Continuing a dormant story.

[49greg]

I got a comment on an old story of mine. It has six chapters and started over three years ago, with the last chapter being posted two years ago.

The anonymous comment encouraged me to continue and of course had specific suggestions as to what she/he wanted. And to be fair the story did end with a "to be continued". I had every intention of the first chapter being a one off, but it never seemed finished and I kept morphing it every chapter and introducing new characters and situations.

As I recall the last chapter was fun to write, and just now I enjoyed re-reading it and was even thinking what directions it could go.

What I'm worrying about is whether it would be worth my time to continue after two years. It might be fun, so that's a plus, but after this long how many people will see it, and frankly the readership has fallen off on each chapter. After I posted the last chapter I can't remember why I never continued. I certainly have a file with several false starts and badly done outlines.

 

[sr71plt]

No one here can answer for everyone out there. This is sort of something you have to decide for yourself.

 

[49greg]

No one here can answer for everyone out there. This is sort of something you have to decide for yourself.

Yeah, I guess I knew that. I just got enthused about a comment out of the blue on an old story I'd nearly forgotten about.

 

[sr71plt]

Yeah, I guess I knew that. I just got enthused about a comment out of the blue on an old story I'd nearly forgotten about.

That may be enough to decide to finish it. Do what makes you happy with it.

 

[Activities]

If it were me, and I wanted to continue a story after a two-year gap, I'd probably start up again with: Brand New Story Title Ch. 01.

I'd assume, after two years, there probably wouldn't be too many old readers still clamoring for Bobo & Petunia Ch. 07, and also not that many new readers wanting to jump into a Ch. 07. So I'd start off with a new story title and try to make sure that my first installment worked on its own, without any need for the backstory.

After New Title Ch. 01 posted to the website, I'd leave a comment noting that this was a new series picking up where the old series left off. I'd leave a similar comment on the last installment of the old series. I wouldn't put an author's note at the top of my story, because it might put new readers off.

But I might do it differently if the original story were incredibly popular and/or I had a very loyal fanbase here.

 

[lovecraft68]

Good timing for this because I have some recent experience.

I finished SWB 5 years ago and swore I would not revisit the characters. A few months ago the muse starts giving me some visions and ideas and I'm..."Nope, done with them" but it went from glimpses to that full blown won't leave me be have to write it mode.

So five years later I posted ch 1 of the sequel last week. Keep in mind this is a brother sister incest story, incest biggest category on the site for votes and views.

60 votes....

And for a lot of reasons, one its a sequel...if people did not read the first they will skip the new one, also if they thought it looked decent but figured they would read the first series first? First one is over 40 chapters so many will say hell no to that investment.

Lastly after five years many of the original readers are long gone from lit and I'll toss in the fact the series was never as popular as "wow. I saw mom's ass now I'm going to fuck her" stories, it was dark and grim and not very "fluffy" like the category favors.

So I expected this, but its still disappointing to see that low of a total.

So I ask myself-and you ask yourself- who are you writing for?

If you truly want to write this for you, then go for it and don't sweat readership. If you are only thinking about it because of one comment and it made you think people want it, then maybe let it lie, if you are writing for anyone but you, it won't come out right.

IN my case I am looking at this as a challenge of my attitude that I write what I want and that's it as opposed to "success" because many say they don't care, but things can change when you write and hardly anyone is reading so I'll press onward with it.

You have to decide first who is this for and second can you handle writing to pretty much no one...

 

[Vanadorn]

Write what you want because you want to - length of time or not.

However, in some way we are all artists of one bent or another - and no one like to create something only to show it...no one.

Write for yourself. Remember there is an audience.

-V

 

[Carnevil9]

I agree with the "write for yourself" mantra. But still, what do most of us authors want "for ourselves?" We want feedback, and lots of it!

Every time I've done numbered chapters, readership drops off asymptotically with each successive chapter. So yeah, I'd make it look like a whole new series, even if it isn't. I like the "comment at the end of the old story" idea, too, directing any readers of the previous series where to go.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

If you're a completist, or if it bothers you that it was left unfinished, then go ahead and finish it. But don't do it for the readers who were left hanging. They have moved on. They aren't going to see what you add this much later.

In my own experience, I posted a five chapter story at regular intervals. Each succeeding chapter pulled in decking but still respectble views. Fifteen months later I posted a final chapter that has less then half the views of the previous chapter.

 

[49greg]

I started to multi quote every one who gave me good advice. I ended up with all of them.

Thank you all. Every one of you has made a good cogent argument or reinforced someone else's.

I am still not sure what I'm going to do. But when/if I do continue it I will start under a new, but related title, probably one that will fit alphabetically right after the first series. Thank you Activities.

And Lovecraft, thanks for talking about your experience. I have certainly experienced a drop off of views and votes on subsequent chapters, but geeze, 60. Yikes. I feel for you. But I write for myself, to improve my writing, and to exercise my brain. My Dad had Alzheimer’s and I've chosen writing as one method to keep my mind active.

Still, I love good votes and have to admit to having become a praise whore. Yes Carnevil9 we certainly agree there.

And Sofa, sorry soflabbwlvr, I am a bit OCD about finishing things, but not so much that I haven't left a couple of series unfinished.

And everyone else, thanks for the valuable and entertaining comments.