Multi-part Stories - Do they work for you?

[Frederick Carol]

On the 'Feedback' forum, I asked for feedback on parts 3 and 4 of my 'Change of Plan' tale. So far I've had no feedback direct, but on that thread Ray Dario commented, and darkness_descending supported (thanks, guys) the contention that further parts of multi-part stories posted later tended to get ignored. The episodes are substantially complete in themselves, or would take minimal work to make them so, and it occurs to me that if each episode was titled individually, and sub-titled by the overall series name/title, they might have been more likely to generate feedback.

Any thoughts on this one, guys and gals?

FC

 

[cymbidia]

The episodes are substantially complete in themselves, or would take minimal work to make them so, and it occurs to me that if each episode was titled individually, and sub-titled by the overall series name/title, they might have been more likely to generate feedback.

Any thoughts on this one, guys and gals?

I like the look of sub-titles.
~g~

Ahem.

Yes. I think it far more likely that people will click on, read, and offer feedback to stories that appear to be singletons. Chapter stores require, or we think they require, knowledge of what occured in previous chapters. Singleton stories stand alone. Good luck amassing feedback. We all love it and never ever get enough, hmmm?

 

[wild_jay]

FC, I'll agree with that. I have written a six chapter series called the Vacation and the vote counts really have diminished in Ch. 4-6. Part of that, I think, was changing category. Going from Lesbian Sex to Loving Wives to Group Sex influences who you reach.
The stories could stand alone and perhaps I should have titled them differently. Interestingly, I did give each a separate sub-title, but that does not show in the story listing, where the readers choose to read or not to read.

 

[Mickie]

Multi-chapter stories require a committment from the reader. Time. I think, and this is only my opinion, that most readers on this site are here for a quick read. Plus, finding a novel that's not finished is a turn off for a few people. I've done the same thing, posted a novel chapter by chapter as I've written it, and of course the later chapters get less votes and feedback. Since it's not finished, I'm hoping that there will be more readers when it's completed and posted. I can't blame them. I want an ending to the story, too.

Mickie

 

[Weird Harold]

...contention that further parts of multi-part stories posted later tended to get ignored. The episodes are substantially complete in themselves, or would take minimal work to make them so, and it occurs to me that if each episode was titled individually, and sub-titled by the overall series name/title, they might have been more likely to generate feedback.

Some thoughs on chapters, episodes, and declining feedback:

I tend to read chapters as they're posted, but find less and less to comment on as the story progresses without being redundant. Thus, I'm likely to take the time to send a comment on later chapters only if there is a huge drop in quality, or particularly great chapter.

If I've written to compliment an author on his style, or point out a trend in their writing that is worth mentioning (usually "use more dialogue") then I don't feel the need to keep hammering at the point in later chapters.

There is difference betwen chapters and episodes that is much like the difference between a mini-series and a soap-opera.

When I see Chapter number in the title, I expect the story to cover one part of a longer finite story that will all get wrapped up in the last chapter.

With an "episode" I expect a stand-alone story that has characters in common with other stand-alone stories that might include a continuing sub-plot that is better understood by reading previous episodes in the series.

I like to see episodes titles that tell me the story is "The continuing adventures of Harriet Hotpants, episode twelve: How to soften ten dicks at once." (Series title and episode idea free for anyone who wants to use them.)

One other thought, I haven't written any sequels, or continuing stories yet. When and if I do, I think I will add a specific link to the preceding chapter or episode in an author's comment. that way the reader can open any single chapter and backtrack through the preceding chapters to the beginning if necessary.

 

[Sonia_de_Beaumanoir]

[BPlus, finding a novel that's not finished is a turn off for a few people. I've done the same thing, posted a novel chapter by chapter as I've written it, and of course the later chapters get less votes and feedback. Since it's not finished, I'm hoping that there will be more readers when it's completed and posted. I can't blame them. I want an ending to the story, too.
Mickie [/B]

I thought the same thing, and posted all 4 chapters of my Delivery story simultaneously. However, the chapters were available on lit with a one or two day delay between each one. I don't know if this affected the vote totals or not. I also tried putting them in different categories to appeal to readers who search only in certain ones.

My conclusion is that being in the New list is the primary attraction for getting readers, as after the first two weeks votes and feedbacks inevitably drop off.

 

[masterhypnotist]

Chapter stories

I have written three chapter stories. The first one Laura made into a chapter story when I referred to it in the text. It seemed to make absolutely no difference. Lots of votes and some chapters did better then others for reasons that I am not sure about. My last story the chapter three out voted the two previous stories in ranking 4.56 vs 4.50 and 4.49 (darn!). The first story garnered almost 400 votes and the other two over 150 each. In all cases I asked for the vote. MH

 

[Tx Tall Tales]

Well, I just submitted my fourth story a few days ago:

Convenience vs. Need

At the end I asked the readers if they would rather I continue writing about these characters, or write about another subject. I went on some business travel, and came back 4 days later to 40 emails telling me to continue the story line!

I believe a lot of the readers are less likely to comment or even vote, on a second or third (or fourth...) part in a series - their comments are sufficient for the first part. I know I've felt that way.

But all the ones responding to me were happy to make the investment of time in a developed character and storyline. I really didn't expect this, but have decided to continue the storyline for a while, as requested.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I prefer multi-chapter stories. I prefer reading them, and I prefer writing them. the more I can get into a character's (and the author's) head, the more intimate and erotic it can be.

BUT, and this is a big BUT, I intensely dislike any multi-chapter story that isn't written that way from the beginning. If there's no plotted through-line, if the ending isn't tied to the beginning, then to me it's not a chaptered story, but a bunch of loosely connected short stories.

