Author needs advice...

[jrgg43]

Years ago I published 4 stories on Lit. The first for stories in a series and I got way sidetracked and didn't finish. Should I rewrite from the beginning? Should I just continue? Should I just forget the whole thing? The stories are under my author title JRGG43, the 12 Hours with Joan stories

 

[Smuttyandfun]

I would just carry on where you left off. I would add a note to the beginning of the next chapter explaining that life got in the way, as it often does, but here's the next part of the story.

Good luck! And nice to see that you're back!

 

[jrgg43]

I would just carry on where you left off. I would add a note to the beginning of the next chapter explaining that life got in the way, as it often does, but here's the next part of the story.

Good luck! And nice to see that you're back!

thank you!

 

[KeithD]

Years ago? Under another account? I'd rewrite it all to completion, then take it down from the old account, and then resubmit it all under the new account.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

The four parts published look to be just over 20K words long combined. The votes have been good and comments indicate readers' interest in the story continuing.

This is what I would do if I was in your shoes:

I would continue the story under "JRGG43". To repost it under a different account name will invite reports of plagiarism from readers familiar with the story under the original author's name. You could appeal each of those reports and win, but why hassle with it? I would also give serious consideration to revisiting how I post the story. Combining the four completed chapters into a single post and either resubmitting it or used as the start of a single post of the completed story will help you and your readers with continuity, especially after eleven years, and likely increase the score.

As an example, your last chapter was your highest scoring. It apparently had content that more readers enjoyed. By including the most enjoyed portions with back-story portions and similar, you allow the readers to vote on a greater percentage of the story that they liked. I'm not sure how long you envision the complete story being, but consider posting it as a single submission.

 

[djrip]

The four parts published look to be just over 20K words long combined. The votes have been good and comments indicate readers' interest in the story continuing.

This is what I would do if I was in your shoes:

I would continue the story under "JRGG43". To repost it under a different account name will invite reports of plagiarism from readers familiar with the story under the original author's name. You could appeal each of those reports and win, but why hassle with it? I would also give serious consideration to revisiting how I post the story. Combining the four completed chapters into a single post and either resubmitting it or used as the start of a single post of the completed story will help you and your readers with continuity, especially after eleven years, and likely increase the score.

As an example, your last chapter was your highest scoring. It apparently had content that more readers enjoyed. By including the most enjoyed portions with back-story portions and similar, you allow the readers to vote on a greater percentage of the story that they liked. I'm not sure how long you envision the complete story being, but consider posting it as a single submission.

If he reposts the old stuff will it go to the new page again? Or do that thing I've heard about where it just posts silently without appearing on the new list? If the latter, I wouldn't want to lose my current views and favorites and comments and replace them with an un-displayed story that hardly anyone will see. But maybe I don't get how it would work.

 

[Voboy]

Years ago? Under another account? I'd rewrite it all to completion, then take it down from the old account, and then resubmit it all under the new account.

I think this is probably the best way to do it, depending on how many years is in "years ago."

 

[Zenith77]

I'd repost. If you plan to add to stuff that old, you would benefit from the attraction of new readers coming to it fresh. You could also use this as an opportunity to refine and re-edit. You could use another account, as Keith has suggested, or you could just request a delete on the existing work and then re-submit the work again.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If he reposts the old stuff will it go to the new page again? Or do that thing I've heard about where it just posts silently without appearing on the new list? If the latter, I wouldn't want to lose my current views and favorites and comments and replace them with an un-displayed story that hardly anyone will see. But maybe I don't get how it would work.

If you do an edit, the view data, scores and comments remain as they were. It won't appear on the new list, and unless you tell people it's an edit, no-one will know.

If you take the whole thing down (delete the original) you start all over again, as if it was brand new.

 

[jrgg43]

Years ago? Under another account? I'd rewrite it all to completion, then take it down from the old account, and then resubmit it all under the new account.

it was under this account

 

[jrgg43]

I think this is probably the best way to do it, depending on how many years is in "years ago."

it's been 11 years

 

[jrgg43]

If he reposts the old stuff will it go to the new page again? Or do that thing I've heard about where it just posts silently without appearing on the new list? If the latter, I wouldn't want to lose my current views and favorites and comments and replace them with an un-displayed story that hardly anyone will see. But maybe I don't get how it would work.

I think I'm just going to continue from where I left off and keep it on the same account.

 

[jrgg43]

The four parts published look to be just over 20K words long combined. The votes have been good and comments indicate readers' interest in the story continuing.

This is what I would do if I was in your shoes:

I would continue the story under "JRGG43". To repost it under a different account name will invite reports of plagiarism from readers familiar with the story under the original author's name. You could appeal each of those reports and win, but why hassle with it? I would also give serious consideration to revisiting how I post the story. Combining the four completed chapters into a single post and either resubmitting it or used as the start of a single post of the completed story will help you and your readers with continuity, especially after eleven years, and likely increase the score.

As an example, your last chapter was your highest scoring. It apparently had content that more readers enjoyed. By including the most enjoyed portions with back-story portions and similar, you allow the readers to vote on a greater percentage of the story that they liked. I'm not sure how long you envision the complete story being, but consider posting it as a single submission.

thank you for the advice

 

[KeithD]

it's been 11 years

Which should tell you right there that it probably won't be a good idea to just continue it, even if you correct the eleven-year chapters now. Readers aren't going to hold remembrance of your story for eleven years. Not many will start reading with chapter 5 either. Take it all down and start all over again, only starting to post when you've finished it and won't be put right back where you are with it now. Or just leave it as is and write something else.

On the differing accounts, I misread your original post. Different accounts don't apply.

 

[jrgg43]

Which should tell you right there that it probably won't be a good idea to just continue it, even if you correct the eleven-year chapters now. Readers aren't going to hold remembrance of your story for eleven years. Not many will start reading with chapter 5 either. Take it all down and start all over again, only starting to post when you've finished it and won't be put right back where you are with it now. Or just leave it as is and write something else.

On the differing accounts, I misread your original post. Different accounts don't apply.

thank you

 

[elizaloo]

I've experience with this exact situation; I began submitting here in 2006, started a series that had two chapters and a standalone companion. I left Lit in '09 or so due to life circumstances and returned in '21 and published a 3rd, 4th and 5th chapter.

All under the same screen name and labeled as a continuation of the first two, they've been widely accepted by both my former readers and plenty of new. They are all in the same category as well.

I say continue, with the note at the beginning letting your readers know that you're diving back into the series. I also put a note on my profile explaining that I left and came back, and am continuing the series.