Please don ' t just keep writing for the sake of writing ! Don ' t write filler chapters , and don ' t just tack on additional scenes after the story has ended . Instead , take a look at your basic plot outline and insert some intentional , substantive conflicts which add tension and drives the plot forward at points where your MC has things too easy . Your MC needs to assemble a team to come with him to help him slay the dragon ? Maybe it ' s not so easy because he has a major fight with the one knight he really needs to come with him , and in order to convince that knight to tag along he has to prove his loyalty to them by rescuing their sister from the evil band of robbers who kidnapped her . Your MC needs a sword ? Maybe not just any sword will do he needs a sword made out of a very specific material and forced by a very specific blacksmith , and it ' s going to take some time to find the material and convince the blacksmith to help him especially since he might not exactly have money to pay for the sword . . I think you get the picture . Adding random filler might get you to your word count , but it ' s boring to read and distracts from the plot . What your story needs is thoughtful injections of action and conflict to keep the tension high and the story moving , and you need to add those plot points in places where the MC reaches his goals too effortlessly . Make him work for it !