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Well . . . Here we go. Today I’m going to start hyping and posting about Legends of Windemere: Warlord of the Forgotten Age. This is the grand finale of my fantasy series and that has me thinking about endings. A necessary part of any story, but it can be one of the hardest parts too. Most times, it comes down to one infamous word:
CLOSURE
Not only for the characters and readers, but for the author. In fact, it’s much worse for the author because they have to create closure for all parties involved. The characters are the ease ones to appease while the readers can be more complicated because many create their own endings. Nothing you can do about it outside of doing the best you can and making sure you don’t leave hundreds of plot holes. Personally, I’ve come to terms with that fact and feel like I’ve brought my characters to their natural conclusions. That leaves me with only one twitchy, rum and pizza fueled basket case.
I always thought this would be an easy stage and I’d be distracted by a new project. Things change after 19 years of waking up every day with the same characters in your head. Even during the 10 years I wasn’t writing new books, I was thinking about them and poring over the outlines. If not that then I’d edit one of the written books. Either way, Legends of Windemere has been a part of me for over half of my life. As you can guess, this makes it much harder to let go and I’m wondering why I thought otherwise. Youthful optimism, which is hard to associate with me these days.
Can’t say I’ll feel full closure until maybe a few months pass, but it could depend a lot on what happens next. Not sure about other authors since I’ve yet to meet any that have done a series as big as mine. Jury is still out on if I’m ambitious or insane since massive series haven’t been a trend for a while. One thing I’ve done is plan on having the survivors make cameos in future stories. I guess I’m not really giving myself closure, especially since I’m not leaving Windemere. My next series takes place in an earlier time than Legends of Windemere, but I can still use the same species, magic system, and maybe hint at a few ‘future’ heroes and villains. The door is being left ajar for myself and readers who want to visit again, which might be delaying the inevitable.
So, what do other people think about endings when it comes to stories? Do you have trouble letting go or is it easy to move on to the next adventure?
Legends of Windemere 
I do get atatched to my characters, but I also enjoy having their stories come to an end, and knowing they’ve told their tales and I can start playing with the next idea.
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Do you ever have the temptation to go back to the old series?
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Sometimes, yes. Especially if a reader makes a request to hear more about a certain character (though not only then).
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I get those requests a lot for supporting characters. Problem is that as interesting as they are, the story doesn’t feel like it’s really there. I always fear that doing it would ruin the character as well because they’d be the focal point instead of supporting. That changes a lot.
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I see reaching the end as a pause. If more stories come to me, I’m happy to pick where I left.
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Makes sense. I’m really putting a finale on this cast though. No real rationale for the survivors to continue adventuring considering the scale of this one and the aftermath.
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I understand. I have considered building up Pearseus: Schism (the prequel) into a full-blown novel or continuing some 300 years into the future from where I left off Pearseus: Endgame. I have also considered an origin novel (or even series) explaining how the First ended up on the planet some 100,000 years ago. Now, that’s what I call a prequel 😀
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That definitely would be a prequel. Think you’ll ever write another story in that world?
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Yes, I do. No idea when, though. I’ve taken 2017 off writing to focus on publishing and marketing my work, as you know, and I have some interesting results to share–some of which you already know (the rest are coming soon, hopefully). So, it will 2018 at the earliest. Until then, I’m filling notebooks with ideas and dialogue bits!
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How has the year off gone? Feels like even taking a month off kills momentum and marketing opportunities are either rare or too pricey these days.
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All in all, it’s been good. I promise a detailed post as we reach the year’s end 🙂
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Good to hear. You’re a braver man than I. I’d be freaking out by February that I made a mistake.
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I miss writing, to be honest. At least the year’s almost over 🙂
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So close to 2018. So many reasons to want to put 2017 behind.
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Tell me about it. Sigh…
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Seems natural to want to hang on. I can’t help thinking of J. K. Rowling who said a firm no to other books in her series. But she has approached returning to the world by exploring a different angle with Fantastic Beasts.
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I’ve been wondering about there being no more Harry Potter books. Feels like new ones or at least short stories keep coming out. I’m assuming she meant only with those characters instead of leaving the world behind.
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She adds new stories to Pottermore sometimes. And she’s writing the movie screenplays. Maybe she said all she had to say about Harry Potter’s journey.
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Except for that Cursed Child one. 😛
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I have nowhere near your level of involvement in a series. In my limited experience, when the last word is written it is like the last day of college. There are happy feelings and sad mixed together. A new project does help but there is always a soft spot for the old gang. I tear up easy when I write and had to have a good old tear fest when the series was finished. I did move on and won’t go back.
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Love the college comparison. There’s also that slight urge to go back that lasts for the rest of your life. At least for me it’s that ‘a simpler time’ thought when the new stuff begins getting tough.
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Moving on is easy. Letting go is hard. Make sense? Love the quote.
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I think I get it. One is physical and one is emotional/mental.
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Yes!
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In my case, it isn’t too hard. I just move on. The characters are always with me, and I started an outline to bring a bunch of them into a team kind of story. I don’t have the investment of a series to deal with.
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Makes sense. If you go into a book knowing it’s a one shot, it’s bound to be easier to find closure. You’re practically preparing yourself from the start.
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I’m sure it’s bittersweet for you, congratulations on reaching the end of the series though, that’s quite a feat.
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Thanks. Now I’m just hoping the release goes smoothly.
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I usually feel great satisfaction at the end of a book. If I’m not happy to be typing “the end” the I know the book needs another draft.
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Never thought of it that way.
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I generally get a bit depressed when a story comes to an end, especially a long one. It is really hard for me to let go. 😦
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I️ feel the same way. 😭
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I had massive trouble letting go of mine after four books because I, too had been writing about them and thinking about them, in various forms, for over half my life. After finally managing to let them drop, I wrote a new book, which bombed so then I started a new series but soon began to learn that what my readers wanted was more K’Barthan stuff. So now I’m doing a spin off about some of the characters people want to know more about and answering a question my editor asked. I’m also planning shorter stories, say 10-20k about events in the different characters’ lives. So far all these are before the original four books take place but there’s also a definite opportunity for two of the characters to come to London on police/espionage business and have a bit of a bromance. Ample opportunity for comedy.
So I guess you could say that on the letting go front, I have basically done an epic fail!
Cheers
MTM
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That’s something that worries me. If I try other series that bomb then I’m left with either quitting or returning to the original series. Yet, I can’t really do the latter because those characters have seen the end of the road. I do a lot more in the world of Windemere itself, so I don’t know if that will be a good bridge or people will want the champions to return.
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