Anyone played with the Series (BETA) yet?

[NightPorter]

Now there's just a ton of two chapter stories listed, which isn't helpful at all.

I reckon there needs to be some other criteria as to what defines "a long story" other than just a second chapter. Still, I guess you can see how many chapters there are, even if the lists are swamped by two or three chapter pieces.

Does anyone use that page to find stories?

I can see how the Series feature is useful to better manage story content on your own story page, to tell folk that something is complete, but this public listing (is it the only one there is?) isn't something I'd ever use.

Where else does the cover art go, does anyone know? Or is it only those "side of page" icons? I don't think I'd bother, if that's the only place cover art goes.

It seems like they are slowly rolling out features. I'd like to see a series tab on my page. The ability to search through series. Maybe a series ranking system and further ability to sort through the list. I assume some of that is coming. I take the time to participate in the BETA because I like the fact that literotica is modernizing and the owners are taking the time to do it. It must be a nightmare to try and update a 20+ year old site.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I take the time to participate in the BETA because I like the fact that literotica is modernizing and the owners are taking the time to do it. It must be a nightmare to try and update a 20+ year old site.

Agree, hence my questions and comments. I want to understand how it works, where things go, how I can best use it.

This new Series listing, though, just reminds me there are existing features I never use. I'm more interested in seeing how Series show up on my Author's Page, if they ever do. Especially how cover art appears, to see if that's worth spending any time on.

 

[RejectReality]

Series cards will also start showing up on other pages, such as search. I'm guessing that the only place the cover images will be visible will be when you click through to view an individual series. Some of the other information such as the number of parts, completion status, etc. will be visible on the series card itself.

( A "Card" is what you see when you search for a story. There will be story cards and series cards, and they will be the default through the full updated site. )

The series page is loading slowly right now, but that's likely due to ongoing processes related to it. I've finally finished all of mine. My Laresa stories are all grouped together and in chronological order now, including the two outside the main chain. I've got the default size I'd been using for covers a little off, which crops them a bit on the edges, but I can live with it. That's what I get for doing math after a long night of work and never checking it later. They look fine in series management, but the cropping occurs on the series display page.

If you're not interested in doing covers, it probably won't be a big deal. The way things are shaping up, it looks as if not having a cover isn't going to leave a glaring hole in most areas where the series is displayed, putting your story at a disadvantage against someone who has one. It will only be when they're already interested enough to click through to your series that the cover will likely be displayed. ( Note that this isn't part of the info Laurel gave me. I'm making educated guesses from what's rolling out )

 

[ElectricBlue]

If you're not interested in doing covers, it probably won't be a big deal. The way things are shaping up, it looks as if not having a cover isn't going to leave a glaring hole in most areas where the series is displayed, putting your story at a disadvantage against someone who has one. It will only be when they're already interested enough to click through to your series that the cover will likely be displayed. ( Note that this isn't part of the info Laurel gave me. I'm making educated guesses from what's rolling out )

Good insight, thanks.

I think I was hoping cover art might actually show up as the front page of a story, like an e-book (in which case, worth doing).

I might tidy up my existing covers and do a few more using my aesthetic, and just rotate them through stories as a set of "brand icons" rather than do something "book specific". Having visuals helps, I think, but if the image is no bigger than a postage stamp (wait, young-uns won't know about letters), there's little point doing detail.

 

[Richard_Hunter]

I have started playing with the series (beta) feature now I have returned to writing (broke my neck in late-2020 so had a long time away). Would like to see a Series 'Landing Page' at the moment to promote my series I need to link to Chapter/Part 1 and hope the reader continues clicking. A series 'Landing Page' will allow authors to link one page to promote + give readers an idea upfront of the overall look, feel, and length of a series before entering to read.
Hopefully, in the longer run we see Series awards/contests just like regular monthly ones maybe based on series that are marked complete?

 

[RejectReality]

I have started playing with the series (beta) feature now I have returned to writing (broke my neck in late-2020 so had a long time away). Would like to see a Series 'Landing Page' at the moment to promote my series I need to link to Chapter/Part 1 and hope the reader continues clicking. A series 'Landing Page' will allow authors to link one page to promote + give readers an idea upfront of the overall look, feel, and length of a series before entering to read.
Hopefully, in the longer run we see Series awards/contests just like regular monthly ones maybe based on series that are marked complete?

Once everything is completely in place and functioning, series stories will only be eligible for contests once they are finished. The date of publication for the last chapter will determine eligibility.

Laurel didn't say anything about it, but it would make sense for your story listing to have the series information included with the header. Maybe even the cover image. That's one of the places where loading an image wouldn't be a constant server drain, unlike the hubs, new story listing, search results, etc.

As to a landing page, if the series has processed, you should see a series link in the "read more" box on the last page of any chapter. Here's mine for Magic of the Wood.

https://www.literotica.com/series/se/469735934

 

[MelissaBaby]

The list is misleading. If the Complete yes/no box isn't ticked, it looks like the text defaults to "the author is still actively writing this series" which probably isn't true in many many cases. Default text should only make a positive statement if the author has ticked "the story is Complete" box - otherwise, the site doesn't know.

I can't imagine the number of old story authors who do any housekeeping will be high. I've not looked at all of my Series listings, but I know for sure I'm not "still actively" writing any of them, and I do know which ones are definitely complete, but I've not ticked any of those boxes yet. I should get around it one day, but equally, I might never bother.