I don't see why auhors post a story and then ask for comments on how the next chapter should go. PLEASE write the whole thing before posting it. It will be an infinitely better read, believe me.

 

[Frederick Carol]

Dixon Carter Lee said

If there's no plotted through-line, if the ending isn't tied to the beginning, then to me it's not a chaptered story, but a bunch of loosely connected short stories.

And therein lies my problem, I think. I have a bunch of characters which please me and I (usually) enjoy writing about them. But in the case particularly of my 'Change of Plan' series, it has not been my intention to write a novel-length opus. I do have a vision of which way I want to take these characters, but in this case I think I AM writing a bunch of connected short stories. I think therefore I should ensure that each tale is individual and stands on its own merits and this is the way future tales will go.

DCL also said

I don't see why auhors post a story and then ask for comments on how the next chapter should go. PLEASE write the whole thing before posting it. It will be an infinitely better read, believe me.

I don't think I am guilty of this. They're my charactersand I have a good idea of where I want them to go. I do however welcome feedback on wherever I have already taken them. Please. If and when I complete a multi-chaptered tale I will complete it before posting.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread.

Fred

 

[Tawny T]

I have written two stories that had 6 chapters in them. My bitch is that after they are posted there is no easy way, for the reader, to find them later on. I asked Laurel if there was some way the computer could link them together to help those reading them out.

They say "Continued" but not how to get there! I see the first chapter with - say 50 readers, and chapter two with 19 readers. This if long after the story has come out, not when it is first posted.

Doing a sequel was, for me, the hardest thing I have tried. "Lactating Lesbian Lady" was the only one I have written a sequel for.

I had to try and match all the story lines and content so there was no conflict between the two stories. Even with a good proof reader helping, we both missed a conflict between the two stories on one point, but only one reader let me know about it! But I hated that one point.

 

[Sonia_de_Beaumanoir]

More ideas

I have two multi-part stories on Lit, and the vote totals give conflicting information.

My first one (Courtship) has 3 chapters in 3 different categories (lesbian, group, erotic) and the votes are 74/47/10. The first two chapters managed to stay on the top lists for a while, and the last one didn't. Thus, it's hard to say from this sample whether the voting is a factor of the category or being on a top list.

My second story (Delivery) has 4 chapters, all of which were submited at the same time and available online within a period of about a week. The 4 categories are (erotic/incest/group/incest) and the votes are 57/65/101/66. The ratings are all about the same, but the main difference in the 3rd is that the Description is more explicit.

So my conclusion is that the titles and the descriptions need to be sexually explicit to attract the most readers.

What is the reason to write multi-part stories? I know that when I am limited in time I will not likely read a 5-page story all the way to the end, so posting a story as 4 1 or 2 page stories will be more likely to get a reader to the end to vote. It seems critical, though, that each chapter stand on its own.

The reason to put different chapters of the same story in different categories is to attract readers who prefer certain categories. If they like that chapter they may well read the others.

I agree with DCL and TawnyT that the whole story needs to be plotted out and matched across all chapters. It is hard work.

 

[Guest]

I'm so glad to see this topic...

 

[cymbidia]

Single title, MH

That'd be my vote, if i get one. I have one very long story (my MOAL chapter) that's doing exceedingly well, if that's any inducement.

Personally, i don't often tend to follow stories that come to me in chapters, although stories that are toooooooo agonizing long (like, longer than three Lit pages) *should* be chapterized, i think. JMO, though, and worth the free electrons that carry it from me to you.

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: I'm so glad to see this topic...

I was just wondering if I should post my story as a complete title or in chapters. It seems to be getting fairly lengthy.

The consensus seems to be single title. Fine by me!

A story should definitely be a single title if it covers one incident.

If a story covers more than one incident, and it's longer than about 8000 words, then it should be serialized or broken into separate, independent stories.

The content should drive the decision more than the length does. Four thousand words is acrtually a very short story, it isn't really a long story until you hit about ten thousand words or so. (Ten thousand words translates to about three Lit webpages,BTW.) Still, even fifteen thousand words (four Lit pages) that describe one incident should be a single submission.

I get very frustrated by stories like _Jennifer at St Ceils_ that promise something and then take four episodes to deliver. It was pretty much worth the wait, but very frustrating to have each episode stop short of delivering the promised scenario.

 

[Bob Peale]

Re: Re: Multi-part Stories - Do they work for you?

When I see Chapter number in the title, I expect the story to cover one part of a longer finite story that will all get wrapped up in the last chapter.

With an "episode" I expect a stand-alone story that has characters in common with other stand-alone stories that might include a continuing sub-plot that is better understood by reading previous episodes in the series.

As one of the greater malefactors (I think I only have one story that is not multipart), I offer this explanation.

In most cases, everything with the same title was originally written as one story. Now, said story may have been 15 - 30 pages (how's that for a wicked big range) originally, but I learned a long time ago that if I submitted it as a single story, it would automatically get chopped into smaller parts for faster page loading. This had three reprecussions:

1. People didn't always click on the little numbers, prompting emails like, "When are you going to finish !?!"

2. Printing the story to read later was an absolute b***h

3. I couldn't control when there should be a break in the story.

Therefore, I started taking it upon myself to submit my stories in 5 or so page chunks to rectify the above (actually hasn't done much to alleviate No. 1: I still get those!) and it has helped tremendously.

I will add two final notes though:

1. I always submit all the parts at one time, so people don't usually have to wait an inordinate amount of time to see the stories conclusion.

2. I always put, "End." or "The End!" at the end of the final installment, just so people know not to go looking for anymore.