Chapters

[sdsioux]

I've decided to break down a longer work into chapters. How many words average should be in a chapter (minimum to maximum). How often should I post a new chapter again on average. Would appreciate the feedback.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Welcome to AH!

The minimum length is that 750 word minimum that Lit enforces, obvs. The maximum-- I would not want to read more that maybe 3000 words, personally. Less might be better.

What is more important though, is where you make your breaks. Best if it's at a cliffhanger point. One of the most effective serial writers I know, breaks when her characters are on their way to have sex. That means the readers have to wait for the next installment to get the sex scene they have been teased with! After which, she gives the next batch of plot action, and then leads up to the brink of the next sex scene. Makes me want to re-write all of my multi-chapter stories...

 

[D_K_Moon]

I've decided to break down a longer work into chapters. How many words average should be in a chapter (minimum to maximum). How often should I post a new chapter again on average. Would appreciate the feedback.

Take a look at a book in your bookcase. How many words are in a chapter there? Some have a page or so, and some chapters are like me, rambling on forever.

As for frequency, I would reccomend weekly, I tried monthy, and people got really antsy.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Welcome to AH!

The minimum length is that 750 word minimum that Lit enforces, obvs. The maximum-- I would not want to read more that maybe 3000 words, personally. Less might be better.

What is more important though, is where you make your breaks. Best if it's at a cliffhanger point. One of the most effective serial writers I know, breaks when her characters are on their way to have sex. That means the readers have to wait for the next installment to get the sex scene they have been teased with! After which, she gives the next batch of plot action, and then leads up to the brink of the next sex scene. Makes me want to re-write all of my multi-chapter stories...

I hate cliffhangers...

 

[sdsioux]

I do have some control as far as the length of each chapter is concerned. I could break down a chapter into pt. 1, pt.2, etc correct? In otherwords have 3 parts to say chapter 4. The cliffhanger idea is a good one, thanks.

 

[D_K_Moon]

I do have some control as far as the length of each chapter is concerned. I could break down a chapter into pt. 1, pt.2, etc correct? In otherwords have 3 parts to say chapter 4. The cliffhanger idea is a good one, thanks.

The cliff hanger ending can be awesome! I used it for my Montana Summer series, keep 'em hanging, and coming back for more!!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I hate clueless 'writers.' Imagine if this person were a plumber. A computer guy once came to the office and borrowed tools till he had enough to work.

 

[TxRad]

I hate clueless 'writers.' Imagine if this person were a plumber. A computer guy once came to the office and borrowed tools till he had enough to work.

Imagine that you were a newbie writer.... Oh, wait a minute, you wouldn't even qualify for a newbie writer. You have nothing posted here.

 

[Stella_Omega]

A computer guy once came to the office and borrowed tools till he had enough to work.

If the tools were already there, why didn't you take care of the job?

 

[JackLuis]

Another side to the chapter length issue is its function in the story. Chapters I've checked run from 750 words on two paperback pages to several thousand words to plot the action.

On Literotica, the "page" is approx 3,500 words. I have seen stories from one page to as many as five, however I think four pages is stretching the readers, time and attention.

I have Chapters of my "Spreading Seeds" that exceed 10K words, but it is more of a serial, and I'm still learning.

If your story is Loooong, you might look to cut it for more impact, but if you need room for a vast story of Greed, Revenge and Redemption, then I'd parse the story into a shape that fits your purpose for it.

A stroker story can have several buildups and lets downs before the Climax. So you can decide if you want a Chapt 1 Buildup, and a let down in the next chapter (2), which ends with a half build up. Then a third Chapter that starts with wall banging Action!

It is up to you. You are the author. Voters will let you know how you do.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Gee my stuff is all over the place. I have chapters that are 15 - 20K words long and others that are only 1.1K long. (Not for the same story mind you).

I'm currently finishing up a story that scene splits but is just one long story over 20K which I will post all at once.

I have a tough time telling a story in under 1k words and the few I have written that were close to being under just don't feel right.

The cliff hanger thing is a good choice. I really haven't used it yet but may in the future.

