Ever read a book and wondered, “I just started this and I’m finished already?” The plot was amazing but the ending came too quickly. The characters were real and authentic, but the words “The End” are read before you know it. Or the book is too long and your brain is just about fried. Reading one more page will make you pass out from exhaustion. You wonder, “Is this over yet?” and “How many chapters do I have left?” I’ve read books like this in both categories.

I’ve read books where I thought the story was over too soon. The plot had me gripped, but I think the author could have gone more in depth with the characters. Perhaps there should have been another scene to bring the climax of the story to a new height. On the other hand, I’ve read books where the story was too long. It felt as if the story was dragging and not “getting to the point.” I wanted to physically shake the characters myself because I wanted to get to the “good part.” By the time I finished, I needed a nap because the story took so long.

So my question to the author is, in terms of fiction, when is your book over? How do you know when the story has reached its climax? How do you know when to “call it quits” because you don’t want your readers to suffer from fatigue? Does it necessarily matter if your book has seventeen or fifty-six chapters? Does it all boil down to the story having a strong enough plot with interesting characters? Should it matter that your heroine realizes her love for the man of her dreams five chapters into the story, or waits until chapter twenty to have her epiphany?

What should you do as an author? It’s your story at the end of the day and you determine the beginning, middle, and ending. How do you know when your story is complete, even when the opinions of others differ? I think the solution is to find a balance. I’ve looked up what’s considered a short story, novella, novel, and epic. Some say a novel is fifty thousand plus words, while others believe it’s at least seventy-five thousand. An epic is at least over one hundred and ten thousand. At the end of the day, the author brings the story to the conclusion when he or she believes their characters have reached their peak in the story. The characters end up together if it’s a love story, the murderer is brought to justice in a mystery, and the lesson is learned by a child in a children’s book.

Which do I prefer? If the story is that gripping and I’m caught from the beginning, I’ll read the book with over fifty chapters. If I build a connection with the characters and I see into them through the words of the author, I won’t be able to put the book down. Also, if the book is shorter, and I’m committed to finishing the story because I’m captivated, I’ll enjoy it just as much.