Question for Authors

[AsylumSeeker]

This is a comment I received for a story and I would be interested in exploring this subject:

I read your story "A quickie from sister" and I enjoyed it. But it's been a year since you left it hanging. I wonder if you plan on either adding more chapters or atleast tie things up. Allot of writers has been doing that a lot and it's just not fair to the readers. I understand sometimes things happen so they can't write but if they plan on writing a story atleast write the whole story first then submit either the whole story or one chapter at a time. That way they don't leave a story hanging with no ending.

In my experience, and which I shared with this reader in a private email, is that I will write a story with the intention of it being complete and then readers will ask for more, so I'll a chapter or chapters to please them, and then the story is incomplete.

When I intentionally write a multi-chapter story I will write all chapters in advance and post them a week apart.

Not sure what other authors do or if they leave the stories hanging as I have done. Guilty as charged. Any comments, accusing or helpful? Would be interested in reading them.

 

[lovecraft68]

This is a comment I received for a story and I would be interested in exploring this subject:

I read your story "A quickie from sister" and I enjoyed it. But it's been a year since you left it hanging. I wonder if you plan on either adding more chapters or atleast tie things up. Allot of writers has been doing that a lot and it's just not fair to the readers. I understand sometimes things happen so they can't write but if they plan on writing a story atleast write the whole story first then submit either the whole story or one chapter at a time. That way they don't leave a story hanging with no ending.

In my experience, and which I shared with this reader in a private email, is that I will write a story with the intention of it being complete and then readers will ask for more, so I'll a chapter or chapters to please them, and then the story is incomplete.

When I intentionally write a multi-chapter story I will write all chapters in advance and post them a week apart.

Not sure what other authors do or if they leave the stories hanging as I have done. Guilty as charged. Any comments, accusing or helpful? Would be interested in reading them.

Slippery slope.

Technically we do not get paid to write here (and the readers do not pay to read stories here) so there is no real obligation to finish a story.

However, in my personal opinion it is a bit rude to leave people hanging.

I think most of the time it is not intentional. Real life happens. People get sick, they have a lot of turmoil and it affects their writing, some have passed away.

More so I think many just run out of gas. They got a great idea pushed out a few chapters then its like uh-oh now what? Then block sets in and some never overcome it.

Its happened to me, where I started reading something that never finished but I don't get too upset, in the grand scheme of things big deal.

My one exception was a series that I not only enjoyed, but became friends with the author. he gave up on the series saying he had no time etc...yet I saw him involved in four role plays at the same time in the SRP forums. That one was annoying, at least be honest.


But like every other thread here you'll get various responses.

For myself, I have one long series here that I wrote a chapter at a time with nothing done in advance, but finished it with no issues. Most of my stuff is "one time" as I feel once whatever ice has been broken between the characters I now get bored.

I guess I'm a "thrill of the kill" writer. I take the reader to the event then the characters can live on in their heads.

 

[PennLady]

I don't write sequels or further chapters because readers ask for them. I write them if I have another story to tell, or if the story is that long. It's flattering when people ask for more chapters or sequels but if the story is not there, then I'm not going to just write more of the same.

 

[Darkniciad]

I leave a lot of stories with threads that can be explored, but when I'm not planning to immediately write a sequel, I make sure to leave off in a satisfying location with everything I've introduced resolved.

For example, I may have a woman hook up with her bratty daughter's ex-boyfriend. Everything is wrapped up nicely, but the daughter hasn't found out yet. If she did, that could be a sequel. If I'd introduced the daughter discovering the relationship in the story, that would need to be resolved the same as anything else.

Readers will sometimes key onto those threads that aren't introduced, but lurking at the edges of the story - almost inevitable. Some of them will decide that those elements are "loose threads" that demand resolving. I don't see it that way, but *shrug*

Just because a reader asks for a sequel doesn't mean you need to write one. I've seen no repercussions as RR for all my stories being 1-shots and leaving those peripheral threads dangling the possibility of a sequel. The same holds true when someone says you didn't finish the story because you didn't explore an element you didn't introduce.

