How much is too much?

[Lalah]

I'm working on a 3 parts story. I'm now at the last part and I've been asking myself questions as I write.

See, each part is the direct continuation of the part before it. They all have a beginning and an end, all ending with a sexual relation, but the overarching storyline start at part 1 and end at part 3. The thing is, they could work if I merged them too.

So I'm hesitating. I could merge the 3 parts into one big story, but I feel like this is cheating the reader. The way I see it, most stories build up and peak when the characters have sex and a climax. When this climax is in the middle of the story, this is usually followed by a low and the story has to build up again. This roller coaster ride often leave me exhausted emotionally and often I'm not as excited at the end as I was at that first peak. Even when I do manage to ride the roller coaster I can't help wondering if I'd have gotten more bang for my money so to speak if I had read each peak in a different session.

So what do you guys prefer? One extra long roller coaster ride, or multiple peaks reads separately in different sessions? I'd really appreciate feedback on this.

Thanks!

 

[Omerikon]

I think if the story is good enough, the reader will either stop when he's ready and come back to it later, or look for the next part when it comes out. Either way, you both win.

 

[Lalah]

I think if the story is good enough, the reader will either stop when he's ready and come back to it later, or look for the next part when it comes out. Either way, you both win.

Are you saying you're able to stop mid story? Wow you have better self control than I do if so. Once I get into a story I just HAVE to keep going, I'm weak like that.

 

[Omerikon]

The other question is how long each part is. If we're talking 10 000 - 15 000 words or more each, you might do well to seperate them.

 

[sr71plt]

Storylines, whether a flash short story or a novel, have an arch to them that has some sort of end resolution/change. If each of your three parts isn't serving/pointing to an end resolution of an overarching story, you probably have three different, if related, stories that probably won't improve by running them together into one unit.

 

[Lalah]

Storylines, whether a flash short story or a novel, have an arch to them that has some sort of end resolution/change. If each of your three parts isn't serving/pointing to an end resolution of an overarching story, you probably have three different, if related, stories that probably won't improve by running them together into one unit.

They're not that different. Take Star Wars for example. Episode 4, 5 and 6 were separate, but they were the same too and could have worked as one long movie. So did LOTR. Well obviously my story has nothing in common with those except being in a trilogy format, but the thing is, would we have gotten more enjoyment (physical limitations aside) out of watching the six hours movie, or watching the three two hours movies?

Would you rather read one long multiple-orgasms roller coaster ride, or tree single orgasm stories with a neat emotional peak?

I tend to agree merging them wouldn't necessarily bring any improvement, but the mere fact they could beg the question of if they should.

 

[Boxlicker101]

They're not that different. Take Star Wars for example. Episode 4, 5 and 6 were separate, but they were the same too and could have worked as one long movie. So did LOTR. Well obviously my story has nothing in common with those except being in a trilogy format, but the thing is, would we have gotten more enjoyment (physical limitations aside) out of watching the six hours movie, or watching the three two hours movies?

Would you rather read one long multiple-orgasms roller coaster ride, or tree single orgasm stories with a neat emotional peak?

I tend to agree merging them wouldn't necessarily bring any improvement, but the mere fact they could beg the question of if they should.

As far as I can see, there is nothing wrong with breaking a long story into three shorter parts, if the breaks are natural. For instance, the characters have just had sex, and they fall asleep and the next part begins the next day, or the next week, or whatever.

Of course, it depends on your definition of long. Three stories of 7,500 words each is fine. Three stories of 2,000 words each should probably be one 6,000 word story. In the latter example, there probably wouldn't be enough detail in anyt of the sexual descriptions, but that i just my opinion.

 

[Lalah]

I'd rather stay clear of defining size, because that's relative and is entirely subjective to taste.

Like you said I've been ending them at natural parts, although it's less espaced that what you gave as an example.

Think of them as your friend trying football for the first time by having three football games straight after each others, and someone recording it for you. Now you like football, but would you rather watch the three games one after the other in one sitting session, or spread them out? If you were to watch them in one session, would you be as excited by the plays in the third game as you were in the first?

 

[sr71plt]

They're not that different. Take Star Wars for example. Episode 4, 5 and 6 were separate, but they were the same too and could have worked as one long movie. So did LOTR. Well obviously my story has nothing in common with those except being in a trilogy format, but the thing is, would we have gotten more enjoyment (physical limitations aside) out of watching the six hours movie, or watching the three two hours movies?

Would you rather read one long multiple-orgasms roller coaster ride, or tree single orgasm stories with a neat emotional peak?

I tend to agree merging them wouldn't necessarily bring any improvement, but the mere fact they could beg the question of if they should.

Sorry, I thought the question was whether you have three short, related stories or one long story in three segments.

