Oppps, I really felt that if I continued it was going to get depressing, which I didn't want. Although, he seems like an interesting character for something else maybe.

LOL... you know, I was thinking about doing more, but I really felt I was going to r

Have I got a story for you guys... I started writing as soon as I could hold a pen. I wrote constantly. I couldn't stop writing.

Then in 1991, my father died. I didn't write another thing of substance until Sept 12th 2007.

I tried a billion things. I tried everything. But nothing worked. The worst part was that the ideals didn't stop coming and I couldn't even jot down comprehensive notes.

My experience is that if you have it, it leaves you when it's ready. And God help you if it decides to move in.

LOL... go to the thread "branching out"... find out which genre is most uncomfortable and pick that one.

Think it may be romance, but I haven't done a statistical analysis of it.

I suggest something along the True Crime alleyway. I haven't done that yet, I think.

I will also take a word when one is available.

Glad to be back. Just needed a rest.

This one was one of those... "It just burst out of me" stories and I really didn't want to go over it more than once for fear of removing some of the delight of it

And, yes, it's always about the story, it is.

Okay, so this was funny. Only thing I would say is, perhaps, put the footnotes all at the bottom. It confused me to have them right after.

Solid. 3.5 and really, they made you eat a sandwich like that?

You know, this is not the first time someone has posted this problem, and you know what, I think I have decided that finishing stories is also a skill that you have to learn. Just like putting two words together to make a sentence. Just like learning how to pace a story. Develop a character. You have to learn how to do it.

I know that is absolutely no help for you, but I would say that if the longest thing you've done is 20 pages, then try for 21. If you can't then work on finishing 20 page stories. Finish them even if the ending sucks. Just write and pound out an ending. Then try something longer. It will come.

Best I can offer.

You know, just one more thing... I write a blog type thing. I do 300 words everyday whether I have something to say or not. It's a good exercise to help train this exact type of skill.

Give it a shot. Do 30 days in a row. If you miss a day start the 30 days over. See if that doesn't help.

Hello, well, I think there are as many ways to find that point as there are people to look for it. I can only give you mine.

With chapters I usually have a place I need to get to. I look at what came before to try and get a feel for the pacing and then just sorta start working towards it. Sometimes I also have "sign posts" that point the way with other items that need to be accomplished.

I wrote something recently where I had to be at a certain place by end of chapter. I had to make sure she was forced to confront the truth that she couldn't possibly be an agent for the FBI.

I also knew I wanted to do it in about 2000 words. So I wrote till I got there. Sure enough, around 2500 words in, I got her there.

That's how I do it, anyway. Ha! I have really been a bit rough on Ms. B, haven't I.