Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and it gones on and on.

[ilovewriting]

Just wondering what people think of stories that just seem to go on and on. Personally i am less likely to read an errotic story if there are more than 2 or 3 'chapters' (parts subbmitted at different times, like Lesbian Blackmailer 1, Lesbian Blackmailer 2).
It would nevery stop me from writing a story that required me to submitt many, many sections, but i was wondering what other people think of about this.
Would you or do you take the time to read thoes stories with 23 chapters? I am talking errotic here. I would read up to 10 Books if it is a good science fiction or fantasy series.
People keep writing them so i assume a lot of people like them.
Anyway, just wanted to hear what others think about this.

 

[christo]

I don't think readers follow the later chapters of a story, and I know that I tend to shy away from stories if I see that it's chapter 17 or something like that. It's like starting to watch a TV show halfway through the season. You don't know what's going on, and it takes to much energy to find out.

I'm also trying to stop writing multichapter stories. It took me freakin' forever to finish the "Mrs. Reid" series, after I got a bunch of e-mails from readers asking me to get my butt in gear and finish. Now I have the same problem with the "Autofellatio Blues" series. I'm almost done with that, but not quite, and it's driving me nuts. I just want to get it done to be done, but I don't want it to be crap, either. That's why I'm goin' nuts.

I'm in the middle of a story that's gonna be around 25000 words, and I'm going to post it as one long novella. I think that's a better way of holding a readers attention. From now on, I don't think I'll break up my stories into different pieces. I'm too lazy, I need to get the whole thing done first.

 

[Couture]

I like a good multipart story. I like reading them and I like writing them.

Parker, LCDRJMC (The Nanny), Weatherman, Dr. Woo, hell, the list is just too long to name. In my opinion, if it is done right, the series or novella makes for the most erotic story. As a matter of fact, I can't think of but just a few short stories that stand out in my memory.

However, I'm probably the odd one out. Reader response on Lit tends to faver the long short story somewhere in the neighborhood of four or five literotica pages long.

 

[Axeltheswede]

Multi chapters

I think multi-chapter stories work fine. As you post subsequent chapters, readership goes up for the early chapters. This probably works better for character driven stories, compared to plot driven ones. Each chapter stands alone a bit better with character driven stories.

Seems like the trend lately has been toward longer stories (more than five web pages). I think that is a good thing. If more readers get used to staying longer, more can be done with character development.

 

[SexyChele]

When I decided to write my "Cassie" stories, I was fearful that readers would avoid later chapters because they hadn't caught her from the beginning. So, I've made each story individual, able to stand completely on its own. Of course, the beginning of one story picks up right where the last ended so there is continuity. The stories have no "Part 1" or "Chapter 2", however, a reader can pick any of the "Cassie" stories and not have missed a thing by not reading any previous or subsequent story.

I think it is true, that people who read multi-part stories do so because they like the character and/or can identify the her/him. At least, this is what I've been finding out!

 

[Star of Penumbra]

I truly dislike all those stories that have upwards of 14 chapters here on Lit. These stories are generally written because the author didn't feel like creating new characters.

Well, whoop de shit for them. They have the ability to take halfway decent characters and totally fuck them up by dragging thier exploits out over four dozen webpages. If you want to write something long, write it all as once piece and submit it to the Novels and Novellas section, so the people who want to read something time-consuming don't have to search all over the fucking boards.

Sorry for ranting, it just irritates the piss out of me when I see half a page filled entirely with titles like "Loins of Lust, part 19".

 

[SexyChele]

I truly dislike all those stories that have upwards of 14 chapters here on Lit. These stories are generally written because the author didn't feel like creating new characters.

I know your post was a "rant", but I don't know that the above statement is necessarily true. Yes, I'm in the middle of writing a series that involves the exploits of one character. But I could end the series with this story that I'm working on. Truth is, I've had feedback from readers who tell me they like the character, and they want to know what she will do next. As long as I enjoy developing her and readers like her, why not continue? (Also, I don't do the chapter thing - a reader can pick up any of the stories and not miss a thing by not having read any of the others in the series)

But this isn't because I have no imagination about developing characters. As a matter of fact, because the series takes more time to develop, I've also written other stories involving other characters, at the same time. Gives me a break from the series.

