Long Story Advice - Layout

[RicoLouis]

Been working on a long Incest story for some time now and have most of the first volume laid out if not written, but decided to go back and add some chapters that flesh out the back story more, though I am not sure the best way to do it. Thinking about odd chapters being present day, the first few introduce a different character to the reader from the protagonist point of view. They progress the story and though there is a lot of teasing, voyeur and Exhibitionism, there is no sex going on until the end of the first volume.

I thought about adding in even chapters which go back to different points in the past and reveal the more sexual side of the characters from their point of view, as well as let me use ideas I can’t get into the story but like. However I am kind of worried that it breaks up the flow of the main story too much going back and forth. My other idea is to write out the story as normal and make the alternate stories as standalone stories which can be read alone or with the story.

I was wondering if anyone else has tried anything like this, or any thoughts on how to best do this.

 

[loquere]

Been working on a long Incest story for some time now and have most of the first volume laid out if not written, but decided to go back and add some chapters that flesh out the back story more, though I am not sure the best way to do it. Thinking about odd chapters being present day, the first few introduce a different character to the reader from the protagonist point of view. They progress the story and though there is a lot of teasing, voyeur and Exhibitionism, there is no sex going on until the end of the first volume.

I thought about adding in even chapters which go back to different points in the past and reveal the more sexual side of the characters from their point of view, as well as let me use ideas I can’t get into the story but like. However I am kind of worried that it breaks up the flow of the main story too much going back and forth. My other idea is to write out the story as normal and make the alternate stories as standalone stories which can be read alone or with the story.

I was wondering if anyone else has tried anything like this, or any thoughts on how to best do this.

How many words is long?

 

[RicoLouis]

Hard to say total but 12,000+ with two to three more chapters to finish without the backstory chapters.

 

[Carnevil9]

I'd say it depends on your intended audience. If you are going for maximum success here at Lit, you have to hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast.... If there isn't sex in the first few paragraphs, you won't get many readers. You have to hook them up front, then, if they like your characters and situations enough, they will suffer through your expositionary chapters.

On the other hand, if you are going for mainstream publication, with people who actually pay for your long, well-written tome because they trust your ability to tell a story, then you can afford to start slow and ease them in to the action.

Only you can decide which category applies.

 

[Sean Renaud]

What Carneval said is pretty much the 100% Gods truth. Though I'll add on that if you write a 12k story anybody who bothers to read it to the end is gonna give you five stars so there's that.

If you're already set on putting it here though my suggestion is to see if there are places you can sneak in sex even if it's not the main characters. Something to keep em happy.