“Coup De Grâce” – “Twist in the Tail” – Why My Stories Have “Abrupt Endings”

“Coup De Grâce” – WHY MY FICTION SHORT STORIES HAVE “ABRUPT” ENDINGS

If you are a creative writer – you will have your own individual writing style. 

I too have my own signature style. 

One aspect about my writing style is that my stories always have “abrupt endings”.

I agree. 

One of the ramifications of “abrupt endings” is that most of my stories don’t leave behind the quintessential – “and they lived happily ever after” – happy ending “aftertaste” in the mind of the reader. 

So – many of my “abrupt ending” stories are not liked by many of my women readers who like happy endings – especially to love stories and romances. 

(This category of “and they lived happily ever after” lovey-dovey happy ending readers includes my “Better Half” – who has stopped reading my stories because of their “abrupt endings”)

I am trying to make a conscious effort to correct this aspect.

Dear Reader – Let me tell you how I developed this writing style of having “abrupt endings”. 

“TWIST IN THE TAIL”

WHY MY FICTION SHORT STORIES HAVE “ABRUPT ENDINGS” 

Reminiscences of a Creative Writer

By

VIKRAM KARVE

A recent “fan” of my creative writing commented: “I like the way you end your stories suddenly with a “twist in the tail”...”

The young lady was being polite. 

A “not-so-polite” reader said: “I don’t like the way you suddenly end your stories...” 

Another more forthright reader commented on my blogs: “Your stories seem incomplete – as if you are thinking of writing a Part 2 or a sequel to the story...”

What all my 3 readers wanted to know is: 

“Why do my stories have “abrupt endings”...?”

Here is the answer:

“Coup De Grâce” – WHY MY FICTION SHORT STORIES HAVE “ABRUPT” ENDINGS

If you are a writer – you will have your own individual writing style. 

I too have my own signature style. 

Many readers have commented that one aspect they do not like about my writing style is that my stories always have abrupt endings.

I agree.

I will make a conscious effort to correct this aspect.

Dear Reader – let me tell you how I developed this writing style of having abrupt endings. 

MY EARLY WRITING DAYS

I started writing fiction short stories more than 27 years ago in the early 1990’s – when I lived on the beautiful natural environment of IAT Pune in the hills of Girinagar – a beautiful verdant green forest in the back of beyond below the mighty Sinhagad Fort and overlooking the placid blue waters of the Khadakwasla lake near Pune. 

From Monday to Friday – during the daytime – I would be busy with my work. 

But even on those working days – every morning and evening – I took long walks in the hills of Girinagar – thinking interesting thoughts – and by Friday – the plot for my next story would be ready in my mind.  

Then – on Saturday morning – I would start writing the story.

Yes – I did all my creative writing on weekends. 

I would write a short story every weekend in “long hand” – which my darling wife would then type on her portable typewriter during the week.

(Yes – those were the days of the pen and paper – when you actually wrote with your pen on paper – and later your story had to be typed on a typewriter in the prescribed format) 

Then I would then send my “double-spaced neatly typed story” by snail-mail (by registered post) to magazines which published short fiction like Citadel – a magazine published monthly from Pune for which I was a regular fiction writer – or to the Indian Express for its Thursday literary magazine called Citizen – or to other magazines like Femina, Savvy, Debonair, Caravan, Women’s Era etc that carried fiction.  

I preferred to have an atmosphere of solitude to write on weekends.

So – on every Saturday morning – I would drop my wife and children at the Khadakwasla bus stop – and – my wife and kids would be off to spend the weekend in Pune City with their grannies. 

Then – in my glorious solitude – I would to start writing. 

WEEKEND WRITING

Yes – the moment my weekend began – on Saturday morning – in my glorious solitude – I would to start writing my story – which was germinating, evolving and perambulating in my mind during the week. 

I love writing – so once I start writing – I transcend into a state of timelessness.

I would write the entire Saturday and Sunday.

Time would pass off in a jiffy – as I would be lost to the world – in a state of blissful timelessness.

Suddenly – I would hear the shrill ring of the phone.

And suddenly – I would realize that my two days of “creative bliss” were over.

It was already Sunday evening – and my wife was calling to tell me she was starting from Pune – and they all would be reaching Khadakwasla bus stop in an hour. 

(The Bus Journey from Pune to Khadakwasla took one hour)

The moment this dreaded phone call came, for me – panic would set in. 

Now – I had just one hour left to finish my story. 

