How Long?

[DreamCloud]

How long can a story be and still attract readers on Literotica?

My current work is now entering Part 6. I will post when complete, but I fear I may be pushing the envelope.

 

[oggbashan]

if it is interesting, the length is unimportant.

If you have broken it down into parts, how long is each part?

Most readers can manage 2 or 3 lit pages easily.

My story Miranda The Witch is 8 Lit pages, about 27,000 words, and people keep asking me to continue it.

 

[Montanos]

How long can a story be and still attract readers on Literotica?

My current work is now entering Part 6. I will post when complete, but I fear I may be pushing the envelope.

Hello,

I look at your question and I feel odd as I read it.

How long can a story be and still attract readers on literotica?

Hmm. To answer your question I'll offer my own experiences as mostly a reader.

I have read stories that are 1 chapter and hated them. I have also read stories that are 27 chapters and loved them. The length of a story never mattered to me. The content did.

Content is important in keeping my attention. Thus, I ask: How long does a story have to be for you, as a writer, to feel you're out of content? That's the threshold. That's the limit. When you feel you've 'jumped the shark', that's probably how long a story should be.

End it there. Make something else that interests you.

I hope I have not provided a naive answer, but that I have been both logical and intelligent in my analysis. I am also interested in any other input others might have to your interesting question.


Montanos

 

[oggbashan]

The full 3-part story of Harold Saves Her Husband, which is a sequel to the six page http://www.literotica.com/s/harold-plays-the-hero , runs to 14 Lit pages.

It still gets readers with stamina.

 

[StrangeLife]

I read this one and this one in one uninterrupted session each, despite their over-average length. Because they are just that good.

So stop worrying about your size. Simply tell the story with as many words as you feel is needed, and you can't go wrong.

 

[JKendallDane]

My current series is at twenty-one chapters (something north of 140,000 words) and still pulling down 6-7,000 readers with each new one added. I also have two others, one a six parter and the other twelve, that held the attention of 9-10,000 readers til the endings. My one shot stories tend to collect 25-35,000 hits in similar time frames.

So, yes, there is a definite readership out there for the multi-chapter works. You will usually see a large number of readers for the first installment, a drop of 30-50% on the second, a smaller decrease on the third and fourth, but by the fifth one the views tend to settle into an almost predictable number.

Don't worry about "pushing the envelope" in regards to length, but rather concentrate on keeping the story fresh and the fans you acquire begging for more.

 

[slyc_willie]

In some cases, I think the category a story is in may or may not lend itself to long installments or more than a handful of chapters. There are numerous chaptered works in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Non-Human cats that run for dozens of chapters. Part of the reason for this is that those categories lend themselves to world-building and incorporating a lot of background and lore. Readers in those categories have a tendency to expect more than just the erotic content of a story.

Long-running series exist across the board, of course. I've seen several in Incest and Romance, but not too many (if any at all) in low-viewed categories like Transsexuals & Crossdressers and Humor & Satire.

Like others have said, if the story hooks the reader, there's no limit to how long it can be. You might want to find some beta readers and get their perspective. Parts you may consider necessary can be viewed as extraneous by readers. Or, you can just post it when it's done and see what happens. Ultimately, this is an amateur writing site. There are no right ways or wrong ways to craft a story, just the ways we as writers want to write them.

 

[DreamCloud]

Thanks - I really butchered an earlier story because I felt it was way too long. I have felt guilty ever since.

 

[slyc_willie]

Thanks - I really butchered an earlier story because I felt it was way too long. I have felt guilty ever since.

I've done the same, in order to keep a story to an "acceptable" length. Now I no longer care about the actual length of the story, but I do tend to keep my chapters around 3-4 Lit pages, for the sake of the readers.

 

[49greg]

That's an interesting question, because I'm struggling with it myself. I just submitted a story with around 13,000 words that went 4 pages. I once got a feedback on a shorter story claiming it was too long. and I'm a little worried about this one.

