I never hit word counts. It’s just some pieces feel unfinished like I can never just keep it hanging off when it’s not finished.

Okay, then you need to step away from it. And I mean for weeks or months. Move on. Write other shit. If it’s a solid story, your brain will keep coming back to it. You’ll stew on it and, eventually, you’ll land on what’s missing.

Or not. And you’ll still have learned something.

An incomplete story is a better teacher than a good idea.