And then new Chapter jumped topic...

[Thabes]

Say you have a lengthy story, one of those 8 or more chapter epics that are often found...

Do you ever switch post categories? (Like, switching from Loving Wives in Chapter 2 to Romance in Chapter 3 to BDSM in Chapter 8 as the chapters progress from hardship to new love to some kind of wickedly dangerous revenge?)

I've seen a lot of them posted in the same original category even though the chapter doesn't necessarily fit. But, they always seem to be better received (according to votes) than those that are spread over multiple categories during progression.

Just wondering if anyone had better insight...

 

[sr71plt]

I've seen it done, with little apparent backlash, although theoretically I'd think it could spin readers off.

Not much of a problem in the main area I write in, because, unlike the choices straight story writers have here, all GM subcategories are dumped into the one category.

I did, though, mark one five-part series, Tuscan Twilight, to four widely divergent categories, the divergence being the series hook--GM, lesbian, erotic couplings, and group sex--and it worked out fine for me. I got four green E's awarded for it.

 

[Darkniciad]

It depends upon the story, I think.

The readership in a lot of categories is very isolated. Someone who reads romance may have qualms about crossing over to one of the sex-centered categories for a chapter, and vice versa.

There's some chance you'll attract new eyes by jumping category, and they're easy enough to follow if you're using chapter numbers, because they're grouped together regardless of category. I think you stand just as much chance of alienating some of the readers who've followed you up to that point, though.

I personally avoid it, leaning toward categories that can contain a lot of themes ( Sci-Fi&Fantasy, Mature ) or go with one shot stories targeted to the narrower categories.

I've only crossed categories once, and that's because I decided to continue something that was originally a one-shot, and the original category ( Toys and Masturbation ) didn't remotely fit the continuing story. If I'd planned to continue it from the beginning, I'd have probably went with Mature and kept them all together.

 

[Tx Tall Tales]

I've done this pretty consistently, and suffered no bad effects from it. My longest running (perhaps never ending) series has 24 chapters covering seven different categories. Scores range from a low of 4.52 (a bridging chapter) to 4.82 (the latest).

Basically I consider there to be a hierarchy of categories. Some are more all-encompassing than others (Sci-FI would be a great example, although I don't write there)

Group Sex is a broad category, but when chapters are very specific or have elements that might not be liked within group sex, I break out the category listing for that chapter - for instance
- First time (to indicate a specific trend for one chapter)
- Incest (even thought it's not fully consummated, it's a turn-off for many)
- Non-consent
- Anal


In general, if you have multiple chapters, and the general theme is a broader category (Romance, Erotic Couplings, Group Sex, Mature) if one takes a detour away from the main theme into any of the following

• BDSM
• Non-Consent
• Incest
• Fetish
• Gay Male
• Nonhuman

You probably will be better off letting your readers know. IMHO.

 

[Thabes]

Ah! That's I think the trick I missed when asking.

Most of the better stories/authors provide a brief note at the top of each post, offering warnings and/or content hints. I suppose it really helps to keep people from vesting too much time reading what they won't be happy with.

Funny, but those warnings have never been as insightful as the comments from that crazy user "Anonymous" that always changes his/her mind... <smiling> I've never actually been deterred from reading any story based on the author's comments at the top. If anything, it shows due diligence and I know it will be a better read.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[NaokoSmith]

Welcome to the Board, btw, you can get great support and help here. (There are sort of trolls, LOL. They are unfortunately very bright, so they can make things a bit tricky but they have got a splendid bun fight going somewhere else so you should be safe just now.)


I am deliberately writing a story with chapters which cross categories. I wanted to exploit the way the internet allows hyperlinking and jumping about inside a text, so you don't have to flick through pages to find a chapter you want, you can easily and simply press a link and skip a bit of a book you're not interested in. I decided to write a story about a group of characters who have diverse sexualities. They are a pack of werewolves so the main story chapters post in Nonhuman. Then I put up chapters into Erotic Coupling or Gay, and I'm considering whether to do one Bondage chapter LOL. I just thought I'd experiment and see if I could write a story where you can follow the narrative and skip gay sex if that's not your thing, or lesbian sex if you don't like reading about two women, or you can read them all if you are curious.

Sometimes Laurel re-assigns a chapter. Eg, the MILF and cub chapter got put back into Nonhuman, I think, when I wanted it to go into Erotic Coupling. But at least it didn't go into Loving Wives, LOL. I really didn't want it to go into Loving Wives which is a snakes' nest of angry Anonymice hissing and howling and scratching your eyes out, so I wrote to Laurel saying: I do hope you are willing to leave this in Erotic Couplings but if you think it should be in Nonhuman I humbly abide by your judgement and Phew, Loving Wives doesn't seem to have occurred to her.

I put up markers at the start of the chapter to say if it is a 'story' or a 'scene' (sexy). And I use the tags as well as the category to indicate what will be in the sex 'scenes'.

I don't know if I get less followers because I post in different categories. There seems to be a core group of interested fans who occasionally become annoyed when the Alphas behave badly or say how sorry they are when something rotten happens to one of the characters. I think they manage to follow all the chapters. If you look, you'll see that in chapter stories the other chapters are helpfully listed at the side of the one you are reading. And Laurel is very good about making sure the chapters are properly numbered so readers won't get confused, for which I am very grateful.