A series, whether chaptered or not, is not as easy as it seems to write. It's actually easier to create new characters instead of having the same one. On one of my stories involving my serial character, I was approached by readers who felt I had betrayed her character. They had come to know her, and felt she was not the same character they enjoyed reading about.

I won't click on Ch 19 of anything I haven't already the previous 18 chapters of. But I think there is an audience for such writing, and I think the writers who create such ideas are deserving of credit.

*Okay, stepping down off my soapbox now*

 

[Axeltheswede]

Multi chapters

I have to agree, as usual, with SexyChele. If each chapter or part can stand alone readers have the opportunity to enjoy characters they have come to know.

A quick tour through the top lists in many categories reveals the popularity of multi-chapter stories. That wouldn't be the case if readers didn't like the form.

As for seeing nineteen chapters of something, scroll on past. Seems like a trivial thing to get upset about.

I get the most continuing feedback on a three chapter story I have posted. I think it is interesting that I have received six requests so far for a picture of my main character. She might not be real to me, but she is to some people.

 

[Star of Penumbra]

Notice that I said 'generally'. I never specifically accused anyone of being lazy.

When I write a story, I usually create new characters. The chartacters might be similar to characters in antoher story, but other than that, they have no similarity to each other.

I am goign to stop here, before this thread gets totally off topic, because I hate thread highjackers and try not to do it myself.

 

[ilovewriting]

I truly dislike all those stories that have upwards of 14 chapters here on Lit. These stories are generally written because the author didn't feel like creating new characters.

Well, whoop de shit for them. They have the ability to take halfway decent characters and totally fuck them up by dragging thier exploits out over four dozen webpages. If you want to write something long, write it all as once piece and submit it to the Novels and Novellas section, so the people who want to read something time-consuming don't have to search all over the fucking boards.

Sorry for ranting, it just irritates the piss out of me when I see half a page filled entirely with titles like "Loins of Lust, part 19".

Harsh, very harsh, but yes they do annoy me too, so....
Here's a question. Worst comes to worst and you want to write a 20 chapter monstrosity then why the hell not go the extra mile and make it into an errotic book and sell the bloody thing????????If you cant get it to sell then sure, put it on lit and us who cant stand reading muli chapter short stories will just ignor it.
If you can write short stories it doesnt take much to learn how to write novels. However i found the transition from novels to short stroies VERY hard. I know my science fiction short stories always end up as a prologue to a novel lol.

 

[NCmVoyeur]

Preconceptions

That 'gones on and on?' Is 'gones' the offspring of Mr. Goes and Mrs. Drones?

I've always been reluctant to delve into multi-part stories. When a chapter pops up on the New Stories list, if it's 'Chapter 5' my feeling is that I don't care to first stop and find Chapters 1 through 4, and if it's styled 'Chapter 1,' I wonder when (if ever) the following Chapters will come out. Either way, I tend to get discouraged.

As to already-completed series, the chapter descriptions too often seem to run along the same lines, e.g., 'Ch. 1-- Mary meets John,' Ch. 2--Mary has first bi experience, Ch. 3--Mary and John meet new couple, etc.'--in short, serially putting the character into as many sexual variations as possible.

Axel may be right about these being mainly character-driven stories (they can hardly be plot-driven, when so often it appears the earlier chapters are 'published' before the later chapters are even conceived, let alone written).

Though what I would enjoy reading is a true plot-driven story, where the early chapters set the conflict, the middle chapters explore it, and the concluding chapters resolve it. Oh, and where the sex scenes actually tie into the plot and character development.

Anyone have any suggestions along those lines?

 

[Couture]

I truly dislike all those stories that have upwards of 14 chapters here on Lit. These stories are generally written because the author didn't feel like creating new characters.

Really? I write a 14 plus chapter story because sometimes the 'story' demands it. Why don't you actually count the characters in one of those stories. There are usually around ten or twelve characters. Not only does the author have to develop that many different characters, he/she has to keep up with 'em for 14+ chapters. Not an easy feat.

Sorry for ranting, it just irritates the piss out of me when I see half a page filled entirely with titles like "Loins of Lust, part 19".

