Need to pick your brain again!

[EveOfDesire]

In this poll I would like to know which you prefer as a reader... Which is more tantalizing?

 

[OzoneRed]

I'm assuming that that choices 1 and 2 can be paraphrased as "Should I post my long epic tale all at once, or in separate chapters?".

I voted for posting the long, epic tale all at once, for two reasons:

1. No matter how well a story is written, I often lose interest if I have to keep waiting for the next installment.

2. No matter how good the author's intentions, the author often loses interest between chapters. There's entirely too many unfinished epics out there.

 

[Carnevil9]

I prefer short.

Face it; most writers in the world suck, especially here at Lit. The only way I'm going to embark on a long commitment is if I'm already certain the writer is good enough (like Rand or Tolkien). But I can spend a page or two with anyone, seeing what they have to say that might be interesting or unique.

 

[EveOfDesire]

I'm assuming that that choices 1 and 2 can be paraphrased as "Should I post my long epic tale all at once, or in separate chapters?".

I voted for posting the long, epic tale all at once, for two reasons:

1. No matter how well a story is written, I often lose interest if I have to keep waiting for the next installment.

2. No matter how good the author's intentions, the author often loses interest between chapters. There's entirely too many unfinished epics out there.

Yes, your assumption is correct. I am interested in others' opinions. Certainly good points. Thank you.

 

[EveOfDesire]

I prefer short.

Face it; most writers in the world suck, especially here at Lit. The only way I'm going to embark on a long commitment is if I'm already certain the writer is good enough (like Rand or Tolkien). But I can spend a page or two with anyone, seeing what they have to say that might be interesting or unique.

Another good point. Thank you.

 

[iamtimmyz]

As life so demonstrates

In this poll I would like to know which you prefer as a reader... Which is more tantalizing?

There are highs and lows to everything we go through in every aspect some of those highlights make the events more captivating and thus should be included in any story as for the lows they should only be added to substantiate credibility to the events you are writing about. No one has a complete perfect day or story its just not here in this time frame. Unless you are writing from heaven or somewhere in that time element. Just my two cents.

T

 

[EveOfDesire]

There are highs and lows to everything we go through in every aspect some of those highlights make the events more captivating and thus should be included in any story as for the lows they should only be added to substantiate credibility to the events you are writing about. No one has a complete perfect day or story its just not here in this time frame. Unless you are writing from heaven or somewhere in that time element. Just my two cents.

T

However, in your preference, is a long (several Literotica pages) tale better to read or a short (one to two Lit pages) "chapter" continuance?

I'm not sure exactly how many word processor pages equal a "Lit page", however I know it is over five.

 

[iamtimmyz]

I am sorry I forgot to reply to the ?

However, in your preference, is a long (several Literotica pages) tale better to read or a short (one to two Lit pages) "chapter" continuance?

I'm not sure exactly how many word processor pages equal a "Lit page", however I know it is over five.

The short version is better, adds suspense and excitement with the thought process of wondering if you are right before the writer adds more to the story, so I would vote for installments.

Tim

 

[HeyAll]

I voted 'other'

I like stories that are in the middle, not too long, not to short...just gives you what you need to know and provides a nice closure to the story.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

I voted "Post the whole thing" because there are literally thousands of unfinished stories on here, and that is SO disappointing.

... I'm not sure exactly how many word processor pages equal a "Lit page", however I know it is over five.

A "Lit page" is about 3,500-3,750 words. A WP page depends on font, font size, spacing and paper size.

 

[alwayswantedto]

<deleted>

 

[1sickbastard]

Much depends on the story
If you've already plotted the thing, write the thing. If it's long-novel/novella fine
If you're not sure where the plot is headed, or is only loosely plotted, the serial format works just fine, as long as the characters/situations are engaging.

 

[EveOfDesire]

A "Lit page" is about 3,500-3,750 words. A WP page depends on font, font size, spacing and paper size.

I know the latter depends. I use size 10pt font on my word processor pages and after excluding my title in the word count I know I am under 750 words on the first page...

Didn't know the "Lit page" count, though. Thank you!

 

[EveOfDesire]

P.S.

Thank you, everyone, for the wealth of feedback so far!

 

[smallncute]

A difficult Choice

I personally prefer stories that have development of the characters and how, why they become intimate.

In some situations, that can be as erotically arousing as the sex....

