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Country Road Possible End (Patreon)

Published:
2024-05-14 15:57:09
Imported:
2026-06

Poll

Country Road Possible End

  • Keep writing Charlie, even if the story stays stagnant from here on out. 8
  • Do the college age fish out of water story 13
  • Do the Do-Over story 29
  • I have no opinion 2
  • 2024-05-14
  • 52 votes
{'title': 'Country Road Possible End', 'choices': [{'text': 'Keep writing Charlie, even if the story stays stagnant from here on out.', 'votes': 8}, {'text': 'Do the college age fish out of water story', 'votes': 13}, {'text': 'Do the Do-Over story', 'votes': 29}, {'text': 'I have no opinion', 'votes': 2}], 'closes_at': None, 'created_at': datetime.datetime(2024, 5, 14, 15, 40, 56, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'description': None, 'allow_multiple': False, 'total_votes': 52}

Content

So I've been looking at where my outline for this book ends and my long term outline for Country Road in general, and I really think this book will end charlie's story arc. I could, theoretically, keep going, but Charlie's story would be done, so it would just be stuff happening without much in the way of character growth outside of forced drama.

Or, I could start a new coming of age series I've been working out the overall outline for (a college age coming of age/fish out of water/social class struggle instead of rags to riches, as was charlie's story arc).

Or, I have a do-over story idea, it's like a lot of do-over ideas. Guy dies alone, realizing he made mistakes in his life, and gets a chance to do it again, waking up as his younger self. this won't be a "guy makes himself crazy rich with past knowledge" story that some do-overs tend to go for, however. It would be high school coming of age.

Comments

Brett Grayson

I voted for "Do-Over" (although having enjoyed country roads immensely) but I know you won't be tempted like many on SOL and Patreon to make it an erotic or Harem gathering vehicle. If the protagonist returns in middle or high school he can be conflicted between former maturity and experience with the raging hormones of puberty and peer-pressure.

Thomas weston

Do over so Charlie can at least save his Mom.

Travis Starnes
>>137996721

No. It would be completely separate, although I am considering putting the college age story in the same universe as Charlie. Not sure if there would be crossovers, but there might be mentions of stuff.

Thomas Corbin

I know you don't like it, but I would still like more on the Destiny's Road.

Robert MacMillan

I voted for the do-over story, but I don't see that a continuation of Charlie's story needs to be stagnant. I don't know where or how you are going to end Center Stage, but I would love to see Charlie happy as an adult, with a family and a successful musical life and career before it ends... perhaps as an epilogue.

Brian Blodgett

I was sort of wondering how you were going to keep the story going once Charlie was successful. I vote do over but like Robert, I would like to see an epilogue to see how all the main characters are doing later in life. I bothers me when authors close out a coming of age series but don’t tell you how everything ends up for the characters long term.

Travis Starnes
>>138019943

I think one of the things is, lives are long and complex, and in coming of age, you're seeing how they got there, not their entire lives. You kind of just have to assume "well, it works out from here". Although in Charlie's case, you will hear of him, if not see his story, again. I am planning on putting other coming of age stories, at least those without fantastical elements (like a do-over) in the same universe. So any mentions of famous people will carry though, including someone famous like Charlie.

Sean

I've enjoyed the Country Road storyline. The first volumes focused on the miserable/difficult situations Charlie went through. He overcame some real challenges to even survive. It seems like it is a rags to riches storyline, but up to this point there have been minimal riches. Even in the current volume he isn't having major success. If you are going to wrap it up, I hope you at least extend this volume or one more far enough to show his success (the "riches" of the story).

Travis Starnes
>>138021755

We've still got a whole lot of Center Stage left. My concern is, I'm not sure how interesting an "everything is great, he's living the high life" story would be. Rags to riches usually stops just as you get the riches, not well past that, since the drama/tension is gone. Trading Places ends when they win at the stock market, for example (I guess except for a small epilogue showing them rich for 1 scene)

James Wesselmann

I voted for the college age story. Way too many coming of age stories are set in a high school setting. I think the 18-22 age range has more agency / independence yet still plenty to learn.

Travis Starnes
>>138047792

That is one of the reasons I was interested in doing it. Even if it doesn't win (which it doesn't seem like it will), I will still do it, just after the do-over. series.

James Bartling

I agree with the epilogue approach. Maybe he is talking to his mom and having a series of grave side chats with his mom reflecting with her on the highlights of his life.

D.J. Clarke

hmmm... I was hoping the story would continue. You were hoping to do 15 books if I recall. To be honest I have been reading this series more than any of your others. I think I stopped Imperium after the 3rd book. The Latest Taylor book to didn't start but it looks like its been back burnered unless I missed something. If this is the last book I will be sad about it but that's life. Don't always get what you want. I assume you will tie up the Kat and what's her name(I hate when you just lose a name due to senility) loose ends.,..lol I always thought that it would carry on through college. But you needs to have some drama to make it work. I figure Vince is gonna cause the drama here. Then again I haven't been right yet.