 

[Weird Harold]

I've decided to break down a longer work into chapters. How many words average should be in a chapter (minimum to maximum). How often should I post a new chapter again on average. Would appreciate the feedback.

Let your story determine your chapter breaks.

For example, a story that takes place in a school environment would logicaly break down along the same lines as the school schedule does -- hourly, daily, weekly, semesterly, or yearly, depending on how much action there is in each time-frame.

IMHO, a chapter should be at least one Lit page (3,767 words on-average) but no more than two Lit pages. That is strictly based on the way Lit is structured; a full page is worth downloading and two pages is within the comfort limit of reading from a computer screen in one sitting.

The important thing for a serialized story is that the chapter sizes be relatively consistent and that they be posted with some predictable regularity -- daily, weekdays, MWF, Weekly (Sat Morning serial style,) Monthly etc.

I would personally opt for a daily or MWF schedule but never anything longer than weekly. Anything longer than weekly causes your story to drop off the new-stories list.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Imagine that you were a newbie writer.... Oh, wait a minute, you wouldn't even qualify for a newbie writer. You have nothing posted here.

Depends on your destination. I mean, the road passes thru Pixley and Hooterville, too.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

A computer guy once came to the office and borrowed tools till he had enough to work.

If the tools were already there, why didn't you take care of the job?

Not my job, man!

 

[sdsioux]

Thanks to all for the good information you've shared with me.
I turned in the first chapter yesterday and already have managed to mess it up. I should have put Ch. 1 in the title of the story which I didn't do. Will I be able to edit that at some point?
The story broke off nicely and segued right to the next chapter.

 

[sdsioux]

the first chapter is done and up as of today. how many days should i allow for it to be published. my second chapter is done.

 

[Weird Harold]

the first chapter is done and up as of today. how many days should i allow for it to be published. my second chapter is done.

How long it takes for a first submission varies from three days to over a wekk, depending on how many other stories are submitted in the same time period and whether a contest is in progress or not.

Submit your second and subsequent chapters on the schedule you want them posted with a note in the comments section on what schedule you're trying to achieve. Second and susequent submissions should post faster than your first as you become a 'known quantity' to the admins.

 

[sdsioux]

Good advice. The serial analogy from the movies makes sense to me.

 

[sdsioux]

How long it takes for a first submission varies from three days to over a wekk, depending on how many other stories are submitted in the same time period and whether a contest is in progress or not.

Submit your second and subsequent chapters on the schedule you want them posted with a note in the comments section on what schedule you're trying to achieve. Second and susequent submissions should post faster than your first as you become a 'known quantity' to the admins.

I'm done with chapter 3 but number 2 is still not up yet. I assume I should wait to turn in 3?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I'm done with chapter 3 but number 2 is still not up yet. I assume I should wait to turn in 3?

Not necessarily...usually the number of days between submission is the number of days between posting. I have posted 5 chapters in a day and had them post on the 5 different days. Laural and crew are pretty good about doing things like that.

ETA: They won't post Chapter 3 before Chapter 2...so don't worry about that.

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm done with chapter 3 but number 2 is still not up yet. I assume I should wait to turn in 3?

No, go ahead and submit the chapters with the interval you want them to be posted and/or with notes in the comments field with the desired posting date/interval.

You have to factor in the approval delay in getting chapters posted on a shedule.

You could set your interval by submitting the next when the cahpter in the queue chages from 'pending' to 'approved' but the posting delay isn't really consistent enough to satisfy serial-story fans.

 

[Weird Harold]

Not necessarily...usually the number of days between submission is the number of days between posting. I have posted 5 chapters in a day and had them post on the 5 different days. Laural and crew are pretty good about doing things like that.

ETA: They won't post Chapter 3 before Chapter 2...so don't worry about that.

Also worth noting is that they won't post two chapters on the same day either.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Also worth noting is that they won't post two chapters on the same day either.

True mine post one after the other in the correct order each day for a week.

 

[sdsioux]

I just had chapter two approved so the advice I'm hearing is to submit chapter 3 now. I'm going to revisit it one more time, double check for any obvious mistakes, and turn it in tomorrow. I appreciate all of the help you've given me with this.