Finishing my story

[DaveC426913]

I've written a(nother) short story, Mosasaur Summer, this one a mere 4,300 words.

I've gotten all the way to the end of the climax and now I don't know how I should finish it. I'm trying to decide if I should write out the direct resolution to the action, or if I should skip ahead to the character resolution itself.

There's only two characters, a young teenager and their Great Mother, who have just been on a wild adventure together that culminates in a chase and calamity that will save the day. What I don't know is if I should assume the day was saved extra scaenam (i.e. off-screen) and dissolve directly to the character reckoning.

If I understand correctly, the reason one might do this is to keep the focus on the characters - which is presumably what the core of a good story is about - not on the plot/action.

I just can't seem to write it.

I wonder sometimes if my stories are too direct, too stripped down. i.e. too little back story or side-story, so that there is insufficient hooks remaining need tying up.

Throwing this out there in the faint hope of breaking my block.

I've sent it to a couple of friends for review but haven't gotten much feedback (One of my reviewers wants everything to be a full-blown action story, beginning-to-end. What I'm going for is more of a glib 'so that happened' vibe, told in retrospect, from the teen's POV).

 

[Frabjous]

Write both and choose. Write the direct resolution scene first, because it will tell YOU something more about the characters. Then write the character resolution.

 

[Rive]

I wonder sometimes if my stories are too direct, too stripped down.

Short stories are just right that way, IMO. 3-4-5000 words length won't give you much wiggle room.

Action or characters - @Frabjous is right: I've seen it working both ways, but never seen it working without the feeling that the other one was also properly written...