More authorial advice - splitting an existing story

[EmilyMiller]

Hi all,

So, as many of you will be aware (no doubt to the point of tedium), I’m writing an extended version of my original tentacle porn AH homework assignment.

The initial - intended to be stand-alone - story was Coleoidphilia (8,900 words)

I followed it up with a sequel, Determination (22,000 words)

I’m now 16,000 words into the final part, which will be of comparable length to Determination.

The last part falls very naturally into two sub-parts, of what will be about equal length. I was considering publishing them as separate episodes.

But, if I did that, Determination would stick out in the overall work. The middle piece also falls quite naturally into two equal parts and I was considering retrospectively splitting it. That way, I’d have five installments, all around the 9 - 12k word mark.

But I have some questions:

1. Do you think I’m making a rod for my own back, messing with a published story?
2. I guess the comments / votes etc. would stay with the first half and the second half might be a bit of an orphan.
3. Equally, people might read the second half, expecting something new and getting instead half of an old story. That could be frustrating.
4. There is also the logistical mess of trying to create “continued in” links when the URL is not known until publishing (yes I know the series page / links are meant to deal with this, but they are rather clunky).

I know there is no right answer. I guess my goal is to make the story more accessible in bite-sized chunks. Now I’m wondering if it’s no good trying to apply this idea retrospectively and I’m better sticking to three parts, the second two being rather longer.

Anyone done / thought about something similar. Any wise words?

Em

 

[SimonDoom]

I wouldn't worry about this, and I'd recommend NOT splitting an existing story. First of all, 22K is not long by Lit standards, and there's little to gain by splitting and republshing a story you've already published.

Second, there's a risk that people won't re-read it. They'll be confused and they might start reading chapter 2 and say "I've read this before" and stop reading. Then you won't have readers moving on to subsequent chapters.

I've never done this and can't imagine doing it. But I don't fret about stories I've written. If I don't like something about an old story, I just tell myself I won't repeat the mistake in the next one.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I wouldn't worry about this, and I'd recommend NOT splitting an existing story. First of all, 22K is not long by Lit standards, and there's little to gain by splitting and republshing a story you've already published.

Second, there's a risk that people won't re-read it. They'll be confused and they might start reading chapter 2 and say "I've read this before" and stop reading. Then you won't have readers moving on to subsequent chapters.

I've never done this and can't imagine doing it. But I don't fret about stories I've written. If I don't like something about an old story, I just tell myself I won't repeat the mistake in the next one.

The more I think about it, the more I am coming to a similar conclusion. I’ve never written anything of this magnitude, it was unplanned, and I guess it was always going to be a [highly instructive] learning process.

Do it differently next time is probably a good approach.

Em

 

[ElectricBlue]

1. Yes. It's best not to mess with an existing story/chapter. It will just confuse folk who have read it.
2. Yes, it will screw up all your meta-data, which presumably would stay with a cut down first chapter, and make your second chapter look like a non event..
3. Many readers seem to have very small brains at times. Don't confuse them.
4. If you do Chap 01, 02, 03 titles the joining up is automatic. Same, if your titles are straight alphabetic.

If it was me, I'd leave it as is, and just get on and release the next chapter(s) with whatever length it (they) come out as.

You might care about the dramatic pacing, blah blah blah, but I doubt most readers would even notice.

Edit: now I'm scared. Simon and I have said the same things at pretty much the same time.

 

[EmilyMiller]

1. Yes. It's best not to mess with an existing story/chapter. It will just confuse folk who have read it.
2. Yes, it will screw up all your meta-data, which presumably would stay with a cut down first chapter, and make your second chapter look like a non event..
3. Many readers seem to have very small brains at times. Don't confuse them.
4. If you do Chap 01, 02, 03 titles the joining up is automatic. Same, if your to titles are straight alphabetic

If it was me, I'd leave it as is, and just get on and release the next chapter(s) with whatever length it (they) come out as.

You might care about the dramatic pacing, blah blah blah, but I doubt most readers would even notice.

Yeah. Helpful again. Thanks.

I use manual series. I use them in a bastardized way, both as they are intended, but also to group related stand-alone stories (e.g. all my college stories).

I worry way to much about stuff, I know. Just how I’m built.

Em

 

[lc69hunter]

split the last one and go forward. Where would you have split Determination anyway?

 

[EmilyMiller]

split the last one and go forward. Where would you have split Determination anyway?

Just before waking up Na-ri.

Em

 

[lc69hunter]

Just before waking up Na-ri.

Em

Makes sense

 

[djrip]

I beg you not to split the existing story. It exists as it is, it makes a lot of sense, splitting would confuse and lose readers, second half would be an orphan, like you said, potentially languishing with a handful of views. Now to read the rest of the thread...

 

[EmilyMiller]

I beg you not to split the existing story. It exists as it is, it makes a lot of sense, splitting would confuse and lose readers, second half would be an orphan, like you said, potentially languishing with a handful of views. Now to read the rest of the thread...

I’m going to stick with three instalments.

I’ve fully outlined the rest of the story. Part III might be longer than Determination. We’ll see.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Obviously the peanut gallery has already chimed in, and seems like you've decided against splitting it.

And I agree; I think ultimately you'd be causing more confusion than helping your stories in any meaningful way.

I could see if part 2 needed a major overhaul to connect to a sudden new direction for part 3 or something, but even then it would only affect potential new readers, not original readers.

I didn't think Determination was "too long."

And i don't think the length of part 3 will affect your readership in any significant way.

Readers already invested in the story will read it.

New readers finding it in the feed will probably skip it whether it's 3 pages or 30, because it's a sequel.

The way your series finds an audience from here is simply the random draw of people finding part 1 and continuing to read the whole series, or new readers drawn in by one of your other stories looking to see what else you wrote.

 

[AchtungNight]

One of my earlier stories, The Rendezvous, was a confused mess when I first published it. When I broke it up into chapters, it was still a mess. Just less of one. And the first part seems to get the most attention, even today.