But for a lot of people, me included cannot read long stories on a PC screen with out developing a headache or some other minor but irritating condition.

So I tend to write my stories 2-3 'lit' pages.

Longer stories I will read but have to wait till when I have time to read it,, have a quick pause and then get back to it...

Hope this makes sense.

Miranda

 

[JuanVato]

Content counts

Short or long, the content has to keep me there. If I can predict what is going to happen, then I lose interest.

 

[wigwam25]

I voted "other" because I don't like long stories that drag on and on in a predictable and tedious fashion. A certain amount of titillation is good, but it's beyond the skill of most Lit writers (including me) to sustain a high level of interest page after page after page. And I don't like reading a series of continuing stories. I want to be there at the beginning, and I want to get to the end within one or two Lit pages. If I see a chapter that is anything other than chapter 1, I just skip it because I don't like to get caught up in the middle of a long, ongoing series. Give me a story that quickly sets the stage, then moves on with action, unexpected but satisfying events, and humor -- if applicable.

 

[blackstallion21]

Other

The reason I picked other is I am a writer myself, and there are times that you need to spill the entire bean kettle and write out the long and drawn out story... and then there are times that the cliff hanger does the better justice!

I would rather write cliff hangers because my A.D.D. kicks in when I'm writing a long story and I can't seem to get back into the mood to finish writing the story when i draw them out longer than a certain point. MY avid readers HATE it and think I should write longer pieces, but I personally have problems when I try to, and then I get frustrated with it, and end up deleting them.

SO... all in all, it depends on the writer, the topic, the readers, and so on.

Hope this helped.

 

[subwannabe]

I flat out don't like stories that go longer than two pages. I prefer just one full page. I read the stories for excitement, not because I like to read. If I wanted to read a book I would read a book, but I wouldn't read it to get off. You do need to develop the story line and characters but I start snoring easily. As far as chapter stories go I can either take em or leave em, but I would definetly want you to make chapters out of them and not one big story.

 

[mythtrav16]

Not easy to answer. Fast-paced can easily lead to confusion if it is kept up too long. A fast-paced sex scene probably won't give your reader a good opportunity to get off, either, unless you put a lot of heat into the build-up.

On the other hand, paragraph after paragraph of banal specifics and details can really bog a story down.

It depends largely on your genre, for one thing. If you're writing a story based on a unusual premise from your own mind (as I often do), you will probably need to explain a fair bit about the world/characters of your story. If you're basing your story in realistic circumstances, or on a well-known archetype, you might be able to skip the detail and get right down to the nitty-gritty.

 

[atenai]

I prefer to have intrigue in a longer story, because if the shorter story ends too soon (in my opinion) then I get annoyed when you don't have the next part posted immediately... you'd be more likely to lose me as a reader than actually get high ratings and have me read the whole story.

 

[JRaven]

I picked "Other" mostly because it depends on my mood, the genre of the story, what time of the month it is, etc. etc. etc...

If the story has a lot of intrique, a real plot that spans all the chapters, then post it all at once.

If it's a series and each chapter could stand on its own, then post it in chapters. But, write it all up first. Then post one chapter a day.

Otherwise, right now I'm just looking for a nice short, horny story before I go to bed.

Jenny

 

[oggbashan]

I voted "other" because I write very short (i.e. 50-word) stories and long (6 plus Lit pages) stories or even multiple chaptered stories.

Some stories are best as short stories; others deserve a longer treatment.

As a writer I know my story is likely to get more attention if I don't exceed a Lit page of about 3,500 words. I think part of the reason is that reading from a screen is different from reading from a book. What is an acceptable length in hard copy is too long for a screen.

Og

 

[sirhugs]

I like either a short stroker so hot that I don't last til page two, or a well developed plot with multiple pages or chapters - but even that need not be epic. I don't need to know EVERYTHING about the characters.

 

[PorshaK]

I agree with sirhugs - I don't need to know everything.
If by epic tale you mean one where the author spends so long building their character and what their job is and where they like to eat lunch, with so much detail it becomes entirely mundane before you even get around to any action...then no, I'm not a fan.
I like stories that jump right into the gnitty gritty - that we are reading for in the first place! - and only throw in a few little details that give me hints about the character.
I think it takes a lot more talent to communicate a character with subtle and succinct clues.