Am I a novella or a series of stories?

[saintbibiana]

Half-way through baccalaureate studies the university I attended (for political reasons I’d rather not get sidetracked on) abolished my intended degree and folded the remaining parts of the program into a slightly related field where the program was sure to slowly starve for lack of funding and support. I quit school and joined a commune.

At the time that four of us, two men and two women from the uni joined the commune we had previously worked with the 16 or so members on a school project that if successful promised to economically support their group. I continued to work on this project, brought it to the (literal) marketplace, and have always been a well-respected member for this effort.

The commune was founded by a religious visionary whose followers never really bought into the message being expounded, but who thoroughly enjoyed the few rules and free love atmosphere. Contrary to their beliefs before joining the group, personally running everything around you because one has, “dropped out and tuned in,” is a lot of hard work. There were many lineup changes due to this.

I should mention that this all occurred in a small tropical nation that, just before the story opens, separated from the UK politically. It had very little infrastructure, and an economy supported in large part by ex-pat US college students, tourists, and retirees. The laws were very different there and not strictly (often not slightly) enforced by the quite reasonably priced local police force.

Many members left rather than work hard and own nothing after their libidos reached a certain level of satiation. Many paired-off and left to start families. In the beginning, some new arrivals (such as myself) semi-replaced those who departed. But over time the group became older, more responsible, and if possible more complex in their hedonism.

Obviously, the names and physical locations will be obfuscated. I’m not being too specific about the timeline, describing it year-by-year from the time I joined. Is there an advantage to offering it as being strictly fictional, or fictionalized (condensed) reality as opposed to anonymized truth?

The rough draft just keeps growing as I wite it mostly chronologically but am currently grouping it more by players and then by subject. There probably isn’t a category at Literotica this tale doesn’t cover although some obviously fit better than others. To my mind group sex really fits because ninety-percent or so of all activities included at least a third player.

But there is some BDSM, lots of voyeurism, some siblings having sex, a smattering of male-on-male sex, and Keynesian economics that some may find doesn’t fit their view. Especially Keynesian economics when the local market-place realities do not conveniently fit their libido. Although it adds color, any of this can be downplayed or written out if needed.

It could be offered as a novella, or it could be written as several stand-alone stories that would fit into separate categories with a lead paragraph or two repeated in each describing the aforementioned background and referencing the fact other stories in this “literary universe” exist.

Any opinions or advice that could be offered would be appreciated.

 

[KeithD]

Finish it as one work, look at it after it's been polished to determine where it can be submitted. It can go to novellas and novels if nowhere else. Concentrate on the integrity of the work not where it can be posted to Literotica to get the most votes/best reception. But worry about creating it as a finished piece before where to post it.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Finish it as one work, look at it after it's been polished to determine where it can be submitted. It can go to novellas and novels if nowhere else. Concentrate on the integrity of the work not where it can be posted to Literotica to get the most votes/best reception. But worry about creating it as a finished piece before where to post it.

I believe the above is correct. I have my own issues publishing novellas because I'm not sure if people will read that much online. But first I have to write one!

You've got an interesting concept, more interesting than some of the things on here (including some of my own stuff!). Fictionalize it? That's up to you, but if you've got some good settings and events (and apparently you do), then use them.

I'm not sure I get what the Keynesian economics is about, but if it seems relevant, then include it.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think KeithD and GHT are right: finish the story the way you want it to be, and then probably publish it as a single story in whatever category fits best.

If Group Sex is a strong and recurring theme I'd strongly consider publishing it there. I think the audience is bigger than for BDSM or Novels and it's a fairly flexible category, meaning it can accommodate other kinks and fetishes better than some other categories. BDSM can be finicky.

I can't recall reading an erotic story where Keynesian economics played a role. I just did a search for stories with the terms "Keynes" and "economics", however, and got six hits. Maybe it could be a new category -- sex and economics.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I believe the above is correct. I have my own issues publishing novellas because I'm not sure if people will read that much online. But first I have to write one!

You can post it in Novels and Novellas as individual chapters if you feel that a single submission is more than people will read.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

I prefer chapters because I can read one or two chapters and come back later and read more. Until there's some kind of bookmark feature so you can return to where you left off on a long story long one part stories will not be read.

One of my favorite stories in Billion Dollar Sex Slaves and is written in 29 parts. If it was one story I would never have read it. Since it was in chapters, I've read it 6-7 times.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I prefer chapters because I can read one or two chapters and come back later and read more. Until there's some kind of bookmark feature so you can return to where you left off on a long story long one part stories will not be read.

One of my favorite stories in Billion Dollar Sex Slaves and is written in 29 parts. If it was one story I would never have read it. Since it was in chapters, I've read it 6-7 times.

I get a lot of favorites on chapters, seemingly at random. I assume that the reader is using the favorite feature as a de facto bookmark.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

I get a lot of favorites on chapters, seemingly at random. I assume that the reader is using the favorite feature as a de facto bookmark.

I've done that. but on a 30+ page story how does one bookmark what page they read?

 

[MelissaBaby]

I've done that. but on a 30+ page story how does one bookmark what page they read?

Exactly, so I think you should help them out and post chapter by chapter.

 

[yukonnights]

Just another vote for you to finish the story.

I do this sometimes too, not sure if I should make it a multi-part submission or a one shot. When this happens, as I write, I try to identify what might make a good break — and mark it in red words - Part #5, etc.

I've not done this, but seen it done and think it has merit; On the content that you think might be offensive to sensitive readers, a Content Warning can be put in before it comes up — as opposed to a separate submission/part. The key is to promise a brief summary of any plot developments so the reader knows they can skip forward without missing anything important, etc.

Good luck, sound like a good story