Hi, new here and have some questions

CatEyes

Happy
Joined
Jul 20, 2002
Posts
7,673
Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking and reading some stories. And there are some really good ones on here.

I wrote a story sometime last year and I'm thinking of posting it. The thing is it's not finished. I've seen people continue a story but usually each part is a scene that has a complete ending. Do you think it would be ok if each part was a continuation of the same story? That way I could post what I did so far and then continue with part 2 and so on.

Also I know there is a minimum of 750 words but is there a maximum? So far I have around 1700 words. Is that too much for a post?

Thanks for any and all help.

CatEyes
 
Last edited:
CatEyes said:
I wrote a story sometime last year and I'm thinking of posting it. The thing is it's not finished. I've seen people continue a story but usually each part is a scene that has a complete ending. Do you think it would be ok if each part was a continuation of the same story? That way I could post what I did so far and then continue with part 2 and so on.

Also I know there is a minimum of 750 words but is there a maximum? So far I have around 1700 words. Is that too much for a post?

There are probably couple hundred stories here that are "chapter 1" without any following chapters. I hate that!

This is just my personal opinion, and not to be contrued as site policy or a general rule, but...

If the story isn't finished, then don't post it.

You may choose to post it in segments/chapters when it is finished, but finish it first!

There is no guarantee that you will ever finish it and a story that just stops without some resolution is very annoying. Especially if it is a good story, which I hope yours is.

PS: As far as I know, there is no upper limit on word count. There are some stories here in excess of 300,000 words.
 
Thank you for your feedback and you have a good point. Maybe I should at least get part 2 done before I post part one. Then at least I'll be ahead of the game.

I hope it's a good story too, I think it is, but don't most authors think they're stories are good?

Once I post maybe you could let me know what you think.


CatEyes
 
I have done several story in sections...

one of them was five parts long here.

My longest story to date (and still not finished) is 212 pages and 111, 357 words!!!!

I published this story on my site in sections (that is what most of my readers keep saying they want) and it was 45 sections long...

I'd post it, and start a new story if you don't feel the end is right for your first story. And then in a couple of days or weeks, come back and finish it!

good luck,

mlyn :rose:
 
I agree that it is somewhat upsetting to see "Chapter 1" and then wait forever for "Chapter 2". If you don't already have subsequent chapters at least well planned, just submit the story as a single entity. You can always add "Chapter 2" to the title of the continuation.

Something that I like in continuing stories is an ending to each chapter that makes me want to read the next. The ending should be a true ending, in that it closes the story line, but should at least hint that more of the same may be forthcoming.

It's also nice to include a paragraph in subsequent chapters that "sets the scene" so the reader has some knowledge of what led up to the current offering. I find it difficult to get into a second chapter where the author assumes I've read the previous chapter and just starts the action where the characters left off, and it's especially difficult if some time has expired between postings.

My stories are typically 5000 words or more, but there are many here that are shorter or longer.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with Weird Harold, but that's nothing new.

Don't ADD "Chapter 1" or "Part One," to the title of a story unless you have the other parts finished.

Don't POST "Chapter 1" or "Part One," of a story unless you have the other parts finished.

REASONS:
It's a shitty thing to do to readers when you don't follow through. And no one can ever be SURE they'll REALLY follow through or not until they have.

It brings the quality of this site down. When readers are constantly burned by seeing CH. 1 with no subsequent chapters, they get a negative impression of this site.

If you post part one and regularly post the other parts until the story is done, you will gain the respect and gratitude of your readers. I know from experience that readers do notice this type of thing, if only because it happens so seldom. Just think about some TV show you love and how you would feel if you saw one episode every three months.
 
Whispersecret said
Don't ADD "Chapter 1" or "Part One," to the title of a story unless you have the other parts finished.

Don't POST "Chapter 1" or "Part One," of a story unless you have the other parts finished.

My series 'Change of Plan' was spread out over 19 months (and might still not be finished; I like the characters!) which in hindsight was a mistake. In my defence, each part stands by itself, but it would have been better had I submitted them under individual titles, perhaps with a subtitle "The continuing adventures of..." and any other loosely linked stories I may write in future will follow that pattern. To anyone who might have been waiting impatiently for Part 6, I belatedly offer my apologies.

The parts have been quite well received but I learned my lesson. The three parts of 'Birthday Girl' were all submitted together and Laurel posted them on successive days.

FC
 
Thread Reply... PART ONE

I completely agree with....

If you liked this message, LET ME KNOW! (and remember to vote!) If I get enough feedback, I'll write the next part of the continuing saga...THREAD REPLY...
 
Re: Thread Reply... PART ONE

Coolville said:
I completely agree with....

If you liked this message, LET ME KNOW! (and remember to vote!) If I get enough feedback, I'll write the next part of the continuing saga...THREAD REPLY...

God, I hate that tactic! It's a guaranteed way to lose me as a reader no matter HOW good the first part is.
 
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