Unanswered questions...

So. I've been writing a short story taking place in my worldbuilding project (or at least, part of it), and for the most part it works, except...

Well, except the story leaves unanswered questions. These questions are as follows:

Why is technology so comparatively low tech yet there’re (several!) highly intelligent, even sentient, robots? And why would sentient robots be built as slaves or be given any freedoms at all?
What ‘other races’ are there (from the title of the book on dragons)?
Who phoned Mr Hughes? Why did he/they want the dragon?
Why does Nickel have ‘blanks’ in his memory?
How would ordinary humans in the village react to suddenly having a sentient, talking robot amongst them?
What happens next?
And possibly (depending on whether I add them in)... Why does Nickel keep having strange dreams?

Now here's the thing. I can't just edit what's already in the story to answer these without going on random non-sequiters about setting details, so here's what I'm wondering. Do you think I should:

A) Continue the main character's adventure *in the same story*, as one novella?

B) Write a spin-off or sequel in the same setting as a seperate story, perhaps trying to get it published/self-published seperately?

C) Write a prequel detailing the main character's creation, probably as, again, a seperate story, trying to get it published/self-published seperately?

edited 14th Aug '11 2:38:58 PM by Eventua

With short stories, I think it's expected that there aren't going to be a lot of nonimportant details given, and thus, especially in more fantastic works, there will be some unanswered questions. It's not necessary that they all get answered at all. Unless you feel like the lack of these answers are going to be distracting, then I don't think you have to do anything at all.

If you feel like there's a story to tell in writing a prequel, spin off, or sequel, than by all means, go ahead. But if you just want to answer questions in the original work, I don't see the point. The story must always take priority.

Besides, it's sometimes good to leave questions unanswered. It gives your readers something to talk about and speculate about, thus generating interest. Readers don't always need everything explained for them. Sometimes its best to leave things to the imagination.

Never answer all your questions. Never explain all your secrets. Do not be overly mysterious unless you are writing a mystery, but just as you should not give away everything to your characters to maintain room for doubt and error, so should you not give away everything to your readers to maintain room for suspense and drama.

While I am very much in favor of this approach, it's my belief that you should have an answer to pretty much every mystery in your work. You don't have to reveal it - as Night says, it's often better not to - but I find it much better for consistency if you do know the details of (for instance) that one Noodle Incident, even if you never reveal them.

Honestly, I find it rather annoying when there are still major questions unanswered by the end of the story. (I'm looking at you, Mistborn. Not even telling me what all the metals do... It makes me sick.)

Sequel Hook.

Eh, to each his own. I prefer this kind of thing to having all the answers wrapped up in a neat bow at the end.

Don't ask me about unanswered questions. I went to the David Lynch School Of Writing; my work is made of ambiguity.

That said, knowing more than you let on is always useful.

And I just remembered one more...

How did Mr Hughes, an obese, 50-something aristocrat who has trouble walking from one end of his house to other capture a dragon egg? o_O

If he hired someone else to do it, wouldn't the villagers further down notice the arrival of mercenaries ominously making their way to his house and then promptly report it to afore mentioned mum dragon?

I mean, I kind of have answers to all/most of these questions, but I don't want it to be 'overly mysterious': I'd hate to feel like 'mysteries' have somehow become Plot Holes instead. >_>

Whatever you do, don't explain some things in great detail while leaving other things completely unelaborated—or if you do, get a good sense of reader reactions. I agree that leaving some things unanswered is often a good idea, but if you answer some questions, make sure they're the questions the reader wants answered.

I asked my mum & sister about this. Having read the story several times, they reckoned that they hadn't worried about any of those questions at all. >_>

As it is, I'm thinking I'll just leave it as it is. I can worry about exploring the setting further (thus answering some of those questions) in other stories.