You're not obligated, and unless there are a large number of people commenting that you didn't finish the story ( which could indicate that you left a few threads dangling that you should have resolved ) I wouldn't worry about it much.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm with PL. I don't write more just because readers ask for it. When I post a story, I'm done and ready to move on. If I thought the story needed more, I would have written it that way to start with.

 

[jomar]

I've had the same experience.

But, yeah, sometimes we leave it mid-stream for a variety of reasons, including we think it's done.

Don't sweat it.

 

[slyc_willie]

I don't write sequels or further chapters because readers ask for them. I write them if I have another story to tell, or if the story is that long. It's flattering when people ask for more chapters or sequels but if the story is not there, then I'm not going to just write more of the same.

I leave a lot of stories with threads that can be explored, but when I'm not planning to immediately write a sequel, I make sure to leave off in a satisfying location with everything I've introduced resolved.

I'm with PL. I don't write more just because readers ask for it. When I post a story, I'm done and ready to move on. If I thought the story needed more, I would have written it that way to start with.

Ditto, ditto, and ditto. One series I just finished ends on a definite cliffhanger. It could be continued, if I decide to do so in the future. But the way I ended it was the same way B-movie horror films have the supposedly dead psychopath opening his eyes as he lies on the bottom of a lake.

Readers might want more; haven't heard any scrambling for it yet, but I figure it'll come. But I did mention in every chapter that the story was finished, and the eighth was the last chapter.

 

[sr71plt]

I leave a lot of stories with threads that can be explored, but when I'm not planning to immediately write a sequel, I make sure to leave off in a satisfying location with everything I've introduced resolved.

That doesn't always work either. I have many a story that I've resolved--but since it wasn't a totally happy ending, readers wouldn't accept that it was finished. I've even done happy endings where a reader comes back wanting to see the wedding and the kids pop out.

Usually when I'm done it was where I intended to leave it. If I'm asked for more and I then write a followup, it's where having my memory jogged on the story, my muse starts to spin out a squel. I'm not doing it because the reader wasn't fulfilled, though.

 

[lovecraft68]

I find it flattering in away when people keep asking for more, but nothing has ever inspired me to say "Oh, okay" when its done for me its done.

On another note even though I wrote mother/son incest tales I still find it a little disturbing when I keep getting

"And you have to do another chapter where mom gets pregnant and..."

Even in a particular "kink" there are kinks within kinks and that one always makes me shudder.

 

[RejectReality]

That doesn't always work either. I have many a story that I've resolved--but since it wasn't a totally happy ending, readers wouldn't accept that it was finished. I've even done happy endings where a reader comes back wanting to see the wedding and the kids pop out.

I suppose I should qualify that anything I leave that way does have a happily-ever-after ending.

Or, at least that's what the characters believe at the time. Circumstances could change, but at that moment, they're all content with how things are.

It's that "see them married and kids pop out" request that I don't feel obliged to follow up on. Unless I introduced that one or the other of the characters has getting married as a goal, then I feel no need to resolve it. That may not even be where I see it going, if I was to continue it.

Maybe they just want to shack up. Maybe they needed a little boost in confidence or sexual release, and being together does that for both of them, but they just don't have enough in common to make a long term relationship work.

( I've really got to pay attention to which browser I'm reading Lit with *laugh* I keep all my pen names logged in under different browsers so I don't have to log in and log out every time I want to check stats )

 

[Saxon_Hart]

I find it flattering in away when people keep asking for more, but nothing has ever inspired me to say "Oh, okay" when its done for me its done.

On another note even though I wrote mother/son incest tales I still find it a little disturbing when I keep getting

"And you have to do another chapter where mom gets pregnant and..."

Even in a particular "kink" there are kinks within kinks and that one always makes me shudder.

