chapter or sequel?

[Mister_Chris]

I have a series of stories under the name 'Sex Island' which is an ultra luxurious island resort for well heeled swingers. The main characters name is Chris, and the various stories detail his interactions with the guests.

I also have a (nearly complete) story (eventually, stories) which detail the recruitment process by which Sex Island finds and trains its employees. These stories involve different main characters, and take place in a different geographic location. They play a complementary role in the Sex Island Universe, but each series stands on its own. You don't have to read one to understand the other.

I should also mention that some characters move between the series. For example, recruited students at Sex Island University eventually graduate and go on to become employees of Sex Island Resorts. And characters in the Sex Island Resorts series are referred to in the Sex Island Recruitment series.

There are a number of stories in each of these separate, but intertwined, series.

So, how should I publish them - a big bunch of chapters under one heading, or two separate series?

And if it's the latter, do I include 'Sex Island' in the name of the second series?

Don't know how best to do this.

 

[SamScribble]

Some people like chapters (goodness know why). Other like the idea of sequels to stories they have enjoyed. Take your pick.

 

[Hypoxia]

Chapters are segments of a single story or story arc. Episodes are pieces within a story universe. My THE BOOK OF RUTH cycle has both standalone episodes and a 3-chapter episode. The RUTH universe will thus be populated by stories sorted in alphanumeric rank:

THE BOOK OF RUTH: BEFORE RUTH
THE BOOK OF RUTH: COMING FAST
THE BOOK OF RUTH: DOING RUTH 01, 02, 03(soon)
THE BOOK OF RUTH: EATING OUT(upcoming)

Your story universe is SEX ISLAND. You might have a main serial containing chapters 1,2,3...n of that story arc. You might have sequels with subsidiary names; those sequels might be standalones, or serial -- your choice. Maybe name those sequels like:

SEX ISLAND 01,02,03,04
SEX ISLAND: EAST 01,02,03
SEX ISLAND: NORTH 01,02
SEX ISLAND: OVER THE TOP
SEX ISLAND: SOUTH SHORE
SEX ISLAND: UNDERWATER
SEX ISLAND: WEST WIND 01,02

Each title shows the universe, the story or arc, and the sequence within an arc. Clear enough, hopefully.

 

[Mister_Chris]

Thanks, Hypoxia. That helps.

 

[RejectReality]

Title length restrictions ( 32 characters ) can make that a severe pain, though.

You can take advantage of your bio to list the links between the different stories, and use a note at the beginning/end of the story to point this out. If you have your own website/blog, you could even do an abbreviated listing on your bio, and point people to an extended timeline with more detail if you run out of space in your bio.

Since your characters are moving between the stories, there's going to be a timeline. Even when stories stand alone, those who get caught up in the world need access to that timeline, because they'll get confused ( and possibly frustrated ) otherwise. When characters grow and evolve, they carry that with them -- even if they're just bit players in the other stories.

 

[Mister_Chris]

Yup

Hi, RR - you're right. I hadn't thought character development through. Sigh.

Trying to keep my erotic fiction out of the limelight - don't want the family issues that would cause. So posting stuff on my website won't work. Maybe the bio thing.

Heck. Trying to make the whole machine work as a seamless whole while allowing each cog to stand on its own, is going to be a challenge.

Thanks for the insights -