New authors, don't worry about length, let it rip.

[1sickbastard]

Story length is story driven.
If the 'story' is nothing more than a plot to string together a series of fuck-scenes (porn vs. erotica), with little to know character or plot development, then 1-3 pages ought to do. The intended audience is looking for wank material and won't read much past than where they need to get off.
Stories that involve the audience in the characters can be of any length, from a single page to several thousand (as in the case of "Siblings with Benefits").

The best advise on telling a story, regardless of the media in which it is told, comes from the Mad Hatter, who advised Alice, "Start at the beginning, and when you come to the end, stop".

 

[CPBaudelaire]

I really struggled with these issues when I posted Beyond the Borderline. As a first-timer, I really had no idea what to expect, or any real feel for what (if any) readership I would be addressing. For the first few days after posting, reaction was probably running very solidly for smaller chunks, to the point where I seriously considered taking it down and re-releasing it a chapter at a time, but as time went by, more and more comments and feedback emails (including a few from some authors here who I really respect) said not to change anything, so I let it ride.

I've tried to be a bit more focused in my current effort, which I hope to have in LaRascasse's hands for editing in a week or so, but it's still going to be fairly long, probably about half or 2/3rds the size of Book 1 of Borderline. But that's what it is. I think I've gotten to a place where all I concern myself with is the story arc. Whatever it takes to get to where I want it to go is what I'll do.

Even so, after reading all of the preceding comments, I'm still struggling with the chapter vs. whole enchilada issue on my new story .

 

[lovecraft68]

I really struggled with these issues when I posted Beyond the Borderline. As a first-timer, I really had no idea what to expect, or any real feel for what (if any) readership I would be addressing. For the first few days after posting, reaction was probably running very solidly for smaller chunks, to the point where I seriously considered taking it down and re-releasing it a chapter at a time, but as time went by, more and more comments and feedback emails (including a few from some authors here who I really respect) said not to change anything, so I let it ride.

I've tried to be a bit more focused in my current effort, which I hope to have in LaRascasse's hands for editing in a week or so, but it's still going to be fairly long, probably about half or 2/3rds the size of Book 1 of Borderline. But that's what it is. I think I've gotten to a place where all I concern myself with is the story arc. Whatever it takes to get to where I want it to go is what I'll do.

Even so, after reading all of the preceding comments, I'm still struggling with the chapter vs. whole enchilada issue on my new story .

The only real advantage to chapters I see is its more stories under your name and more chances to add favorites and get more stories on top lists so basically statistics.

The problem with chapters is being a erotica site people expect sex in a lot fo chapters. That is not to say they will mind a chapter or two without sex, but they do want to see it consistently

If I had it to do all over again SWB would never have been 50+ chapters with sex in almost all of the first 30 or so. I would release it in maybe 4 or 5 large chunks and cut a lot of sex out of it.

Published as "Broken" is is in 8 e-books and about 75K shorter and much of that is deleted sex scenes.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

There is no answer or perfect formula for "success" here , period. There are too many variables.

My point is to simply point out that keeping a story a certain length is not a must or some unwritten rule that needs to be followed.

I read a story the other day that prolly goes 1000 words. Its a story in the old Alfred Hitchcock magazine. A guy robs the hospital to pay for his wifes inpatient care.