Changing categories from one chapter to the next?

[bosombuddies]

What is the typical procedure when subsequent chapters of a story switch into a new genre? My current story has three chapters that fall under the category "First Time," but then the main character finally loses his virginity. Should I change categories for chapter 4? Should I put a note at the bottom of chapter 3 telling people that I'm going to be posting the next part to a different category? SHOULD I post to a different category, or just stick with "First Time," even if it's not exactly accurate anymore? Different people seem to take different approaches to this, and I'm not sure if there's a particular expectation.

As I'm fairly new at this (first time writer) I was just hoping to get various people's thoughts on the matter. Thanks!

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

If all your chapters are 7,500 words or more, you could have posted your story to the novel category.

Then, again, I have plenty of longer works that started out in one category and hit two dozen other categories, which is where I posted each one.

By posting one work, each chapter, in different categories, you're reaching a larger audience.

Good luck with your work.

 

[DG Hear]

Just post your new chapter in the preferred category. As long as the story has the same name and you used chapter numbers there should be no problems. On your submission page they will be in order. I've done it many times. Good luck with your story.
DG

 

[D_Lynn]

Just post your new chapter in the preferred category. As long as the story has the same name and you used chapter numbers there should be no problems. On your submission page they will be in order. I've done it many times. Good luck with your story.
DG

I totally agree. I've also done this and seen it done many times by top authors on this site.

Have fun.

D_L

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I would definitely submit to the proper category and you will reach a larger audience by doing so.

 

[3113]

Problematic

Problematic. You can do it, no question. There is no technical problem with putting different chapters in different categories, but you must be careful. Make sure, for example, that you title each part "Chapter..." like "Julie's Romance: Chapter 4." You may gain readers if someone sees Chapter 4 and goes looking for the other three, which they'll find by checking on your name and seeing all the stories you've written.

However, you could also lose readers. Readers following the story in BDSM, for example, see Chapter 1/Chapter 2 and think there is only two chapters. They don't know that it goes on in Chapters 3-5 over in Loving Wives. So they wait patiently for more chapters and none come. Likewise, those in Loving Wives may see "Chapter 4" and think, "well, I don't know where the other chapters are, but I don't want to start on Chapter 4...." and ignore it. So now you've lost your BDSM readers and not gained any new ones in Loving Wives.

Also, there is the problem of switching categories and losing readers by way of taste. That's a story issue. For example, readers in incest may be digging Chapters 1-3 where the son has sex with mommy, but it's going to be hard to drag them over to Gay Male for when the son has sex with daddy. Not only won't they wonder what happened to the story, but once they find out, they may not go for it. A lot of readers just will not read certain categories and if the story goes there, they won't follow it. And the gay male readers might not want to go back to incest and read about mom & son.

In the end, I think if you *can* keep all the chapters of a story in one category, it's a good idea. This can be pretty easy if what you're writing can fit into non-human, horror or sci-fi/fantasy. A story about a ghost can go into any one of those and doesn't have to be moved from "Non-human" to "Sci-fi" just because in Chapter 3 we find out the ghost is an alien. Just put it all in Sci-fi. Sci-fi/Fantasy and Horror also allow for different types of sex without the need to switch. You'll find a lot of gay male and BDSM and such in those categories.

If your chapters must switch categories, however, try to be careful about that. Mind control, for example, is close to BDSM and Non-con--and Loving Wives, depending on the story. So readers will likely follow you from one to the other. And some sexy celebrity in Celebrity sex moving into Lesbian sex might be fine as that kind of story is beloved of heterosexual males--if it then follows her celebrity husband into gay male sex, however, you'll probably lose a huge chunk of your readers ;-)

 

[R. Richard]

I did exactly what's being discussed. However, I would sugest that you add a header to each chapter, explaining the category for each chapter.

 

[sr71plt]

I think you can just change the categories as you go. (Agree that multiple chapters categorized as "first time" will only make it seem like you can't get to the action.) Most readers operate off the "New" list, where changing categories means nothing. Those reading the series will catch on with the standard chapter titling and/or will be following your personal page.

Explaining anything like this is a proslug would just seem defensive and asking for criticism to me.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I think you only need to add a header if you're mixing the sexual scenes. For example if your main characters are going to be having sex, but somewhere else you have a couple of woman or men engaging in sexual acts that are just "brief" stints, you can let folks know that there are brief hints or interludes of lesbian, gay, or group or even light BDSM, incest -- if it isn't the main focus you've done your job on warning folks. I did that most recently with Sinful Pleasures on a Rainy Night. It is in group but has a warning that there is light BDSM overtures and some MF scenes. It isn't all MFM.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, if you want to pander to readers who are really too childish to be reading on Literotica at all or who can't take responsibility for themselves on what they will deal with in life.

I believe that any such explanations just invite readers not to read--and that if you're an engaging writer, adult readers won't have a heart attack if every single twist of the story doesn't hit the narrow G spot they choose to have.

Although, I guess it might be a good thing to do if your goal for writing here is to have higher ratings, more votes, and nicer comments than any other writer here.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I consider myself engaging as a writer, and I don't feel I pander to my readership by giving a brief explanation of what is to come, but that's just my personal take on it. I do it because I want to. There's no harm or foul in the added notation.

 

[sr71plt]

There's certainly room for disagreement on this. It's not arms and legs.

 

[lovecraft68]

I consider myself engaging as a writer, and I don't feel I pander to my readership by giving a brief explanation of what is to come, but that's just my personal take on it. I do it because I want to. There's no harm or foul in the added notation.

I usually explain things in authors notes if I feel it will save someone from "blundering" into something they may not like, or I am leaving something out they may want. For instance a chapter in an incest series that contains no incest.

I don;t consider it pandering. Maybe courteous? Personally I enjoy the author "speaking" to the readers, I always read authors notes.

I feel it usually works, then again like many things here, no way to really know.

I warned of graphic Violence in the 3rd chapter of my finale and got flamed for it anyway. Then again, it was a lot for the incest crowd to handle, erotic horror I probably could have gotten by with it, but it had incest so that's where it stayed.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I really enjoy author notes, probably for the same reason you mention, it's my personal connection beyond the POV my characters are going to portray. I don't have them in all my stories, but I have them in several.