(I had to complete the story I was writing otherwise it would spill over to the next weekend – and I did not want to breach my self-imposed target of “one story per week”). 

Therefore – I had no choice but to finish off the story with an abrupt ending – coup de grace...!!!  

That is why my stories always have “abrupt endings”.

BLOGGING – DO MY BLOG POSTS HAVE “ABRUPT ENDINGS”

Maybe this style of writing “abrupt endings” developed into a habit – and old habits die hard.

I will have to change my writing style.

I will try my best to see that my stories have more unhurried, relaxed, satisfying, happy endings that leave a pleasant smooth aftertaste. 

But how can I do this...? 

Nowadays – after retirement – I blog. 

And – I try to write at least a blog a day.

Yes – I write one blog post per day.

I get up early and go for a long morning walk which ends in the park on the banks of the Mula River in Wakad near Pune.

During my morning walk I think interesting thoughts – about what I am going to write on that day.

Then – I start writing around 9 AM in the morning (an hour after my wife goes to work).

I love writing so much that I lose all sense of time – and sometimes – I do not even have lunch.

Suddenly – I realise that it is 4 PM – and – I know that my wife would be arriving in a half an hour. 

Since I am a dedicated “Househusband” – I am required to welcome my “Breadwinner” Wife with a cup of Tea – the moment she arrives home from work. 

My “Writing Time” is over – and – my “Quality Time” (with “Better Half”) will soon begin.

So – I have to quickly finish off whatever I am writing – and – I have to post it on my blog immediately.

That is why – like my stories – even my blog posts have “abrupt endings”.

It seems that I just cannot escape from “Abrupt Endings” Trap.

Or – maybe – I will be able to change my “Abrupt Endings” Writing Style if I keep trying...

I will try my best – but till then – Dear Reader – you will have no choice but to “suffer” my “twist in the tail” “abrupt ending” stories and blog posts...

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

Revised Version of Article Written by me Vikram Karve in the year 2011 and Posted Online Earlier many times, including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/04/why-my-stories-have-abrupt-endings.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/05/abrupt-endings.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/01/my-writing-style-abrupt-endings.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/twist-in-tail-why-my-fiction-short.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/09/coup-de-grace-why-my-stories-have.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/creative-writing-style-why-my-stories-have-abrupt-endings/ etc

Do You Have “Hurry Sickness”...? Remember the Proverb: Hurry Burry Spoils the Curry

I have slowed down in life. 

However – sometimes – I find myself in a “hurry”.

So – I need to post my own “self help” article on “Hurry Sickness” – for myself – for me to read and reflect on. 

It is easy to “preach” – but – difficult to “practice” what you “preach”. 

So – “self styled” Gurus like me need to read my own “preachings” – and ponder over whether I am myself practising what I preach. 

Dear Reader – Here is the article on Hurry Sickness...

I WAS A “MAN IN A HURRY”

Once upon a time – I suffered from “Hurry Sickness” 

I was a “man in a hurry”. 

Then – I slowed down – and – I decided to enjoy the finer aspects of life. 

Now – I am no longer a “man in a hurry” – I have become so slow and relaxed – that – sometimes – my “Better Half” feels quite miffed when she has to get me moving. 

Do you suffer from “Hurry Sickness”...? 

Here are some tips to cure yourself from “Hurry Sickness” 

Slow Down – get rid of “Hurry Sickness”.

Remember the saying: “Hurry Burry Spoils the Curry”

HURRY SICKNESS

Hurry Burry Spoils the Curry

Musings of a Retired Navy Veteran

By 

VIKRAM KARVE 

HURRY SICKNESS – DEFINITION and MEANING

 

A central element of lifestyle management is the skill to creatively balance achievement and work success with leisure activities, family life and social involvements.
         

Another critical aspect is the ability to feel comfortable at work and at home and to enjoy the experience of whatever is being done at that moment.

 

But nowadays, most of us are obsessed with getting results or completing one’s task. 

When task completion becomes more important than enjoying the task in hand – and understanding the work or activity one is doing at the given moment – a sure victim of “hurry sickness” is born.

 

The resultant constant sense of urgency is the trap of hurry sickness. 

You rush to “get things done” to the point where it becomes an obsession.

 

Breaking this syndrome requires that you learn to enjoy experiences for the pleasure they give. 

When you gain pleasure from an experience – there is no need to get things done painstakingly.

