Writers: How to know when it's time to be done?

Who knows, all writers go through this same battle. Your editor will be happy to tell you, I’m sure…ha!

Strange thing that you are asking that question, I wanted to ask a similar question and I hope someone will answer it because I am stuck in the predicament. My theories is a: To end your story is to write the words “the end.”
B: What I am trying to do is to find an end that will leave the reader wondering whats next.
C: I assure you there are a few writers that will give you good advice.

The end must be decided at the beginning.

So keep writing. Time will tell if it is best suited for this novel or the next.

Write now, edit later.

You may want to keep the story, as it is, as far as beginning and end, but somehow expand the story with details. Or, consider the fact that this story was meant (by your muse, or whatever,) to be a short story.

When you are at the end of the story.

My credentials: I read Stephen King’s on writing.

I have attempted a few manuscripts but I threw them away, that was before I read any books on how to write but following the advice of my mny english teachers.

Based on that I will say I found having an outline or plan for the book is for some people. I am not one of them. I need more freedom to move and if it feels to formulaic I will be disgusted.

Secondly the thing I wish I had done was to put my manuscripts away for several months before reading and starting to edit. You are likely too emotionally attached to your book to be able to properly judge and edit it.

My suggestion write an ending to it and then continue with your other ideas. Or capture your other ideas first and write an ending where it felt natural. An alternate ending that might turn into a new book.

Then when you feel less obsessed and anxious with the novel, able to judge it with a certain amount of objectivity you can decide what to do with it.

For what it is worth that is my suggestion.

I started writing a novel, but, like you didn’t have anything planned at all. I wrote and wrote, with literally no plan in mind, but as the story progressed I connected to my characters and like yourself I enjoyed the writing process. By now, I must have written out half a dozen endings.

If you have more ideas, write them; maybe not in full, but just write little excerpts. If you like what you’re writing, add it to the story, but if you don’t then simply delete it. I think the best way to determine the right ending is to experiment. You could settle for a second-best ending simply because you never tried writing a different one! :)

It depends on your writing process. Some people start writing with a very clear sense of how the story will end. That’s their starting poing – how will this end. Others plan and craft before they start writing and others still, write into the void. That’s what it sounds like you’re doing. I guess you either have to spend some time now figuring out where you want this story to go, or keep writing until it resolves itself. Then you start editing…

You’ll know when to stop as your telling your story. If you go too far and think it’s too long can always do a sequel. But your story has to have a place to stop.

It’s done when the wine bottle is empty

I’ve decided (I think) on just one more chapter. Some things need a little more tidying before the ending will be satisfying. I think I am just shocked because it came up on me so abruptly. I’ve been writing like crazy since I got out of school (17,000 words in the last ten days or so) and suddenly it looked like it was being ripped out from under me. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all my free time when this ends. Revising doesn’t sound quite so appealing.

“How to know when it’s time to be done?”

Done-ness is relative to your passion for any subject at hand. The question is not one of being done, but instead, one of when to publish what is currently authored. Revisions are your friend.

@Mariah Life isn’t always tidy books don’t have to be either. But if you aren’t happy absolutely, that is what epilogue’s are for.

Good luck and don’t stop.

When doubts disappear is when one knows to stop.