Need help and advice

[Simitoo]

I am wondering if someone would like to help me with my writing.
I finally submitted one of my stories (it was accepted much to my surprise) and I have been encouraged by the feedback to think about submitting more. I must admit I did not expect it to be accepted hence, although I looked through the Editors list, I did not get around to asking for help.
The story was "The awakening of Toni" and went on site on the 1st Feb under New and erotic couplings. Just to give you some idea of what I put on paper and how I do it.
I have another one that I am thinking of submitting but it is twice as long at 13200 words and 29 pages long. I'm not sure if I should split it into two parts. Is there an ideal length for Literotica submissions?
The problem is I am dyslexic and have to work hard with the grammar and the spelling. (I am continually using the spell and grammar checker.) I enjoy the writing even though it takes me a lot of time to put my experiences and imagination into the written word.
Simitoo

 

[starrkers]

13,000 is not over long for Lit. Each Lit page runs to about 3500 words (depending on formatting and paragraph length). So your story would likely run to 4 Lit pages. There are stories here much longer than that.

 

[Lalah]

You don't have to split it up in different chapters. But I can tell you from personal experience when I stumble on a story more than two literotica pages long unless it was recommended to me or hooked me on the first line I'm more likely to hit the back button. It's not that I can't read four pages stories, but it's a "big" time investment if I'm not sure the story is actually going to be good.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I agree with Lalah (and this comes from a writer who first submitted a story 8 Lit pages long).. But I didn't know then what I know now.

One time I actually had a reader leave a comment that he loved my story (a different one) but felt that he had to vote low because it was 3 lit pages long; he'd been told by someone else that anything over 2 Lit pages was too long.

 

[DracheDD]

I've read some of the longer stories here and they were very good, but like the others said, if you don't hook me in the first paragraph or so, I'm likely to hit the back button because of the time I'll have to invest to read it.

I don't grade down for it though. That's just silly. If you hooked me and I read the whole thing, then there must have been something good about it that kept me reading.

 

[emap]

Something to keep in mind, there are readers who want long stories with alot of backstory and such and there are readers who want a really fast wham bam thank you maam story. The second group is larger, though the first is still good sized and I never have had someone saying it was to long. I've had a few it was to short.

The length can be as long as you want and you will get avid readers if you simply follow one little thing i was told. Put a sex scene to every lit page and you will never have a complaint about length. Obviously not exactly correct but seems to be a golden rule.

 

[Simitoo]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I think I will read through my next submission again and possibly make it 2 chapters but keep it all as 1 story as I have further parts in mind.
Guess I will just have to hope the grammer is not to bad to put people off, or even worst get the story refused. I appreciate your help and advise.
Simitoo

 

[Agnol]

Story length

Not everyone is intimidated by long stories. I never scroll down to see how long a story is before I start reading it (do people actually do that?) and if I get to the bottom and see 10 pages for a story I'm liking I get excited.

As of late I seem to run across way too many 'stories' that are merely scenes. I rarely touch anything new that is on chapter three or higher. It seems to me too many people are overly interested in the feedback and praise to actually put out an actual story, instead feeding off the attention of feedback and emails: "when is the next part coming out?" (My own personal belief and unscientific observation, this is not a rebuke of anyone in this thread.)

If you want to serialize to make the reading chunks more manageable that is fine, I have no issue with that. But I would suggest finishing the story first, no matter how long it is and then break it up. I would argue against writing a chapter, posting it and waiting for feedback before writing the next chapter. Your story will suffer continuity and character development issues.

 

[sr71plt]

Some folks do like the longer stories. There definitely is a readership here for those. Logic time, however. If some folks will follow serials but not take the time at a sitting for more than two Lit. pages, what's the logical answer to whether something of 13,000 words would appeal to more readers by being split into two chapters (if a convenient cut/transition can be foung) than run at one go?

 

[Agnol]

Do people not go back and find a story they like if they can't finish it one sitting? I don't think there is a right answer here, you just have to make a guess on what you think will work.

Bottom line to me is this: Chapters or one long post, the story will determine if someone will do what it takes to see it through to the end. Worry more about the story and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[Lalah]

Something to keep in mind, there are readers who want long stories with alot of backstory and such and there are readers who want a really fast wham bam thank you maam story. The second group is larger, though the first is still good sized and I never have had someone saying it was to long. I've had a few it was to short.

The length can be as long as you want and you will get avid readers if you simply follow one little thing i was told. Put a sex scene to every lit page and you will never have a complaint about length. Obviously not exactly correct but seems to be a golden rule.

True, but why not just please everyone and submit it in two parts? You get your long story, they get their more manageable story.

Do people not go back and find a story they like if they can't finish it one sitting? I don't think there is a right answer here, you just have to make a guess on what you think will work.

Bottom line to me is this: Chapters or one long post, the story will determine if someone will do what it takes to see it through to the end. Worry more about the story and the rest will take care of itself.

I tend to lose interest in a story if I end up having to stop reading it halfway. The next time I sit down I'm more likely to go browsing for something new, rather than read the same old and known stuff. I tend to be more interested in finding out the premise of stories rather than how they end.