        

Enjoy experiences – not rewards – and things will get done automatically without any constant stressful sense of urgency.

 

Hurry Sickness can be defined from a psychological perspective as follows:

“HURRY SICKNESS – is a pervasive and progressively urgent need to complete task – in order to obtain rewards at completion – without regard for other aspects of the work experience – and by using maladaptive time strategies...”

OBSESSION FOR TASK COMPLETION

 

They key causal factor in hurry sickness is the progressive need for task completion.

Enjoying what you are doing is neglected with a morbid urge to getting it done as quickly as possible – no matter what the activity.

 

The need for task completion extends to non-work involvements as well.

For example – “Hurry Sickness” affects activities like eating, playing, romance, making love, sex, leisure, having fun, loafing, taking a stroll, recreation, leisure, sports, pastimes, hobbies, holidaying, exercising, lazing around, dozing, enjoying music, cooking, gardening, and – even – doing nothing. 

Your Hurry Sickness interferes with the enjoyment of these experiences because of the persistent inclination to “hurry up and finish it off.”

 

Getting things done has become such a strong need – because the payoffs or rewards for completion have assumed primary importance.

Your work experience has taught you that rewards always come at the end of the activity – after you have put forth great effort to achieve a goal. 

You do not realize that: 

“Happiness” is not a “Destination” – but the manner of Travelling...

 

Not only do you feel a sense of personal satisfaction from your achievements – but tangible rewards – such as promotion, cash incentives, awards, and advancements are given to you as well. 

With time – these rewards have become clearly linked with your self-esteem.

 

Each time you “succeed” – your ego – your inner self – sends an internal message to you – which says: 

“You have done well. You are a commendable person because you succeeded again.” 

Your need for this kind of reassurance has become stronger than you would care to admit.

TIME URGENCY

 

Time-Urgency quickly becomes a strong internal driving force towards task completion. 

Your life becomes a frenzy of completing one task after another. 

You are obsessed with time – and “wasting” time becomes almost a mortal sin.

 

You strive to maximize your productivity by using time ever more efficiently – but you also have a sense that you are controlled by time – and you don’t like it. 

Time is both your challenge – and your enemy.

A telling sign of hurry sickness is that even while relaxing – you constantly fight the time-urgency that causes you unrest.

       

Another way to seek to increase your output is to adopt maladaptive time management strategies. 

These questionable tactics may help you get more done over the short run – but you pay a heavy emotional price.

“MULTI-TASKING” – A MALADAPTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

 

You now do everything faster – you have learned to “multi-task” – or “double up” – to do many things at once – and you are constantly preparing for what is coming next – before you are finished what you are doing now. 

The insidious trap is that you get something done quickly – even when there is no reason to get anything done at all.

         

Because of your emphasis on task completion – you focus on finishing the task – without regard for other aspects of the experience. 

In short – you have lost the ability to enjoy yourself while doing anything – because of your incessant drive to get to the finish line. 

Because of this change – you have lost the ability to emotionally rejuvenate yourself.

Chronic Fatigue and Pessimism are symptoms of this malady of Hurry Sickness.

   

 

SIGNS AND SIGNALS OF HURRY SICKNESS 

       

Here are some behavioural signs and signals that indicate “Hurry Sickness”:

 

 

1.     Hurried Eating  

 

You now eat in the office while continuing to work – or you just skip meals altogether.

You multitask while eating.

At home – you finish meals well ahead of everyone else – and eat in bigger bites – without savouring and relishing the taste of food.

Sharing pleasantries at the table is minimal – because you cannot sit long enough.

Ask yourself – are you eating mindfully and relishing every morsel of your food...? 

Are you totally relaxed and unhurried when you eat...? 

 

2.     Hurried Sex

 

Relaxed and romantic sex and leisurely lovemaking is but a pleasant memory.

The frequency of having sex has reduced. 

And – even when you do indulge in sex – it is a quick encounter – no time for foreplay – just a quick premature ejaculation – or – a quick “faked” orgasm – and – you are off to sleep – so that you can finish off your sleep and get up early – to get on with your work and tasks. 

Or –  you immediately get up after the sexual encounter – and move on to some other “important” or “urgent” activity. 

Sex is less spontaneous and more mechanical these days. 

Sex is no longer unhurried and relaxed lovemaking.

Like most other activities in your “hurried” life – sex has also become a “hurried” affair. 

Yes – for you – Sex is a “hurry-up-and-get-it-done” activity. 

