A question about stories/chapters

[JustLikeEwe]

Hello. I don't know if this has been mentioned or discussed before, but for those who write here, I'm fairly certain you must have experienced this too.

In feedback on several of my stories in the last few months, readers have commented favorably to me on what they read (which is great) but then later in their message, tell me how much they look forward to the next chapter.

Not so good. The stories they have commented on aren't chapters. They're stories. Good, bad or indifferent, that's all there is. They have a beginning and an end. If they were chapters, I would have mentioned that upfront in the title, which is what I thought you were supposed to do.

So my questions to authors; Have you experienced similar feedback? Do you bother to write them back and tell them there won't be any more? I'm having trouble figuring out what to say to them that won't sound insulting to the person who was nice enough to take the time to comment. Should I be mentioning right on the submission's introduction that this is the entire story?

I guess a better question would be whether you're better off taking a 3 lit page story and breaking it down into 4 or 5 chapters? Seems like entire stories are the exception instead of the rule these days. I guess if you're writing something that has instant action in it, you can get away with the serial approach, but if you are trying to introduce characters, in my mind there isn't enough there at the start to make them want to follow it.

Thanks.

 

[driphoney]

First, make sure to take it as a compliment. And yes, reply back to your fan, it's polite and you'd like to keep them reading. They obviously love your characters. Personally, I don't think they would mind being told it's a stand alone story. Do you end them with "The End"?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Youre forced to wonder about readers who dont know when the show is over.

 

[SimonBrooke]

Hello. I don't know if this has been mentioned or discussed before, but for those who write here, I'm fairly certain you must have experienced this too.

In feedback on several of my stories in the last few months, readers have commented favorably to me on what they read (which is great) but then later in their message, tell me how much they look forward to the next chapter.

Not so good. The stories they have commented on aren't chapters. They're stories. Good, bad or indifferent, that's all there is. They have a beginning and an end. If they were chapters, I would have mentioned that upfront in the title, which is what I thought you were supposed to do.

You have to recognise that the Literotica audience is just as mixed as, but on the whole less thoughtful than, the Literotica authors. Many of them are here, frankly, for a quick wank, so serious literary criticism may not be the first thing on their mind. If you've managed to turn them on, they want more of the same.

So my questions to authors; Have you experienced similar feedback? Do you bother to write them back and tell them there won't be any more? I'm having trouble figuring out what to say to them that won't sound insulting to the person who was nice enough to take the time to comment. Should I be mentioning right on the submission's introduction that this is the entire story?

Yes, I've experienced this. I have posted one novella to Lit, where I was deliberately continuing the same story from chapter to chapter; I've posted a group of mildly related pieces which share some of the same characters; but mostly I've posted stand alone pieces, and they too have attracted the 'I can wait for the next chapter...' responses.

I guess a better question would be whether you're better off taking a 3 lit page story and breaking it down into 4 or 5 chapters?

No, i definitely wouldn't do that. I tend to ignore anything which says 'Chapter 1' on the new stories list, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of other people who do the same.

 

[jomar]

I would just say thanks glad you enjoyed it and for now I don't have plans to write further chapters.

Funny though, isn't it. My first story was a wanker that readers of that category really liked. So I ended up writing more in the same vein and sales took off, as one here has put it.

 

[JustLikeEwe]

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

I suppose that driphoney's suggestion about putting "The End" on it would eliminate any confusion, wouldn't it? Maybe my not doing just that kind of invites speculation. I guess the other option would be to just kill off all the characters in the last paragraph.

Thanks again all.

 

[SimonBrooke]

I guess the other option would be to just kill off all the characters in the last paragraph.

Honey lay panting and glowing in Stud's arms. Suddenly the door burst open, and a masked woman in dark clothing somersaulted into the room, rolled swiftly to her feet and turned towards the bed, cocking an AK47.

"Wait, what!" cried Honey, "who are you?"

"We're the SPS - the Sequel Prevention Squad," said the woman. "Think of us as like the morning after pill.... only more permanent."

 

[Handley_Page]

If someone likes the story, take the words "next chapter" as a complement and think about writing another story with those persons in it.
I think it's down to "what happened next?"

 

[glynndah]

If someone likes the story, take the words "next chapter" as a complement and think about writing another story with those persons in it.
I think it's down to "what happened next?"

I think you're exactly right.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Sometimes I write a story and lay the groundwork for another chapter or a sequel, and I always appreciate it when readers ask me about the next episode. Sometimes I don't, and am surprised when readers tell me they are waiting for the next part. When I can, I answer them, but I don't usually send a message to Anon.

There have been times I have considered a story to be through, but have written a sequel when asked.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Sometimes I write a story and lay the groundwork for another chapter or a sequel, and I always appreciate it when readers ask me about the next episode. Sometimes I don't, and am surprised when readers tell me they are waiting for the next part. When I can, I answer them, but I don't usually send a message to Anon.

There have been times I have considered a story to be through, but have written a sequel when asked.

Tell me something, does anyone write real stories with sex, or is it all wank aids?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I agree with Handley and Glynndah. I've had two stories where the readers were asking for more and the second one turned to be higher scoring than the first. I don't understand it but since I consider my writing to be a craft more than an art, if it brings in orders, I'll fill them!

 

[Boxlicker101]

Tell me something, does anyone write real stories with sex, or is it all wank aids?

Some of us write real stories that include sex, and even I do sometimes. Mostly, though, I just write wank and frig aids. I get quite a few appreciative emails and PC from satisfied customers, so I gladly settle for that.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Only on stories of mine that are numbered as chapters.

 

[frisky-leo]

Haha! I love this.

Honey lay panting and glowing in Stud's arms. Suddenly the door burst open, and a masked woman in dark clothing somersaulted into the room, rolled swiftly to her feet and turned towards the bed, cocking an AK47.

"Wait, what!" cried Honey, "who are you?"

"We're the SPS - the Sequel Prevention Squad," said the woman. "Think of us as like the morning after pill.... only more permanent."

OT: I have found when writing my stories that I write and view them as complete, stand alone stories. I hate ending with 'the end', and usually end them in a way that encourages the reader to imagine what other trouble the characters could get themselves into. I am new to the author side of erotica, so I could be in the wrong, but I enjoy stories that are not cut and dried. If that makes any sense to anyone else out there.
As of now I have not written anything that would have chapters in it. Nothing against novellas, its just as one poster said, the whole ''chapter X'' does not do it for me. Plus I am not sure I am ready to try tackling something that big.

 

[Englandboy2]

I find stories with too many chapters daunting. Also, they either get really repetitive or go off
at crazy tangents that have little to do with the original concept. I'm quite happy for a story to end without knowing what the future holds for the characters involved. Just like you don't need to know every detail of a character's history, you don't need to know how the rest of their life turns out either. Basically, my preference is for shorter stories. Sometimes a sequel's called for, but it should be the exception, not the rule.