But even if l had understood the question correctly, if you equate Star Wars and LOTR, I certainly didn't make my point. Star Wars is purely a episodic film venture--it never ends in a resolution, and you could toss any one segment out and it wouldn't matter a bit to whatever overarching story line there is. LOTR, on the other hand, is from an epic written series where everything does lead to and serve an ending, even though it's too long to take in one chunk. In literary terms, it would be senseless to bind Star Wars in a set and say you have a finished work--it never has finished and none of its episodes are, in fact, necessary/integral to an eventual overarching storyline resolution. But you could, and they they have, bind all of the LOTR series together and have an overarching storyline in which all of the parts are necessary to reaching the resolution.

If you simply are asking if I'd prefer to read your triology in three parts or one, I don't read anything on Lit. that goes over a couple of Lit. pages, so the answer is simple. This is a short story site. The most basic defintion of a short story is something that can be read at one sitting. And I don't sit with Lit. stories for longer than a couple of Lit. pages of text. This wouldn't have anything to do when whether you have written something like Star Wars or like LOTR.

 

[Lalah]

Alright I think I confused my own thread with all those examples and ramblings. I do love to to ramble.

What I'm really asking is regardless of size or whatever, do you like it better when stories build all the way and end in a sexual climax, or do you like it better when there are multiple sexual relations and small emotional climaxes all through it?

 

[cloudy]

This is a short story site.

which, curiously, has a Novels & Novellas category.

Gee, guess you're not always right, are you?

I can't help but step in when I see someone giving a newbie the wrong answers.

 

[Lalah]

Ah but that's not a wrong answer, that's his answer, and I find it interesting to see his view of Literotica. While you're in here cloudy what's your answer to the question?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Ah but that's not a wrong answer, that's his answer, and I find it interesting to see his view of Literotica. While you're in here cloudy what's your answer to the question?

Cloudy is right, though. There are stories on Lit. that are over 100,000 words long. Most of those are in Novels and Novellas, but they can be found elsewhere too. Personally, I have a story on TS/CD that is at least 70,000 words long, and there will be additional parts added. It will be about 180,000 words long by the time I am through.

 

[cloudy]

Ah but that's not a wrong answer, that's his answer, and I find it interesting to see his view of Literotica. While you're in here cloudy what's your answer to the question?

My answer is to do with your story whatever you feel is right.

 

[sr71plt]

Cloudy is right, though. There are stories on Lit. that are over 100,000 words long. Most of those are in Novels and Novellas, but they can be found elsewhere too. Personally, I have a story on TS/CD that is at least 70,000 words long, and there will be additional parts added. It will be about 180,000 words long by the time I am through.

Going back to the original question, isn't it about whether to post it at one go or in segments?--not whether to post a novel here. I have several novels posted here myself--in digestible segments.

And Cloudy's not posting to Lalah, she's jabbing at me for an entirely different agenda. Cloudy doesn't really have any experience here in what Lalah asked--she has practically nothing posted on the Lit. story board, let alone a novelization of anything. She's just here to yak and scheme.

 

[cloudy]

Going back to the original question, isn't it about whether to post it at one go or in segments?--not whether to post a novel here. I have several novels posted here myself--in digestible segments.

And Cloudy's not posting to Lalah, she's jabbing at me for an entirely different agenda. Cloudy doesn't really have any experience here in what Lalah asked--she has practically nothing posted on the Lit. story board, let alone a novelization of anything. She's just here to yak and scheme.

Yet, I've managed to win more contests than you. How could that be? Could it possibly be because what I do produce is superior to anything of yours, hmmm?

..and I did, indeed, answer her question. You just chose not to read it, and remain ignorant, as usual.

Carry on, sorry plot. You manage to make yourself look horrible without any help from me.

 

[sr71plt]

Yet, I've managed to win more contests than you. How could that be? Could it possibly be because what I do produce is superior to anything of yours, hmmm?

Interesting that you keep bringing this up, Cloudy, but since you do (and sorry that Cloudy has jumped your thread for this attack, Lalah). Everyone knows how vulnerable the contest votes are to just your kind of ganging and scheming. Sure I'd like a W or two. But you have the edge on that just because of your behavior--or certainly did all those years ago when you got your last W.

A much more telling index--well, actually two--is available to respond to your challenge. There's a top 250 Favorite Author list here. Let's just consult that. Let's see, I'm somewhere around 150 on the list after less than two years posting stories here. You are . . . oh, my, you aren't on the top 250 list at all, after all this time you've been posting here--and with all your alts and vote-trading buddies. Hmmmm.

And then there are the E designators, the ones the site editors who select all across the board give for excellence--the ones that those who don't have any denigrate even though they are the single designation of quality that can't be manipulated by those on the board and are given by probably the only reader who reads across the whole set. Let's see. I have 6 of those--spanning across straight, gay, and lesbian. And Cloudy ? . . . oh my.

Just because you brought it up, love. Methinks you need to go write and post a few stories. Or at least put more substance into your out-of-the-blue attacks on me.

Later: By the way, when was the last time you had the guts to even enter a contest here, Cloudy? I don't remember seeing you entered into any of the ones I've entered. Where's your Valentine story?

