Novella

[BadKat135]

Question,

Is it better to post a Novella (3 chapters) all at once, or as each chapter is written?

 

[slyc_willie]

Question,

Is it better to post a Novella (3 chapters) all at once, or as each chapter is written?

The prevailing wisdom, one to which I now subscribe even though I have an unfinished series posted, is to wait until you have it all done and post it en masse. You could stagger them out, if you wish, but only once it's all done.

Of course, there is a different logic that says post a chapter once you have it done, and the resulting readership and praise will inspire you to continue. That may work for some people. I think, however, to be the most respectful to your readers, post it only once the entire story is ready.

 

[SamScribble]

I have posted short short stories (2,500 words) and longer short stories (6,500 words). In pretty much every case, someone has said: ‘I’m looking forward to the next chapter’.

In another life, I have written a number of novellas (25,000 – 35,000 words). But I suspect that, if I posted the novellas on Literotica, readers would be asking ‘Where’s the next chapter?’ My inclination would be to post three separate chapters – but only a few days apart. I would also make it clear to the readers that the third chapter is the final chapter. Of course, I could be wrong.

 

[TxRad]

I have posted short short stories (2,500 words) and longer short stories (6,500 words). In pretty much every case, someone has said: ‘I’m looking forward to the next chapter’.

In another life, I have written a number of novellas (25,000 – 35,000 words). But I suspect that, if I posted the novellas on Literotica, readers would be asking ‘Where’s the next chapter?’ My inclination would be to post three separate chapters – but only a few days apart. I would also make it clear to the readers that the third chapter is the final chapter. Of course, I could be wrong.

You could kill all the characters off and still get told it needs a second chapter.

I did just that in a story and got requests for a sequel.

 

[oggbashan]

You could kill all the characters off and still get told it needs a second chapter.

I did just that in a story and got requests for a sequel.

That happened to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle after he had killed Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty off at the Reichenbach Falls. Holmes had to come back to life.

Back to the original post.

It depends how long your novella is. If it is complete and less than 10,000 words I would post it as one submission.

 

[PennLady]

You can submit all three chapters as individual chapters, at the same time, but they will not post on the same day. They will post on successive days. This is nice for the readers, as they don't have to wait for the next installment.

As Ogg said, if the entire thing is less than 10000 words, you'd be fine to submit it as one story. That would be 3-4 Lit screen pages, and I'd say anecdotal evidence I've seen means that's a good length.

 

[MSTarot]

questions just for questions sake

What is the longest story on site? By word or page count.

What is the largest series of stories? Most chapters with the same characters?

And on the whole does these longer (massive) series get better to read or just boring to read? This is fluff and stuff erotica, you can only read about two people having sex (in incredibly detailed scenes) just so many times before you start to go "Okay, what next."

I ask this because almost everything I write I also get that "Can't wait for the next chapter."

I agree with Tex, you could kill off the whole world and get asked for part two.

Need more coffee.

M.S.Tarot

 

[BadKat135]

Alright, follow up question. Is kt better to tell a story in one book, or to have multiple novellas on the same people like a series?

 

[oggbashan]

questions just for questions sake

What is the longest story on site? By word or page count.

What is the largest series of stories? Most chapters with the same characters?

And on the whole does these longer (massive) series get better to read or just boring to read? This is fluff and stuff erotica, you can only read about two people having sex (in incredibly detailed scenes) just so many times before you start to go "Okay, what next."

I ask this because almost everything I write I also get that "Can't wait for the next chapter."

I agree with Tex, you could kill off the whole world and get asked for part two.

Need more coffee.

M.S.Tarot

I can only answer for myself and my stories:

What is the longest story on site? By word or page count?

As a story in one submission: Miranda the Witch at 26,839 words - 8 Lit pages (and sequel is being written)

What is the largest series of stories? Most chapters with the same characters?

My unending Silverbridge Chronicles. 21 parts written so far about 200,000 words. But they are not chaptered but 21 stories.

Shelacta had 14 stories but although some characters reappear most are stand-alone in a series.

Flawed Red Silk (written for NaNoWriMo) has 12 chapters and 50,391 words but they are linked chapters, not using the same characters throughout.

And on the whole does these longer (massive) series get better to read or just boring to read? This is fluff and stuff erotica, you can only read about two people having sex (in incredibly detailed scenes) just so many times before you start to go "Okay, what next?"

My chaptered stories include more than two characters and have a plot. If the story is going to be long, there should be more action, more development, more conflict and tell a story from beginning to end.

 

[lovecraft68]

questions just for questions sake

What is the longest story on site? By word or page count.

What is the largest series of stories? Most chapters with the same characters?

And on the whole does these longer (massive) series get better to read or just boring to read? This is fluff and stuff erotica, you can only read about two people having sex (in incredibly detailed scenes) just so many times before you start to go "Okay, what next."

I ask this because almost everything I write I also get that "Can't wait for the next chapter."

I agree with Tex, you could kill off the whole world and get asked for part two.

Need more coffee.

M.S.Tarot

Are you talking length of an entire series? Or one single story?

Longest single story I have seen is "Threads The Island" an incest story that is 43 lit pages(so roughly 162,000k)

as for series length there was a thread about this in the feedback section I had started a long time ago and someone claims there is a hundred chapter+ BDSM series here, but I forgot the name.

For me, my SWB series when up in its entirety was 51 installments that totaled 920,000k

 

[slyc_willie]

I can only answer for myself and my stories:

What is the longest story on site? By word or page count?

As a story in one submission: Miranda the Witch at 26,839 words - 8 Lit pages (and sequel is being written)

What is the largest series of stories? Most chapters with the same characters?

My unending Silverbridge Chronicles. 21 parts written so far about 200,000 words. But they are not chaptered but 21 stories.

Shelacta had 14 stories but although some characters reappear most are stand-alone in a series.

Flawed Red Silk (written for NaNoWriMo) has 12 chapters and 50,391 words but they are linked chapters, not using the same characters throughout.

And on the whole does these longer (massive) series get better to read or just boring to read? This is fluff and stuff erotica, you can only read about two people having sex (in incredibly detailed scenes) just so many times before you start to go "Okay, what next?"

My chaptered stories include more than two characters and have a plot. If the story is going to be long, there should be more action, more development, more conflict and tell a story from beginning to end.

I have a few stand-alone stories at 8 Lit pages. I'm always surprised they get the amount of views they do.

My wife (secretme) has a series, Leader of the Pack, that is something like 30 chapters at two to three Lit pages apiece. In it's published form, it's as thick as War & Peace.

 

[oggbashan]

I have a few stand-alone stories at 8 Lit pages. I'm always surprised they get the amount of views they do.

My wife (secretme) has a series, Leader of the Pack, that is something like 30 chapters at two to three Lit pages apiece. In it's published form, it's as thick as War & Peace.

If I judge by requests for the sequel, Miranda The Witch, even at 8 Lit pages, is one of my most popular stories.

But the sequel will have to be equally long to match. That's why it is taking me years to write it. I'm aiming for the Halloween Contest. Will I complete for this year's contest? Or next?