Continuing question?

[lostandfounder]

I've had a couple author change the continuing question line on several of my threads. All the changes were for the better, but it got me thinking. Most of the time I just slap on a "Next?" or "And then?" at the end. The more I think about it, the more I believe that line could really impact if a writer will add something to a story or not. So my question is, what makes for a good line? Should you try to move a story in a certain direction or leave it wide open or what?

 

[jakelyon]

Good Point

My feeling is the bigger risk is making the question too limiting. By leaving a more open ended questions like what's next, or where does he go next, or what happens, I think you give the next writer the chance to use their imagination and really take the story to a place you did not expect.

 

[gystex]

One of my peeves about Continuing Questions (CQs) is that sometimes they will lead very obviously in one direction. For instance, the thread will end near the climax of a hot sex scene, and the continuing question is "Do you want to fuck her?" Well, we all know the answer to that. It's certainly possible to say "no" and have to story take a strange turn from there, but anyone actually in that situation would say "Yes!" and hide the salami.

I prefer choices that are more open-ended. Often there will be four options set up in the text itself (as lostandfound did recently on his addition to "Doing the Sorority") and so it's just a matter of saying, "Which one is it?"

One other thing I don't always like is something like, "Does he fuck her ass or come on her face?" See, I don't really like either of those options, and I'd more likely want to continue the thread with "He fucks her tits." The CQ doesn't allow for that option, though, so I wouldn't add to that one. Of course, sometimes the author wants to limit choices in this manner, but I prefer not to.

A good rule of thumb, I think, is to go with something that's just a little less vague than "What happens next?" Guide the choices in a slight manner, but don't make it too limiting. There's a place for yes/no and a place for multiple choice!

Actually, that reminds me of something I did in "Doing the Sorority" that worked out well. The CQ off the introductory page was a yes/no question, but I wanted there to be more than two choices. So, for my own contributions, I submitted "YES... and the initiation begins" and "YES... prepare to meet your first girl." This way, I made it clear to contributors that there could be more to it than just yes or no, and there could be more than one "YES". As it happened, I got one thread that said "MAYBE" and one that said "NO" which worked out better than I imagined.

 

[niceguy2002tim]

CQ

I can't remember if I am one of the editors who changed one of Lostandfound's continuing questions, or not. I am known to change them from time to time.

Basically it's like the other guys said, if it's too vague I kind of narrow it and make it fit the story. I try not to constrain the CQ to limited options. If it is a question like "Does he cum in her cum on her tits or in her mouth? I often add on, "Or, does he have something else in mind?"

The continuing question isn't always that important. If it's a weak thread than the weight falls on the CQ. When I read a good thread, I usually know I am going to write a followup before I even get to the CQ.

I have observed quite a few examples where the continuing option doesn't match the question. Which is fine with me. I know for a fact that I have recieved a few of them for my own stories, and have approved them.

In conclusion... Does the CQ matter? It depends on how you write.

-Tim (niceguy2002tim)