. A mixmash of missing the story. Missing playing w the scenario and characters. But a sense of satisfaction amd happiness.

Real life is slamming me atm so the progress has been mega slow anyway, but I've also noticed that even though I'm excited about finishing the story and reaching what I've been building up to this whole time, I'm hesitating and putting off working on it.

Personally working on a story is huge part of what i am doing, especially during high stress rl times. Its a bit of a mixmatch of destraction and life raft for my brain.

I find endings hard to write, especially with a big emotional climax. Expectations feel high. It's also hard to say goodbye.

Funny enough i ususally know the ending well before the half way point. I actually just finished editing the ending of an upcoming project and need to tweek the outline of the prevjos 4/5s... but the ending... thats basically done.

But with other projects i knew early how it was going to wind down and that seemed to have nipped any farewell blues in the bud.

I candidly dont finish a lot of projects. But of those that i have finished ...

Spoiler: List of stories

Two paths (pkmn)
Body of proof(pkmn)
guilty and innocent (pkmn)
Gift fic for Couch (pkmn fanfic new path)
Flickure of judgment (toa)
Line of impiety (toa)
Ash and ruin (toa)
elegence and blood (toa)
Someone else's(tos kh cross over)
Double edged swprd, red earth, broken sword/soul (tos)
Defience birth of the renegades (tos)
Sterile skies (.hack SIGN)
The Shinra files (ff7)

Welĺ even though it isnt my best i'm still funnily rather attached to thrm

 

[Astinus]

It wasn't until I read this topic that I realized that this is probably another reason why I haven't written anything for two months. I'm at the pivotal ending of my Project for Another Fandom before heading to the next part, and I think I just didn't want to believe it. I've finished two previous parts, but this one is the turning point of the main conflict.

This is an actual thing with writers. Like, actual grief when you reach the end of your story. An author spends so much time in the world with these characters, and when it's the end of their story, it's time to say good-bye. There are published authors that I can think of that just didn't seem ready to put an end to some of their worlds.

I'd be very curious about the process and experience of writing/finishing a longfic, especially ones that get into the millions!

Is THIS why some fics are over 1,000,000 words? I feel like it would be great if we got input from one of the mega-length authors too.(unless one of you already is one)

... AMA?

Not sure if I want to admit that Project for Another Fandom has reached ~775000 words with only three out of nine parts written.

 

[SparklingBlue]

@Redenne_Moon

I have completed one story of the Anime Remix Project so far--Pokemon Moonlight Silver (the Johto remix) ended up with 120 episodes/chapters plus an epilogue. It wasn't easy at some points (especially reshuffling teams around).

 

[K_S]

. Better to be short and sweet than long an mediocre. Length is relative though I suppose. I'm told over 100k words for a fic is rare for a first-time author.

Short and sweet he says....

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I know how both Obsession and Gakutensoku will end. But when I get there I know I'll be heartbroken.

 

[K_S]

I know how both Obsession and Gakutensoku will end. But when I get there I know I'll be heartbroken.

If its any consolation youll have given your readers a wondeful roadtrip

 

[System Error]

I mean, with how many Nori/Prema fics I've finished, it just doesn't register anymore. It did a bit with Official In-Training because that turned into a longfic when scope creep hit hard (I kept it all together), but that was more a sense of accomplishment. Though I'm more of a special case because I'm writing a series and I write in advance instead of doing one chapter at a time.

I guess what I'm saying is, it gets easier. Just do what you've always been doing, and keep your eyes forward on your next project!

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

If its any consolation youll have given your readers a wondeful roadtrip

Aww shucks. Neither will be for years though

 

[K_S]

Well itll be a fun, scenic, ride, wont it.