First-time author question (length, category)

[Yarglenurp]

So, I'm in the middle of writing my first submission, which is intended to be the start of a multi-part series. What is a good length to cut things off at? Right now, I'm at two sex scenes and a story-build-up scene in-between the sex scenes. Is that a good stopping point for chapter 1 to build up interest?

Additionally, if I have a couple of different categories, which should I choose? The story im writing has significant interracial, cuckolding, and bdsm elements, so... is that just "Fetish"? Or something else?

 

[StillStunned]

On chapter length (I don't know enough about the categories you list to comment on them):

It's hard to say without knowing more details. As a rule of thumb, though, I'd say that a first chapter should be more or less self-contained. Find a natural point for the break, for example if the next scene is in a different location, or if there's a time shift, or if other characters are involved.

Err on the side of longer. Readers often complain about stories that are too short; they rarely complain that they're too long. Anything between 5,000 and 20,000 words should be safe. Longer stories tend to get higher ratings.

Also bear in mind that viewing numbers generally drop by half from the first chapter to the second, so a longer first chapter will give you a greater chance to engage your readers' interest.

 

[orangecurious]

It depends if it is a natural breaking point.

If it is the end of the day, or a meeting of the characters, yes. If it's just them stopping for a breather, maybe not.

It also depends on how many parts, etc. There's no real hard and fast rule. I have just added a story that was, originally, longer, but decided to post a short one as it concerned one day on a holiday.

It's really your call and what you feel happy with.

 

[nice90sguy]

Based on your very brief description, I'd say fetish is as good a category as any.

As a rule of thumb, though, I'd say that a first chapter should be more or less self-contained

^^^
That's good advice

 

[mildlyaroused]

I'm with nice90sguy on category. Fetish is a pretty accommodating place for multiple different kinks/categories rolled into one story. Some other categories are a little more punishing for non-vanilla or non-standard inclusions. Use story tags to outline the various sexual elements, kinks, etc. So probably all those things you mentioned can be made into tags.

In terms of length, the advice others have given is sound. Have fun!

 

[Yarglenurp]

Thank you so much, everyone! Your advice is very helpful.

 

[lustychimera]

Here's a guide on categories and a few other things that a kind author, Tx Tall Tales, put together.

https://www.literotica.com/s/love-your-readers-categories

 

[Mastered_again]

Where to end a chapter has multiple options, but the two I'd go with:

End the chapter at the conclusion of a scene where what follows will be a different locale, date and/or the introduction of new characters. In this case the chapter also stands as a story itself. Don't obsess of the length of the story.

Alternatively, you can end with a cliffhanger. Hopefully creating some anticipation in your readers. The downside is that you'd better have the next chapter well along. Keeping your readers waiting too long = loss of interest. Plus you'll have to resolve the situation. Will it be happily resolved or lead to calamity?

 

[Seadog777]

So, I'm in the middle of writing my first submission, which is intended to be the start of a multi-part series. What is a good length to cut things off at?

I personally, think that 2 Literotica pages, which is somewhere between 7,000 and 7,500 words is good for "chapters".

I'm not a fan of stores or chapters that go too much farther than that.

That's just me though.

Ultimately, it's your story. So you do what you want with it.

 

[lustychimera]

Where to end a chapter has multiple options, but the two I'd go with:

End the chapter at the conclusion of a scene where what follows will be a different locale, date and/or the introduction of new characters. In this case the chapter also stands as a story itself. Don't obsess of the length of the story.

Alternatively, you can end with a cliffhanger. Hopefully creating some anticipation in your readers. The downside is that you'd better have the next chapter well along. Keeping your readers waiting too long = loss of interest. Plus you'll have to resolve the situation. Will it be happily resolved or lead to calamity?

Thematic shifts, too. Like one part is about letting go of inhibitions. The next part is about pushing the limit too far. The next part is about finding an equilibrium. And so on. Like the undercurrent of the story.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The length of any chapter should be as long as necessary to move the reader from where they are at the beginning to want to read what comes next. The number of any one thing in any one chapter is under your control. You can move it forward, sideways, or keep it in the same place, up or down, as you please. You are the storyteller; tell the story the way you want.

 

[intim8]

Is it a chapter story or a serial? Chapter storied are like a novel, one long story. Serials are individual stories that are connected, but mostly self contained. They can have a progression, but genaerally, each part has its own buildup and climax.

That will inform how you end each one. You can get away with a chapter with no sex or ending without a climax, but the ending should leave questions that compel the reader to want to read the next one.

Other than that, @StillStunned 's advice is pretty good.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Finish the entire story first. Once completed you will be best able to identify the appropriate breaks to meet the needs of the completed work when publishing.

By being patient, you maintain better control of the writing process, including chapter/section breaks, continuity, and overall flow. If you publish your first completed section and then later discover things would have worked better with different dialogue, characters, or literary elements, you are either stuck, or you are forced to adjust the story to accommodate the lack of control you now have.

Using my published works here as a simple example, I no longer post "chapters". My readers overwhelmingly stated their preference for single submissions of chapter stories, so I had all of my previous stories in chapters replaced with single submissions. The scores for each increased a few percentage points by doing so.

I do have a couple of series here, but as others have mentioned, each of these is a stand-alone story following a common theme.