I need story advice!

[gizmoo69]

My story, Fun with the Family!, has been approved for a few weeks now, and at first I got a few new threads. Now, however, it's all gone a bit stale. I've tried writer's calls and putting the story in a signature here, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I was wondering how often, on average, other stories get new threads, and if there was anything I could do to the story to make it more accessible. It's my first story so I'm still getting to grips with how CHYOO works from the editor's end.

Help me! It's really frustrating!

 

[jakelyon]

I would say for the most part that it requires a lot of patience. There are not all that many active writers and it takes a while for additions to a story to come trickling in. I have over 20 active stories and I get about ten to fifteen threads per month to approve.

I think the best way to get threads added to your story is to write threads for other people. I always check out the work of people who add to my stories and have a tendency to add back to their work.

Most of all don't sweat it. Just write what you feel like and have fun. Additions will come.

 

[Torg]

I'll go through spurts (pun intended) of getting 1-3 a day for a few days and then nothing for a week or two. While I was on hiatus, I only got about 4-6 threads submitted in 6 months.

Since I started writing in other people's threads, I've gotten more back.

 

[Dr. Tentakelliebe]

I read it. I liked it. I want to add to it. But I having writers block sorry I hope I can come up with something soon.

 

[gizmoo69]

that's cool man, no rush. i'm having a form of writer's block as well, in that i fractured my elbow yesterday, so typing is awkward to say the least!

 

[Zingiber]

My story, Fun with the Family!, has been approved for a few weeks now, and at first I got a few new threads. Now, however, it's all gone a bit stale. I've tried writer's calls and putting the story in a signature here, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I was wondering how often, on average, other stories get new threads, and if there was anything I could do to the story to make it more accessible. It's my first story so I'm still getting to grips with how CHYOO works from the editor's end.

Help me! It's really frustrating!

Thread submissions really come and go. I've had three submitted in a day, and I've been weeks between contributions. With one story approved (and one pending) under your name, any given author may or may not find a jumping off point for a good thread idea. I've had this trouble myself, even when I really wanted to contribute to a story (like Dacia's excellent Summer Down Under), it's taken a while to figure out where to fit something in.

Write some more for RobinRestless when your elbow recovers (or before, if you're patient). She's a good catch as a contributor, and unless she's slow approving your threads, she's a couple up on you as of this message.

Jake's right about the small pool of active writers. And each of them has their own ups and downs. Contribute to stories you like (as soon as you feel better).

Chin up, stiff upper lip and all that!

Best of luck,

-Z

P.S.: on a personal "accessibility" note, I like characters who have some inner life and relationships with others, and a bit of gentle humour. Leaving your characters close to blank slates as far as distinctive likes, dislikes, and characteristics makes it hard for me to get a handle on them in the way I need to write a story. As an example, AaronWebster's A Middle Class Orgy was very accessible to me, because the characters, relationships, and situations were sketched out in some detail, by "showing" in the introduction and the similar second threads, as well as by telling in the story summary and linked discussion thread.