Well it pisses me off to read something that is boring and with no plot. Unfortunately, there's no disclaimer and I actually have to read a bit of it before I can find out. You can just skip everything that has a chapter number behind it. Be glad.

Axel may be right about these being mainly character-driven stories (they can hardly be plot-driven, when so often it appears the earlier chapters are 'published' before the later chapters are even conceived, let alone written).

Not plot driven? Really? Having written a twenty chapter series, I can tell you, you not only have to have a plot for each chapter, you have to have a plot for the series. On top of that, you should have a sex scene for each chapter. Try it sometime, it is no easy feat.

When I write a story, I usually create new characters. The chartacters might be similar to characters in antoher story, but other than that, they have no similarity to each other.

I only see one story that you've written and it was six web pages long. Were you too lazy to stop and write a new story? I mean come on, this is the same deal. Just because you don't like something, you are making generalities. The authors who write series are just as much of a writer as everyone else and they have fans just like everyone else.

 

[NCmVoyeur]

Not plot driven? Really?

Yes, really.

It's not like 'plot-driven' and 'character-driven' are either/or categories. There can be elements of both in a single story.

But when authors write on message boards statements like "I'm trying to figure out where to take the story from here" and when chapters are posted often weeks and at times months apart, it's quite obvious that no overarching plot is driving the development of the story.

You're taking my statement (which is a generalized, but not a categorical one) and attempting to challenge it by holding up a single, personalized example. Overall, my point is still true.

On top of that, you should have a sex scene for each chapter.

Why? Where's that rule written?

I would think one advantage of a multi-chapter story is that you have the luxury of devoting a chapter or two to non-sexual plot/character development. The felt need to have a sex scene in every chapter merely exacerbates the problem in my view: so many (varied) sexual encounters (by often the same character) in a short span of time seems forced and unrealistic. (Again, this is a general statement: I'm not speaking about your stories specifically.)

 

[Couture]

Yeah I agree, when someone writes 'where do I take it from here' there is no plot. Except maybe what could possibly happen to have so and so sexual act occur.

However, there are just as many or if not more short stories out there with no plot whatsoever. The stories aren't even character driven - but scene driven. That doesn't mean that all short stories suck and the authors are lazy.

There is no rule about a sex scene for each chapter, but I'm of the opinon that a story on Lit should be erotica. Lit-erotica.

So, if you post a story a chapter at a time, each chapter should be erotic. If a chapter is not erotic, maybe you should combine it with another chapter and make it erotic. This is just something I apply to my own writing. Your mileage may vary.

 

[NCmVoyeur]

I agree that many submissions here aren't really short stories in the classic sense, but more sexual episodes or vignettes. That is not to say they lack worth, but they generally lack something to make them distinguishable from hundreds of other submissions that have similar sex scenes. That leaves the reader (at least this reader) too often with that 'I've read this before' feeling, even when reading through the "New Stories" offerings. (Star of Penumbra made the laziness comment; you mixed quotes from him and me together in the same post earlier). I wouldn't call it a matter of laziness, but more a limitation in vision.

 

[karmadog]

I don't read multi-chapter stories because I lack the time. I'm just too busy.

I also fear that the author had no clear idea of the story before they started writing. I don't know that to be the case, but I worry about it, so I never start reading it. And I don't have time.

 

[Imaginator]

I've noticed with two stories that I wrote, then added an extra chapter or two, that the readership went down with each successive chapter, even though the response to the first chapter was favorable. I believe this may be true with most multi-chapter stories, in that there will be some people who are so interested in the characters, plot, etc., that they want to stick with it through successive chapters; while others, though they liked the first chapter, perhaps felt that that was enough and moved on to other stories.

 

[Axeltheswede]

Multi chapters

My experience with multiple chapters has been the opposite of Imaginator. Later chapters had more readers than earlier ones. The number of reads also picked up on those first chapters.

I think each chapter should be able to stand alone. I try to provide a brief recap of the earlier story. I think there is an outside limit to the number of chapters. Six is my personal preference only because I'm getting tired of the characters by then.

One of the beauties of Lit. is the flexibility we have about story length. Just like the "Chicken Ranch". Any length welcome.

