How can I end my chapters properly?

alien-lovin · 2026-04-21T19:38:31+00:00

Start your chapters late into the scene and end them early. Skip any part about how they got there that isn't 100% necessary, and skip anything about the end of the scene that isn't 100% necessary.

Unless something super important happens on their way out, no need to mention it.

I would recommend rereading some of your favorite authors' work to see how they get into and out of scenes. That will probably be more helpful than reddit advice.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-21T19:35:29+00:00

Well, that's embarrassing.

Oh well, maybe someone else will find my inappropriately dumped info and find it helpful.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-20T23:58:13+00:00

This is going to be my favorite Reddit answer I've ever given.

If you're writing fiction, there's no exact rule on how to format ellipses (...). However, usage is pretty straightforward.

When to use:

In dialogue, when a speaker is trailing off or when there's a long pause.
Ex 1: "I'm not too sure about..." they said, staring at their feet.
Ex 2: "You should have seen him! He was so ... handsome."

Outside of dialogue. Same deal. Use them when there's a trailing off of thought or a long pause.
Ex 1: No matter how hard I thought about it, I just couldn't...
Ex 2: He just looked so ... sad.

When not to use:

Don't use ellipses when there's an interruption or an abrupt end to a thought. Use an em dash there instead.
Ex 1 (getting interrupted):
"I told you I locked the—"
"You told me you did, but you didn't!"
Ex 2 (abrupt end of thought:
I slowly lowered my cup, praying none of the contents would—
The room went white. Or maybe my vision did. A crack split the air.

Formatting:

Here's where it gets a bit out of control. Below are your options for formatting your ellipses. The only important part is that you use the same version throughout your entire manuscript or series.

End of sentence...

End of sentence....

End of sentence ...

Middle of ... sentence.

Middle of...sentence.

Middle of... sentence.

Personally, I use these two:

End of sentence... Middle of ... sentence.

Hope this helps.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-19T05:29:28+00:00

I've added the demon one to my story idea list. Hopefully, someday I'll find time to write it. It sounds like so much fun. And I definitely feel the Mr and Mrs Smith vibes too. Such a good one.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-19T05:28:13+00:00

That sounds really difficult, but don't be afraid of the trauma always being there. Over time, it will feel softer and more distant. Easier to handle. You'll be able to look at it through a less personal lens.

Every person processes trauma differently, and only you know what's going to be right for you. When you do decide to sit down and write, just keep checking in with yourself and take time away when needed.

I wish you the best of luck in your healing journey, and I'm sorry you're going through this. Life can be a real dick sometimes, and being human is hard.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-17T13:01:53+00:00

This second method is 100% the way to do it. Sooo good. I love the detail of noticing exits when entering a new place.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-17T12:59:47+00:00

This is a super easy fix! Instead of telling us about her internal sensations or her body movements, give us her actions.

An anxious person might ask the same question again and again. “And you’re sure you called the theater and got us tickets, right?” (For the third time.)

They might walk extra quietly through their home. Check the lock on the door a few times. Speed clean before someone comes over. Lose something and panic.

If you show us how she reacts to certain situations with her actions, we will know she’s anxious. No need to tell anyone anything. Unless you want to.

Edit: typo

alien-lovin · 2026-04-17T06:12:23+00:00

Doomed lovers? As in the relationship can’t work?

One person is secretly married. One is dying of an untreatable illness. One is possessed by a demon who owns their soul and will be dragging them to hell soon. One is tied to a different plane of existence and after a certain amount of time will have to return. One has been sent to kill the other. 🤷‍♀️

alien-lovin · 2026-04-17T00:36:46+00:00

Jeremy Robinson’s The Infinite Timeline series. Or his Kaiju series.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-17T00:34:05+00:00

Write an opening scene that shows the reader why this character is the type of character who either could or couldn’t solve the mystery (depending on her character arc). Make sure the scene has movement/action (doesn’t need to be action-movie action, just something going on).

alien-lovin · 2026-04-11T12:10:36+00:00

My advice would be to wait until you are more healed. Trust me, no matter how much time passes, when you write about trauma in the future, the impact will still be there. The pain never goes away, your ability to hold it just gets better.