 

[cloudy]

Interesting that you keep bringing this up, Cloudy, but since you do (and sorry that Cloudy has jumped your thread for this attack, Lalah). Everyone knows how vulnerable the contest votes are to just your kind of ganging and scheming. Sure I'd like a W or two. But you have the edge on that just because of your behavior--or certainly did all those years ago when you got your last W.

A much more telling index--well, actually two--is available to respond to your challenge. There's a top 250 Favorite Author list here. Let's just consult that. Let's see, I'm somewhere around 150 on the list after less than two years posting stories here. You are . . . oh, my, you aren't on the top 250 list at all, after all this time you've been posting here--and with all your alts and vote-trading buddies. Hmmmm.

And then there are the E designators, the ones the site editors who select all across the board give for excellence--the ones that those who don't have any denigrate even though they are the single designation of quality that can't be manipulated by those on the board and are given by probably the only reader who reads across the whole set. Let's see. I have 6 of those--spanning across straight, gay, and lesbian. And Cloudy ? . . . oh my.

Just because you brought it up, love. Methinks you need to go write and post a few stories. Or at least put more substance into your out-of-the-blue attacks on me.

my, those grapes are sour!

Carry on.

 

[Vermilion]

Ignoring the threadjack... I personally would prefer the story divided up. It's hard to read on-screen, and if you've just come in for a wank (sorry, but most readers do) then you won't usually want it to drag on forever. If, however, the reader needs a bit longer, well, then there's chapter 2 right there waiting for them. Having said that, length does play a part and it's worth bearing that in mind. I'd say two Lit pages (about 8k words max) was ideal for a really good orgasm

However, as Cloudy said, you do have to suit yourself in this. Hope this helps some...

x
V

 

[sr71plt]

my, those grapes are sour!

Carry on.

I know you didn't see this as you were posting while I was adding it:

"By the way, when was the last time you had the guts to even enter a contest here, Cloudy? I don't remember seeing you entered into any of the ones I've entered. Where's your Valentine story?"

"Sour grapes" is all you can counter with? Of course that's all you can counter with, a flip nonresponse--and it's quite obvious who is chewing on sour grapes. Whether sour or not, I have grapes. You have nothing but your scheming and chat board yakking.

Let's see your Valentine contest story. Let's see you get on that Favorite Authors list somewhere before asserting how good and valued as an author you are here.

 

[cloudy]

I know you didn't see this as you were posting while I was adding it:

"By the way, when was the last time you had the guts to even enter a contest here, Cloudy? I don't remember seeing you entered into any of the ones I've entered. Where's your Valentine story?"

"Sour grapes" is all you can counter with? Of course that's all you can counter with, a flip nonresponse--and it's quite obvious who is chewing on sour grapes. Whether sour or not, I have grapes. You have nothing but your scheming and chat board yakking.

Let's see your Valentine contest story. Let's see you get on that Favorite Authors list somewhere before asserting how good and valued as an author you are here.

You're the one asserting your own perfection, not me. I just couldn't stand to see someone give a newbie wrong information, you ignorant hypocrite.

(and you wonder why no one here likes you? Carry on. )

 

[Vermilion]

Hey, take this outside, yeah? This is a Newbie's thread, let's at least let them have a week before they become disillusioned, yeah?
x
V

 

[cloudy]

Hey, take this outside, yeah? This is a Newbie's thread, let's at least let them have a week before they become disillusioned, yeah?
x
V

I was merely correcting the info that sorry plot was disseminating....and giving the hypocrite a taste of his own medicine.

 

[sr71plt]

I was merely correcting the info that sorry plot was disseminating....and giving the hypocrite a taste of his own medicine.

My, what a weak spin. I had already acknowledged--and said I was sorry for misunderstanding what Lalah originally asked--and then went on and addressed what I now understood to be her original question. All before you swept in Cloudy--to hijack the thread just to attack me--and, incidentally, didn't address her original quesiton yourself (she even had to ask you to get on the topic and answer her question rather than just to attack me).

I was engaging with Lalah on a substantive discussion and even was up front about it being my fault for not understanding her original question. You're the one who sour graped the thread, Cloudy. Can't hide that. You ruined the discussion because of your consuming bile.

Go write a story, hon (you do remember how to write a story, don't you?), and enter the Valentine contest. It's time to stop beng a drone around here.

 

[cloudy]

My, what a weak spin. I had already acknowledged--and said I was sorry for misunderstanding what Lalah originally asked--and then went on and addressed what I now understood to be her original question. All before you swept in Cloudy--to hijack the thread just to attack me--and, incidentally, didn't address her original quesiton yourself (she even had to ask you to get on the topic and answer her question rather than just to attack me).

I was engaging with Lelah on a substantive discussion and even was up front about it being my fault for not understanding her original question. You're the one who sour graped the thread, Cloudy. Can't hide that. You ruined the discussion because of your consuming bile.

Go wrte a story, hon, and enter the Valentine contest. It's time to stop beng a drone around here.

oh, fuck off, cunt. We all got along fine before you smelled the place up, and we'll be fine after you're gone. Can't say that I know of anyone that will miss you, either.