Another that I cut down in size has several little clues that used to lead to extra sub plots. A comment mentioned some of them and asked for a sequel with those questions answered.

I think category and style have a lot to do with it, and how well written and engaging the plot and characters are have even more. I've read stories with 10, 20 30 chapters and loved them and still remember them. Other times I've stopped reading after three or four paragraphs and gone to another story.

For me the characters and plot have to be engaging. Grammar and spelling don't have to be perfect, but have to be good. If I run into a story that sounds like fun, but it is too long to read right now, I just copy the url and save it to a notepad I keep, with a comment to remind me what it was. Then when I have more time I can come back.

I know from comments I've gotten, that if it is a stroke story it needs to be fairly short, but long enough, if you know what I mean. Although I've never written what I would consider a stroker, one of these days I think I will.

 

[JKendallDane]

There are no right ways or wrong ways to craft a story, just the ways we as writers want to write them.

If that statement isn't already tattooed on our brains, it needs to be on a sticky note hanging from our monitors!

 

[JKendallDane]

Um, Dreamcloud.

I just checked your submission page and discovered in the two months you have been posting stories here that you are batting 1,000 with red H's, have managed to pull off a 4.76 ranking in the LW's minefield, and landed in the number four HOF all time spot in EC.

I think WE need to be asking YOU for advice!

 

[lovecraft68]

When I first started here I bought into the "three lit pages and the max people will read" crap. I have a 2 part story called Breaking of Allison that all told is about 13k. I broke it in half....of I wrote it today it would be one story.

After Allison I decided, screw this. My average story is somewhere around 6 lit pages and I have no issues with scores or getting a decent readership.

Just write the story as you feel you should and worry about that stuff later on.

Something for everyone here and that includes short/long pieces.

 

[patientlee]

I read this one and this one in one uninterrupted session each, despite their over-average length. Because they are just that good.

So stop worrying about your size. Simply tell the story with as many words as you feel is needed, and you can't go wrong.

Thanks, SL.

 

[StrangeLife]

Thanks, SL.

Me?? You did all the hard work while I got to sit comfortably in my recliner and enjoy the fruits of your labor and creativity. So thank you.

 

[JWren]

Feel the quality, as the old tailor used to say. If a story's good, it's short or long enough. And I wholeheartedly agree that Patientlee's Mrs Maitland's SAD Valentine is an exceptional story, for this site or anywhere. Miss it and it's your loss

 

[lovecraft68]

I forgot what I usually mention here on the topic of length.

Incest is the most widely read category here and the number one all time story on lits widest read category is....over 40 lit pages, yes forty. Personally I would never write one story that long, but the point it makes is if people like itm they will read it.

There is another one in the top ten that is over 30 lit pages.

I find that funny because there are people here who seem to assume that incest readers-because of the nature of the category- are not as intelligent as other readership. But it seems they have a longer attention span than many to read stories that length.

besides everyone knows the most intellectually challenged readership is in LW, just look at the comments. But I can't blame them, its hard to type with hooves.

 

[FantasyXY]

How long can a story be and still attract readers on Literotica?

My current work is now entering Part 6. I will post when complete, but I fear I may be pushing the envelope.

Given the typical writing/story-telling skill of most of the authors here, and the subject matter on this site, I find that around 2 pages is the attention span limit for most readers.

 

[lovecraft68]

Given the typical writing/story-telling skill of most of the authors here, and the subject matter on this site, I find that around 2 pages is the attention span limit for most readers.

That's not just a broad statement, but borderline insulting

I have an 8 page story closing in on 4k votes. With not so much as a kiss until page 7.

people can -and will-read along just fine.

if someone cannot read past 7k words either they have ADD or....the fault may be with the story telling.

 

[patientlee]

I forgot what I usually mention here on the topic of length.

Incest is the most widely read category here and the number one all time story on lits widest read category is....over 40 lit pages, yes forty. Personally I would never write one story that long, but the point it makes is if people like itm they will read it.

