Newbie question: skip out of sequence of multi-part story?

[Monkeys_paw]

Strange question maybe, but would like to know what you people think:
I have a serie of three short stories, all in sequence up till now. But I had a brainfart-or inspiration- and have a story itching to be written, but this will take place after the one I had been planning in the logic of my story line...
Can I publish out of sequence, so 1-2-3-5-4, or should I stick to part 4 first, finish that and then write and publish part 5?

 

[jaF0]

If you're including part or chapter numbers, they'll have to be in order. They system doesn't like otherwise.

Perhaps the one could be a flashback? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with 5 really being more like 3 1/2?

 

[NotWise]

Strange question maybe, but would like to know what you people think:
I have a serie of three short stories, all in sequence up till now. But I had a brainfart-or inspiration- and have a story itching to be written, but this will take place after the one I had been planning in the logic of my story line...
Can I publish out of sequence, so 1-2-3-5-4, or should I stick to part 4 first, finish that and then write and publish part 5?

It depends a lot on how they're written. If they're really independent stories instead of chapters in a single story, then the sequence doesn't make much difference. I have a series of unnumbered stories that daisy-chain together. The second part came out before the first part, but I don't think anyone noticed.

If part 5 really does depend on part 4, then you can always write part 5 and sit on it until part 4 is done. That gives you a chance to check for and fix continuity problems before they go live, and you can put both parts out with just a two-or-three day delay, which is supposed to be good for readers.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I think I get what you mean. The numbering has to be in sequence, as I think the second poster mentioned. Within the story, you can have flashbacks or various time shifts. Just tell the readers - like with a note at the top of each chapter - telling them what is going on.

 

[AlinaX]

I have a couple of series that are chronologically out of order, although I would recommend not doing it without some kind of preamble (which I didn't actually bother with myself).

 

[gunhilltrain]

I have a couple of series that are chronologically out of order, although I would recommend not doing it without some kind of preamble (which I didn't actually bother with myself).

Don't worry, these things happen. I had one series where I couldn't finish one chapter, so I left it out. The series was sort of episodic anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. Later on, I wrote the missing chapter as a stand-alone story and told readers where it would fit in. It did pretty well in any case.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Can I publish out of sequence, so 1-2-3-5-4, or should I stick to part 4 first, finish that and then write and publish part 5?

The chapter compilation process is automated, so you need to keep the chapter numbering in sequence. Also, if you plan more than nine chapters, you need to number them 01, 02, 03, or the sequence will go haywire at chapters 10 and 11.

 

[gunhilltrain]

The chapter compilation process is automated, so you need to keep the chapter numbering in sequence. Also, if you plan more than nine chapters, you need to number them 01, 02, 03, or the sequence will go haywire at chapters 10 and 11.

So if it's more than ninety-nine chapters, it should be 001, 002, 003? Just kidding, I think, although on another site I see some guy has seventy-seven chapters already. I have to check to see what the record is over there; they definitely have a different kind of software. MelissaBaby only had thirty-six in her longest work.

 

[NotWise]

So if it's more than ninety-nine chapters, it should be 001, 002, 003? Just kidding, I think, although on another site I see some guy has seventy-seven chapters already. I have to check to see what the record is over there; they definitely have a different kind of software. MelissaBaby only had thirty-six in her longest work.

Why kid? Tefler's "Three Square Meals" series hit chapter 137 in July.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Duplicated response - there are stories with more than 99 chapters.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Why kid? Tefler's "Three Square Meals" series hit chapter 137 in July.

Thanks, I'm not familiar with that one. I know you're being facetious, but at sixty-six I'm not a kid anymore! People in my neighborhood call me Pops or Papi. "Sir" is nice too.

Tefler must be the Tolstoy of Literotica.

 

[Monkeys_paw]

thank you for your replies!

Hi everyone,
thank you for your constructive criticisms. I am going with the obvious solution that I didn't think of that NotWise mentioned: get the itch out of the way and write part 5, have that reviewed while finishing part 4. Then release part 4 first, then part 5 shortly afterwards.

Thank you again, love that this community helps each other!