The climax and orgasm become more important than the foreplay and lovemaking

Worse – you often indulge in “faking it” – so that you can quickly finish off your lovemaking activity. 

You want to get over with and finish off the sexual encounter as fast as possible – in a hurry – so that you can quickly get on with the more “important” and “productive” things in life – your “high priority” activities...!  

 

3. Confused Communications

 

Your interpersonal communication patterns now focus squarely on the negative. 

Feedback to others emphasizes mistakes and failings – and you rarely compliment – or offer sincere support to anyone these days. 

You do not take the time any more for pleasant chats with family and colleagues. 

You make demands instead of working cooperatively with others or team-building.

You even stop talking to yourself (intrapersonal communication). 

And hey – are you on your smartphone most of the time – talking – texting – or – feverishly engaged on the Social Media...?  

 

4. Uneasy Leisure

 

You put aside less time for relaxation – and you enjoy it less – when you actually try to relax. 

“Time-off” is now more of a hassle than it is worth. 

When you sit still – you feel uncomfortable and uneasy almost immediately.

You have lost the ability to “do nothing” 

It is difficult for you to loosen up – and enjoy an idle hour relaxing – doing nothing. 

Leisure makes you uneasy. 

Even when you are on a vacation or a holiday – you seem to be always in a “hurry”. 

Ask yourself: 

“Why do I work...?” 

Introspect – reflect and contemplate on this question – and – realization will dawn upon you that: 

The primary reason you work is to be able to enjoy your leisure.

Yes – you work to earn money – so that you can enjoy our leisure.

So why aren’t you taking a vacation every day – and learning how to enjoy your leisure with full awareness...? 

Of course – if you are lucky – and you learn how to enjoy your work – then your work will seem like leisure. 

 

5.  Poor Quality of Family Life 

 

Family members now “report” events to you – but you share little of yourself with them. 

You and your spouse argue more than you talk.

The satisfactions of family life have diminished in quality and quantity. 

Your impatience is just as strong at home as it is in the office. 

In both your work life – and your family life – you display a sense of hurry.

HURRY SICKNESS  –  CURE AND MITIGATION

(HURRY BURRY SPOILS THE CURRY)

  

 

If you are a victim of “hurry sickness” – your initial tendency is to effect and expedite your “cure” in a hurry too. 

But – this “hurry-up-and-get-it-done” attitude – this may actually sabotage your recovery. 

What is required is patience, perspective and the ability to deal with setbacks in healthier ways.

 

It is easy to blame “hurry sickness” on the pressures of the job – and what you “have to do to survive” – and on the insensitivity of the complex modern world. 

While each of these perceptions has a grain of truth in it – the fact remains – that most of the responsibility for “hurry sickness” lies within you.

 

Your drive to get ahead is the real root of the problem – and the fact is that – you have lost all sense of perspective. 

Until you accept personal responsibility for your present state – you will not be in a position to confront and reverse the real mischief, damage and harm caused by “hurry sickness”. 

Remember the well-known story of the hare and the tortoise. 

Decelerate your life a bit – slow down – walk leisurely instead of driving – and – do not carry your mobile phone – or at least – switch off your cell-phone where you can.

DO NOT MULTI-TASK 

Do one thing at a time – with full awareness and mindfulness – and learn to enjoy the experience of whatever you are doing. 

Ask yourself:

Do you believe in multi-tasking...? 

Are you a victim of “HURRY SICKNESS”...?

Why don’t you rid yourself of this malady and enhance your “quality of life”...? 

Of course you can get rid of Hurry Sickness...!!! 

Just stop multitasking 

Focus on whatever you are doing at the present moment. 

It is very easy – and – it works – you can take my word for it.

So – Dear Reader – just RELAX 

Remember: 

HURRY BURRY SPOILS THE CURRY

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This is based on my personal experience. It may or may not work for you. So please exercise due diligence before trying out the tips mentioned in the article.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This is a Revised and Updated Version of My Article HURRY SICKNESS written by me Vikram Karve 33 years ago in the year 1987 and and posted online earlier a number of times in my blogs at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/11/hurry-burry-spoils-curry.html  and  http://creative.sulekha.com/hurry-sickness_31046_blog  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/08/hurry-sickness-causes-and-cure.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/07/time-management-part-1-hurry-sickness.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/06/do-you-suffer-from-hurry-sickness.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/07/hurry-burry-spoils-curry.html  etc