There is another one in the top ten that is over 30 lit pages.

I find that funny because there are people here who seem to assume that incest readers-because of the nature of the category- are not as intelligent as other readership. But it seems they have a longer attention span than many to read stories that length.

besides everyone knows the most intellectually challenged readership is in LW, just look at the comments. But I can't blame them, its hard to type with hooves.

You'd never write a 40 page story? Why do I think that's not true? It just hasn't happened yet. Demons was 29. I read it twice, for the record.

 

[Hypoxia]

Whatever is long enough to tell the story, is long enough. I've heard opposing rules-of-thumb (ROTs): 1) 1-3-pagers get read more, vs 2) longer stories and series get higher votes. I have reason to doubt both of these -- or maybe I'm just a statistical outlier. Whatever.

For non-strokers, I try to follow another ROT: If all graphic sex is replaced with non-explicit descriptions, is it still a compelling story? I think my recent contest posting PRICKLY PAIRS and my high-ranked THAT'S MY GIRL pass that mark. Hmmm, how about a test? I could post de-eroticized versions of a couple stories and see how they rate. Yeah, stay tuned for THAT'S MY GIRL TOO in Non-Erotic -- where almost nobody will read it.

 

[oggbashan]

...

For non-strokers, I try to follow another ROT: If all graphic sex is replaced with non-explicit descriptions, is it still a compelling story? I think my recent contest posting PRICKLY PAIRS and my high-ranked THAT'S MY GIRL pass that mark. Hmmm, how about a test? I could post de-eroticized versions of a couple stories and see how they rate. Yeah, stay tuned for THAT'S MY GIRL TOO in Non-Erotic -- where almost nobody will read it.

My Rule of Thumb: If the sex is removable, and the story still works, then it wasn't an erotic story.

But sex can be overt and in your face, or more subtle, implied and delicate yet still be an integral part of the story.

 

[lovecraft68]

You'd never write a 40 page story? Why do I think that's not true? It just hasn't happened yet. Demons was 29. I read it twice, for the record.

Read it twice? Best head over to the BDSM forum with the rest of the masochists.

But that was 29 pages because it was for a contest and had to be stand alone.

If I were to post it on my own I would have made it 4/5 chapters and even then those are 7 each some people would have it as 8-10 because hthey would worry about length.

Ellie has it on her page and left it as a stand alone, saw its at 4.86 29pages 4.86....so length is not a detriment

 

[ukstockinglvr]

I read this one and this one in one uninterrupted session each, despite their over-average length. Because they are just that good.

So stop worrying about your size. Simply tell the story with as many words as you feel is needed, and you can't go wrong.

That Old House, one of my favorites on here.

I started reading that when at the time I was used to 2-4 page stories (I had not stumbled on any longer as Taboo and Exhibition were my main hangouts) I was checking out contest winners once and I started to reading it late one night not realising how big it was, and I just had to finish it.

Great story and a good example.If it is good and keeps the reader engaged and interested in the outcome they will read it no matter how long the story is.

 

[lovecraft68]

A knock-for lack of a better word- on long stories is they have an advantage for score because many see the length and click off so this somehow helps with score as only fans of long stories will read them... and that helps the score....

I could see that if longer -let's say over 4 page stories did not get a lot of votes, then that would kind of justify that theory but....

That's What Friends are For-6 pages 3200+ votes

The Summer I became Mom's Lover 8 pages 4400 votes

Home is Where The Heart is - 7 pages 3700+ votes

Karma 8 pages 2000+ votes

So end of the day that is not a valid point, just a way of doing what many here do and that is using their personal tastes as the barometer for what everyone should do.

Now those 4 stories are mine. I can't fathom what some of the numbers are on someone like Tex tall Tales stories who also writes quite a few long ones and I should note one of the top five authors here all time.

In fact if you look at any top list the top stories are longer and they have plenty of votes to burn that "well no one reads them" theory.