Multiple Genres

[cheerful_deviant]

So I have an actual writing related question. Well, actually it's more of a submission kind of question.

What if you have a story that is long enough that it needs to be released in multiple chapters, do they all go in the same category or place each chapter in the category that fits that individual chapter best?

I ask because I have a story that I have been picking away at on and off for years and it's up to around 80,000 words or so. It's a lesbian love story (mostly) but it has a fairly heavy MC element not to mention vampires, incest and even some lactation thrown in (just for fun ).

It's ready to post I'm a little leery of where to start placing it.

I would like to post it in Lesbian because it generally gets the most views of the categories that generally fit but I'm afraid that some of the kinkier aspects of the story will put readers off.

I'm thinking MC because it seems like the most broadly encompassing category if that makes any sense.

Thoughts?

 

[sr71plt]

It's done both ways, each with advantages and pitfalls. I don't think there's a predominant "way" to do it.

 

[RejectReality]

Mind Control would be the first thought I had, because you say it's an encompassing theme that runs throughout.

But, I think you may run into trouble with the vampires and incest there. From what I know of the readership, that's outside their comfort zone. Don't know if it's in the "blah, move on to something else." or "sick jerk, post to the right category!" range, or somewhere in between.

If there are any men involved in sex/relationships at all, I'd stay away from Lesbian Sex. Comments point toward the readership wanting no sausage in their dish at all.

How the Lesbian readers will react to the supernatural themes, I don't know.

If you choose your category according to the kink of the chapter, I think you'll run into a great deal of apathy in Incest. They're not overly fond of supernatural themes, and seem to be even less interested in the odd chapter that has their kink. I'd say there's a fair chance of losing other readers with the jump to the Incest category who might have otherwise stuck with it. ( Even more than the incest content. The category itself is a bigger stigma to some )

From the mix of themes you have in your post, I'd say the most likely place they all would be accepted ( with an up front warning about the incest ) is Sci-Fi&Fantasy.

Mind control and vampires fit in just fine. Lesbian relationships aren't a problem. Doubt lactation is going to weird out too many. If the story is engaging enough, they're willing to skip/skim over sections that give them the creeps and continue with the story -- especially when they're warned in advance -- so the incest isn't a killer.

That's the way I'd go, if it were me. ( Based upon the information provided )

 

[Hypoxia]

"Novels-Novellas" encompasses just about everything.

 

[Ldy_Sea]

"Novels-Novellas" encompasses just about everything.

True but many readers including myself shy away from those stories. TLR was made for people like me with little patience for long stories. However I will read a 27 part opus if it's well written. I know it makes no sense but I feel'commited to reading a whole story, even if it's bad but I feel no remorse about stopping after a chapter or 2 in other categories if I'm not enjoying the story.

 

[Bramblethorn]

From the mix of themes you have in your post, I'd say the most likely place they all would be accepted ( with an up front warning about the incest ) is Sci-Fi&Fantasy.

Do vampires go in SF/F, or Non-Human? But yeah, one of those two would likely be the best bet, if the vamps are a major element.

 

[RejectReality]

If one of the main characters is a Vampire, and that's known from the beginning, then NonHuman is probably the better option, because it has a larger readership who have almost identical tolerance to Sci-Fi&Fantasy readers.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Thanks all for the thoughts and input.

I had also considered non human and sci-fi but had initially dismissed them. As I had hinted at, the story jumps around through different genres quite a bit and the vampire elements rears it head in the first chapter but then largely disappears till about chapter 7 to 9, and even the it's pretty tame stuff.

I had leaned MC because besides the obvious lesbian bent (it's all girl, not a wanker to be seen) it's the dominant theme. I would prefer lesbian for the higher read counts (yes, I have a fragile ego and I watch the numbers constantly when I post a new story, which is partially why I haven't posted in years) but I think that category may be to vanilla for some of the other elements.

I've posted incest and lactation in the lesbian catagory before and had good feedback/rating so they don't worry me too much. It's the MC that I think may be the problem in that catagory.

This is what I get for trying to be creative.

Maybe I'll just get out the Genre Dart Board and hope for the best.

 

[slyc_willie]

I've had a series divided across two different categories, EC and Exhibitionism. Another series had all sorts of sexual situations, but every chapter was kept in N&N. My most recent, TnT, was about bisexual incestuous twins, but there's a good amount of straight and lesbian sex among other characters in the story. But all eight chapters stayed in the category I requested (Erotic Horror).

I think, if you want all the chapters to stay in the same category, you'd want to plea to Laurel and state your case. It's by no means a guarantee you'll get your wish, but she's an accommodating lady, y'know

 

[Rozalin_0123]

My story was divided up into 4 chapters. I posted them all in "loving wives" but chapter two was thrown into "lesbian sex" because that was all that chapter contained. I was a little upset about it because the second chapter wasn't self contained enough to be considered a lesbian story. Throw in the fact that across all 4 chapters, chapter 2 is the least viewed by a large margin despite it being the highest rated of the four.

Point being; your story doesn't always end up where you want it apparently