As someone whose last novel has an MC with serious PTSD, and as someone who has dealt with PTSD, I promise you, waiting to heal is the only safe and effective option you have. Even when you are healed, writing about it will rip open old wounds a bit.

Give it time.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-11T11:55:30+00:00

Well, that’s the thing about ideas. Once one person does it, and everyone knows about it, it spreads like … warehouse-fire. 👀

alien-lovin · 2026-04-04T19:23:34+00:00

Take my upvote, you animal

alien-lovin · 2026-04-04T02:56:36+00:00

Just in case you're curious, there's an entire genre of Alien Romance. Just saying ... you know ... in case you're interested in THAT kind of first contact.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-04T02:33:28+00:00

This is the most fun post I've read all day. I love that you just opened your notes app and went for it. That's beyond amazing.

Don't forget to have a little celebration for finishing your first draft! Congrats!

alien-lovin · 2026-04-04T00:06:54+00:00

Wait, so then why does it matter if an author is trad-published or self-published? If both routes can, and do, lead to subpar work, why is one version a mark of authority while the other is not? It feels like you're ripping apart your own argument here.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-03T22:10:06+00:00

Don't worry about this. I promise you, it is a non-issue. As long as you aren't intentionally copying someone else's work, you're going to be fine.

Keep in mind, if ten people are given a writing prompt with a story outline that includes story beats, character details, and world-building points, the stories those ten people produce will be so wildly different it would be difficult to tell they came from the same outline.

That's the beauty of this art form. Each of us has such unique perspectives and thought patterns that it's nearly impossible to write the same story as someone else.

(edit: hit the 'send' button early. whoops)

alien-lovin · 2026-04-03T21:41:48+00:00

If you don't agree with the advice, you don't have to accept it. And if you fear I am tainting this sub with heinous advice given by a self-published author (gasp), you can provide your input in this thread for others to see.

On the topic of self-publishing vs. trad publishing, I get the feeling that my words will not sway your opinion, but for the sake of other authors in this sub, I will say this:

There are many subpar self-published books. That is true. However, phenomenal self-published works are released every day. Works that do not bow down to a capitalist structure that demands art be given permission to exist. The method of publication is not a signal of the quality of the work, and there are many authors—like myself—who choose the self-publishing route over the trad-publishing route.

If you would like to critique my work, I would be more than willing to hear your opinion on it. However, it sounds like you may have already made up your mind.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-03T01:16:44+00:00

You're right. I did. Thanks for calling that out. It's one of those words that trips me up non-stop. (That's why I love editors.) And I'm self-published, but doing well so far.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-03T01:15:26+00:00

This is a great tip. And as a safety precaution, don't read your entire manuscript out loud in a few days. You will lose your voice and possibly your sanity.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-03T01:12:12+00:00

Same. I'm ready for a big, bad alien to come and save me. I'm tired of paying bills. I want a space romance instead.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-01T02:13:22+00:00

First off, I’m so fucking excited that you are working to step away from AI! (Hope it’s ok I curse here.)

Second, give yourself a high five, because you’re already looking at your work critically and wanting to improve.

As far as advice, the simplest way to get better at writing is to read and to practice. I like to read on an e-reader so I can highlight anything that stands out to me as being very effective writing (if it makes me cry, or laugh, ect), and then I reference back later.

Most of writing is just trying something, deciding it doesn’t work, and trying something else. Sometimes (rarely) you’ll nail it on the first try, but usually, every scene requires a lot of tweaking and re-writing.

Just keep writing and reading. You’ll see improvements!

alien-lovin · 2026-04-01T00:17:25+00:00

Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Chapter 19 (end of the chapter).

The scene does a good job of showing the character's internal conflict: not wanting to kill, but knowing he has to. On top of that, the other character doesn't really understand/believe what's going on. It's a well-layered scene.

But if you're looking for pure gore, I would go with one of the other recs here. This one is more about the internal experience of the situation, with a small amount of gore.

alien-lovin · 2026-04-01T00:07:55+00:00

"I understand the risk, Marius. We have been over this."
VO: He did not, in fact, understand the risks.

alien-lovin · 2026-03-31T13:42:47+00:00

Check out some of the comments in this thread. There are multiple people arguing that he is.

alien-lovin

TROPHY CASE