I think I’ve posted before about my distaste for (and inability to write) prologues. I usually don’t like epilogues much better. However, I just finished writing the epilogue for MAGE STORM. It’s an epilogue because it takes place almost a year after the end of the story, with really nothing filled in in between.
In this story, I just felt that the characters, all of whom had left some kind of trouble behind them at home, deserved a chance to go back and show everyone that they were okay, that they’d found, if not what they were looking for in all cases, what they needed. And to discover that home wasn’t back there any more, but in the new place they were carving out for themselves. So, I wrote an epilogue.
I tried not to rush it, which is usually one of my biggest complaints about epilogues. They feel like the author is in such a hurry to finish up and tie up those last loose ends, a lot of important things get told instead of shown. Hopefully, I didn’t do that.
Now, of course, I worry that I’ve gone on too long after the resolution of the main conflict. Well, in a week or so I’ll start the second draft. There’s always the chance the whole epilogue will end up on the cutting room floor, but I don’t think so in this case.
Meredith Mansfield, Author 
I’m sure it’s fine. When I first sent “Prism Ship” out for crits, some folks disliked that it continued after what they saw as the major “conflict” (Jeren’s quest for revenge and eventual confrontation with Ozora) was resolved…but sometimes a story isn’t just about one single big “conflict.” Life, people, reality…they go on. And on and on. Sometimes theres a bit left to do after the big thing is dealt with. Sometimes a lot even.
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Jeren’s story isn’t close to complete after the climax. He’s lost, not knowing what he’s going to do now. The story doesn’t end until he finds that new purpose.
(See, I remember the story and I haven’t even reread it, yet.)
You’re right, it’s probably the same with this story. No decisions until I reread it and start the second draft in a week or so. It doesn’t do any good to second guess myself at this point.
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