I don't know if I will write any more Gold Dollar Girls or Ranger Ramona stories or not. I'm thinking that I ought to mark them as complete, assuming that I can always re-open them if I want to add another, but I'd like to see it clearly stated that that is an option.

 

[RejectReality]

The list is misleading. If the Complete yes/no box isn't ticked, it looks like the text defaults to "the author is still actively writing this series" which probably isn't true in many many cases. Default text should only make a positive statement if the author has ticked "the story is Complete" box - otherwise, the site doesn't know.

I agree. That notification should only appear if the author has ticked the "In Progress" radio button. I think we need a third as well.

() In progress
() Complete
() Anthology For collections of complete stories that are connected in some way.

There could be an "Anthology" notification in place of the "Complete" notification there, so people won't interpret it as a potentially unfinished story. That could also be used behind the scenes with regards to contest eligibility, while still allowing folks to collect their stories on their bio page. I know that the updated Lists feature will allow the creation of such lists, but they wouldn't be grouped together on your story page, which isn't optimal.

 

[NightPorter]

Anthology would be good authors that write interconnected but separate stories that encompass a shared universe. With stories that share characters, settings ect. but aren't actually a series.

 

[RejectReality]

Anthology would be good authors that write interconnected but separate stories that encompass a shared universe. With stories that share characters, settings ect. but aren't actually a series.

Even better when the stories do have a chronology like my MotW series. It's largely irrelevant within each individual story, but for someone reading them all, having the chronology means that you're reading the stories centered on a specific character before they're supporting/minor/cameo characters in later stories.

 

[Voboy]

Okay. I've just made a crude title image and hit "publish." Let's see what happens.

Thanks to @AWhoopsieDaisy for her tutorials and patience with questions!

 

[RejectReality]

Just noticed another place the series landing page is linked. At the top in the story information box, there's a new icon that looks like a box. When you click that to view the tab, it provides the link to the landing page. So there's a link at the beginning and end of each individual story/chapter.

 

[NightPorter]

Just noticed another place the series landing page is linked. At the top in the story information box, there's a new icon that looks like a box. When you click that to view the tab, it provides the link to the landing page. So there's a link at the beginning and end of each individual story/chapter.

Nice catch. Looks like they are slowly rolling out features. Working out the bugs as they go. The series page won't be so isolated now. I wish the box tab had the completed icon in it.

 

[KeithD]

I didn't even notice this features was added until this thread was posted. I see no explanation of how it's supposed to work and why. Wonder if the site is ever going to get around to telling users about this.

 

[RejectReality]

https://literotica.com/faq/series

 

[Richard_Hunter]

Once everything is completely in place and functioning, series stories will only be eligible for contests once they are finished. The date of publication for the last chapter will determine eligibility.

Laurel didn't say anything about it, but it would make sense for your story listing to have the series information included with the header. Maybe even the cover image. That's one of the places where loading an image wouldn't be a constant server drain, unlike the hubs, new story listing, search results, etc.

As to a landing page, if the series has processed, you should see a series link in the "read more" box on the last page of any chapter. Here's mine for Magic of the Wood.

https://www.literotica.com/series/se/469735934

You're right I am sorry I didn't even see those links (plus the one you posted down the comments). I take that suggestion back now

 

[Duleigh]

Just noticed another place the series landing page is linked. At the top in the story information box, there's a new icon that looks like a box. When you click that to view the tab, it provides the link to the landing page. So there's a link at the beginning and end of each individual story/chapter.

That's where the magic is hidden! Here's what the new mark-ups look like:

View attachment 2186403

 

[Richard_Hunter]

Looks great - I may have to give my series a few days or something? I tried to click both places and get a 404 error.
Not that I'm fussed that's what BETA is for, and changes take time to get used to.
Can't wait though. Inspires me to write more

This site has been a staple for me since I was 18, looking to hone the skill a little, try some new things and give back

That's where the magic is hidden! Here's what the new mark-ups look like:

View attachment 2186403

 

[Duleigh]

A Little more Series magic. On the last page of a story in the series is a new menu tucked between the tags menu and the list of similar stories is the series menu:
View attachment 2186457

 

[AlinaX]

Would it be bad to use the series tool to make a collection of stories that aren't an actual series?

 

[Rustyoznail]

Your stories, your choice is my opinion. For instance, if you have numerous stories based in the same town with characters that randomly pop up in different stories, it would make sense to group them.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Would it be bad to use the series tool to make a collection of stories that aren't an actual series?

That's what it's there for. If you have a number of stories with a related theme, why not? Just elaborate on why they're connected in the intro blurb. I can't see anyone throwing their hands up in horror.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Looks great - I may have to give my series a few days or something? I tried to click both places and get a 404 error.

From what I can see (from the stories I've rejigged as Series), there's a new compile done every night - there's a time and date stamp that seems to update regularly.

 

[Voboy]

Would it be bad to use the series tool to make a collection of stories that aren't an actual series?

Hmmmmmm...

I'm not sure how deeply into this rabbit hole I want to go...

 

[yowser]

It's best to be cautious with the cover design, I had to redo my first two attempts since the autocropping sliced off parts of the title. Anything (text or graphics) close to the edge may get trimmed, so keeping things centered seems like a good practice.

A new time sink - text based life forms now thinking they can design good covers...