 

[80niner]

The most response I ever got on a story was when Chapter 3 of my Family Fun series was omitted because it had a dog in it. I was told that it would appear in extreme within a month. It never did. You would not believe the people that wanted it. I even had one correspondent from North Africa. I sent it to those who included e-mail addresses.

I have a new five or six part series that involves a medieval monastery and abbey. There are lesbian nuns. Anal fucking monks, Strapping of asses and much more. I haven’t a clue as to what classification it fits.

 

[Uther_Pendragon]

I'm one of the guiltier ones here. I've just posted, fortunately
not on Lit, chapter 16 of a story which I began early in
2001. And many of those chpaters are about 40 kilobytes
long. And then there are series. My chief claim to fame
is the series about the Brennan couple.
More than 20 individual stories, some quite short, one
a regular novel.
It seems to me that some of the long stories deserve the
space and some don't.
On the other hand, I've read some author's work in which
it seemed to me that he wrote the same story twelve times,
and posted it under twelve different titles.
I'd rather read about the same couple facing different
situations than read about identical couples facing
identical situations.
All my opinions are just that, opinions.

 

[ilovewriting]

I dont have a problem with people writing heaps of chapter, even if the more experienced writers would consider them 'crap', i was just wondering how many people actually bother to read these huge stories. Dont we all have lives and jobs and not enough time to read 28 chapter errotic short stories?

 

[Whispersecret]

People will continue to read as long as they are interested in what happens to the characters. This is why some multi-chapter works are read and loved, and others are not. If a story is just a series of unrelated events, it may not generate the momentum of a story that has some unresolved conflict or plot point that is not worked out until the climax of the story, presumably in the last chapter or so. That is why it's important to build the suspense and draw out the dilemmas until the end--so they'll keep reading.

I mean, I'm a reader too. I'm a damned picky and analytical reader, but I am a reader. I will only invest the time in a multi-chapter story if the story captures my interest and is relatively error-free. Recently, the story, "With Interest" fit that bill. I read the first part and was hooked. I had to find out how the story ended. I could tell that this tale would actually have some plot resolution and was not just a series of sexual encounters hooked together by recurring characters.

So I don't think you can ask whether people have the time to read the long tales or will bother. It depends on the story more than the reader.

 

[KinkyKiki]

I personally used to hate chapter stories. No matter how good one looked I would never read it unless I had already read the previous chapter, but then I started writing and submitting and found them to be a great way to tell a story. I've spent most of my time on my "A First For Us Both" stories. I love writing them and now I've realizxed how much better these type of stories are to read. I've gone back and read so many that I was sorry I missed before. I agree though that it helps when each chapter can stand alone and make for a good read in itself. I think mine are like that..........at least I hope so. Maybe that's why some of my later chapters have gotten more views, more votes and higher ratings than the earler ones.

Oh well who knows, whatever the reason they seem to be quite a great hit with everyone so I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

KinkyKiki

 

[Roy Kay]

Multi-capters

I'm new here and posted a 3 chapter story. Really 3 scenes in a setting. I broke it up because it seemed that one web-page was 3500 words +/- and I thought there would be a page limit.

Still, it did break. #1-exhibitionism, #2-BDSM, #3-anal.

I notice that anal got more reads but #1 got more votes.

 

[Guest]

My 2 cents.........

I've been writing on Literotica for a while now and have made a few observations.

When I began, I started with a few short stories that did OK....I then decided to try a bit of a series...."Masturbation Club", and it did really well for about the first seven chapters......then I noticed the interest and Feedback began to fizzle out. So I do believe there IS too much of a good thing...(not to say the stories where THAT good...but there is only so much you can do or write about under a particular theme).

What I have learned is that people DO enjoy, and will read a slightly longer story. But there is a fine line there. Too long...and the interest fades. Too short...and everyone wants more, which isn't a bad thing, but unless you can tie up an idea in three or four Chapters at most, then you start entering that gray area when you might be hurting the first four Chapters you've already done.

I've found that between 30 - 50 pages....tops seems to be working really well.

Anyway.......that's my 2cents on the subject. And I urge you all to visit Thesandman, and tell me what you think.

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=39666

To sleep......perchance to dream - William Shakespear

I remain........