Travis Starnes
>>138181200

It was never going to 15 books. I had a basic plot out to 8, but thing shift as it's being written. I just feel the story has run it's course and by the end of this one, Charlie is going to hit the emotional end of his journey. There is still a lot of book to go and all of the plot lines (kat and the olympics, Charlie and record deals/Fame, Hanna and professor cross) will all be closed out by the end of this book. If I kept going, I'd just be writing stuff happening which wouldn't change the characters, because their journeys will be done. I will keep something to replace it one way or another, and either the do-over or the college story will still be drama/coming of age. Taylor isn't back burnered. I've been outlining the next book for the last month and it has a title and everything, and the first chapter should show up in a week or 2 (keep an eye on the pinned post, as it is updated with what I'm working on including where outlines are).

Gary R. Hovatter

Look, at the end of the day, the only person who has to be satisfied with the work is the author. If you've lost interest in Charlie's story, then you've lost interest. Even if there is at least anecdotal evidence that a lot of your readers are really invested in the storyline, if you aren't, how do your readers change that? Even Conan Doyle lost interest in Sherlock Holmes and threw him into the Reichenbach Falls. Yes, he was eventually dragged back to it it by public hew and cry and seemed to find new enthusiasm, but he was Conan Doyle, after all. If you want your readers to let you off the hook, that may be a bit of a forlorn hope unless you satisfyingly wind up all the significant subplots and leave Charlie in a good place. If you shut down Charlie's story leaving all the significant subplots hanging, that's a betrayal of trust that may leave a mark. Frankly, I'd choose option 5: Keep writing Charlie and DON'T let it get stale. Maybe Charlie in an extended reverie as he's getting ready to walk out on stage (or in the waiting room taking a break as his wife is working on their 3rd child) about the long strange trip he took to ultimate fame, fortune, and happiness. You're the one who made us care about the world you built around Charlie. Figure it out.

Travis Starnes
>>138224579

I haven't lost interest in Charlie, I just feel his story will be done. There will be no subplots hanging from it. Coming of age books like this are character stories, so just adding plot doesn't add to the character's story. The only way to keep the character arc going is to betray or undo the successes in the character arc, which I feel would be very unsatisfying. (this happens often with stories that have gone one past where they should have ended).

Shehrose Raja
>>138021755

I can understand this perspective but wouldn't discount the potential for character growth after attaining, "success." Al Steiner has done it really well with the Intemperance series, for example.

Travis Starnes
>>138021755

See, that's one where I feel like the character stopped growing but and just stuff kept happening, which works for some genres, but not coming of age. After outlining the Do-Over story though, I'm excited for it. It's a good fixing wrongs and getting another try at coming of age story.

Phil
>>138224579

Since we can't dissuade you from ending Charlie, we can only hope that your next series will evoke similar strong feelings from your audience. Shattered Lands has possibilities (for me book #2 will tell the tale), but so far, I'm not feeling it with Threads of Destiny. Also, I would agree with you that it's time to switch gears a little with Imperium. Thanks for creating characters and storylines that are interesting enough for us to invest in as we read.

Travis Starnes
>>138224579

The do-over will should hit the right spot. Family conflict, sports (football this time), gangs, friendships, dating ups and downs, and so on. This one looks like it will be high school and college, but 1 book per school year instead of 2 per school year. Strange that Threads isn't hitting, as it's closer to Country Roads than the other series (kind of an adventure coming of age with the Main Character working out his dreams of adventure from the reality of it). Imperium is up for a big switch with the new enemy they're going to face in Volume II.

Phil
>>138224579

Sounds good, looking forward to reading all of them!

Larry Terrill

I also voted to start the "do over" story, not because I don't like Country Roads any more. It is just the opposite, I really love Charlie and all of his friends but I can see that the story can come to a natural end very soon. I would love to see Kat complete in the Olympics and Hanna come back into the fold. But, that is above and beyond the natural end I see. Thank you so very much for providing so much enjoyment for me as you share your great imagination and writing talent with us. I have enjoyed almost every story you have created. Looking forward to the next storyline. Now is the time to read the last two adventure books in the John Taylor Universe. Keep up the great work you provide.

Travis Starnes
>>141239999

Well, we're far from over. There's still about 20 chapters or so left in Center Stage. A lot to go. And a new Taylor book has started, so good timing on that.

Brett Grayson

I would like to see Charlie and Country Road continue through college, perhaps changing into a Vault story.

Travis Starnes
>>142972033

That wouldn't happen. If charlie's story continues (which is a big if, since I'm pretty happy with how Charlie's story wraps up and just continuing into college would be more serialized slice of life and not an actual story. Trust me, it would get boring fast), it would never go into the vault. I am keeping those stories fairly separate.