Delay between multi-part stories

[MSTarot]

That's a good point, but the only drawback is if you see a series that looks interesting and maybe bookmark it to wait til its done and you get so9meone who is posting a chapter every 8 months or so.

Sounds like Robert Jordan

 

[lovecraft68]

Sounds like Robert Jordan

On this point in mainstream publishing, Dean Koontz seriously pissed me off.

he started a "Frankensein" trilogy that was damn good, some new twists and a lot of plot lines.

He came out with two, not long after one. Then three not only took forever, but he released a boat load of his crappy "Odd Thomas" books.

By the time I saw three did come out, I didn't even bother, by then I had lost the "feeling" of the series and said, fuck it.

 

[SecondCircle]

On this point in mainstream publishing, Dean Koontz seriously pissed me off.

he started a "Frankensein" trilogy that was damn good, some new twists and a lot of plot lines.

He came out with two, not long after one. Then three not only took forever, but he released a boat load of his crappy "Odd Thomas" books.

By the time I saw three did come out, I didn't even bother, by then I had lost the "feeling" of the series and said, fuck it.

I guess I just don't take it quite that seriously, but I could definitely see how that could be irritating.

...why were you reading Dean Koontz in the first place?

 

[mikoli5763]

Forgot important detail

I forgot an important detail. The story didn't start out as a multi-part story until first installment was posted and I read comments and received a couple of e-mails asking for more.

 

[sr71plt]

Ahh, the old "they forced me to do more" thing.

 

[TxRad]

I forgot an important detail. The story didn't start out as a multi-part story until first installment was posted and I read comments and received a couple of e-mails asking for more.

I get the same type comments and e-mail on damn near every story I write.

 

[SecondCircle]

Ahh, the old "they forced me to do more" thing.

Maybe the author just wanted to do more.

 

[sr71plt]

Maybe the author just wanted to do more.

And maybe I read the post I was referencing and you didn't.

 

[SecondCircle]

And maybe I read the post I was referencing and you didn't.

I did. Maybe they didn't see it as the audience forcing their hand. Maybe they saw the audience wanted more, so they wanted to do more. Not necessarily forced. Sorry for being a bit vague.

 

[sr71plt]

I did. Maybe they didn't see it as the audience forcing their hand. Maybe they saw the audience wanted more, so they wanted to do more. Not necessarily forced. Sorry for being a bit vague.

Maybe I read what they actually posted and didn't speculate beyond that. *shrug*

 

[SecondCircle]

Maybe I read what they actually posted and didn't speculate beyond that. *shrug*

You're right. Never speculated.

 

[Athalia]

I forgot an important detail. The story didn't start out as a multi-part story until first installment was posted and I read comments and received a couple of e-mails asking for more.

That's my situation. I've just submitted "Daughters of Priapus 2" about a year after the original story appeared. The first story was supposed to be a one-off, but people seemed to like it and want more. I held off for a long time, because I thought the story didn't need a sequel and I honestly didn't know what the main character was going to do. Over the last few months, though, a plot line came to me that I was interested in developing. Hence the sequel.

I admittedly waited a long time to write it, but I wanted it to be as good a story as I could tell, and I've always felt that my readers deserve nothing less than my best effort, even though they're not paying for it.

 

[StrangeLife]

The first story was supposed to be a one-off, but people seemed to like it and want more.

Happened to me as well with my Soap On A Rope story.

I'm not really into writing multi-parters but I got several mails stating that I kinda copped out with the ending and left too many loose ends. So I put up a sequel a month later.

If the story had been intended as a multi-parter I'd probably have had both parts written in advance and submitted them a week apart, as have been suggested already. I think that's the ideal interval.

 

[mikoli5763]

Not forced

I am not or was not "forced" to write another part to a story I originally thought would be a stand alone. After reading the comments and the couple of e-mails and rereading the story, I realized it needed more and began thinking on it.
I have written a few paragraphs on next installment, but change in work status and the physical and mental fatigue from that has limited my free time. Couple that with my wife's Crohn's flaring and writing has not been possible. I have no idea when I'll be able to finish it or the couple of other stories I have started. One of those is and was going to be a multi-part story with the first installment already finished. That one won't get posted until the other chapter (s?) gets finished.

 

[Jay321]

I can see the reasoning behind finishing a story before posting even the first chapter. It does keep the submissions spaced evenly apart.

Now with that said, the first story I posted here, became chapter 1 in a story line I am still writing. Chapter one and two both made it on currently both have scores in the 4.2-4.3 range which I consider good for the first try. Then while writing chapter 3 I smack solidly into a huge writer's block.

I have no illusions that anyone is sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for ch 3 but my own experience with reading "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin makes me realize just how much not having the ending just annoys the hell out of me. (Please Mr Martin don't see this as a way to rush you, you don't have to kill another Stark)

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am on the fence and instead of posting this I should be trying to finish the story.