That's why I stopped writing incest. I got too many guys asking for me to tell them about my own experiences with mom or sister, which wouldn't suit them since I've never thought that way about my mom, and I have no sister. The guy wanting me to write a description of him raping his 15 yo sister was the final straw. Being told that I was too easy or hard on an ex is much preferable.

 

[Darkniciad]

I think there are a few commenters in Incest who are trying to pull a flanking maneuver to scare writers out of the category. Some of the comments are too over the top, frequent, and formulaic for me to believe that they're serious.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's why I stopped writing incest. I got too many guys asking for me to tell them about my own experiences with mom or sister, which wouldn't suit them since I've never thought that way about my mom, and I have no sister. The guy wanting me to write a description of him raping his 15 yo sister was the final straw. Being told that I was too easy or hard on an ex is much preferable.

I get a lot both on lit and through feedback saying "It reminds me of the first time mom and I..." and it goes on and on, but I stop reading.

I wonder how many are just chain yanking or looking for attention and how many have had some type of experience.

The ones who say things like "I've fantasized about that, but never done it" are easier to take. Its still weird to think of a parent like that, but sometimes you can't help a fantasy and they never indulged.

Obviously big time incest readers have these fantasies it why they read.

The most disturbing thread on this site bar none is "incest is best" that is an entire thread of "When I fucked my uncle/aunt/grandpa/mom/ five brothers etc..." crazy

And worse it has had to be "swept" by a mod multiple times when they keep saying "Back when I was 13 and my uncle..."

Shudders.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

I get a lot both on lit and through feedback saying "It reminds me of the first time mom and I..." and it goes on and on, but I stop reading.

I wonder how many are just chain yanking or looking for attention and how many have had some type of experience.

The ones who say things like "I've fantasized about that, but never done it" are easier to take. Its still weird to think of a parent like that, but sometimes you can't help a fantasy and they never indulged.

Obviously big time incest readers have these fantasies it why they read.

The most disturbing thread on this site bar none is "incest is best" that is an entire thread of "When I fucked my uncle/aunt/grandpa/mom/ five brothers etc..." crazy

And worse it has had to be "swept" by a mod multiple times when they keep saying "Back when I was 13 and my uncle..."

Shudders.

It got to where I couldn't sleep. Part of me feared that I was feeding some sick fuck's fantasy and was I was going to be responsible for some sick shit. I know that's irrational thinking but I was bothered to the point I almost deleted it all and started over under a new pen name.
I ended up reading an interview with an FBI profiler who stated that these people aren't driven by stuff like what we write, but by some other mental flaw.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I leave a lot of stories with threads that can be explored, but when I'm not planning to immediately write a sequel, I make sure to leave off in a satisfying location with everything I've introduced resolved.

For example, I may have a woman hook up with her bratty daughter's ex-boyfriend. Everything is wrapped up nicely, but the daughter hasn't found out yet. If she did, that could be a sequel. If I'd introduced the daughter discovering the relationship in the story, that would need to be resolved the same as anything else.

Readers will sometimes key onto those threads that aren't introduced, but lurking at the edges of the story - almost inevitable. Some of them will decide that those elements are "loose threads" that demand resolving. I don't see it that way, but *shrug*

Just because a reader asks for a sequel doesn't mean you need to write one. I've seen no repercussions as RR for all my stories being 1-shots and leaving those peripheral threads dangling the possibility of a sequel. The same holds true when someone says you didn't finish the story because you didn't explore an element you didn't introduce.

You're not obligated, and unless there are a large number of people commenting that you didn't finish the story ( which could indicate that you left a few threads dangling that you should have resolved ) I wouldn't worry about it much.

Thanks for the sound advice. I tend to want to make everyone happy, and in so doing I introduce drama into my own life that I really don't need. I don't get many comments at all, one here and there, and it doesn't represent the number of silent readers. And one really annoying, repeating, anon comment about me going to an asylum due to my name here.

Those few want stories tied in a red ribbon and dropped into their laps with no imagination required. Spelled out for them. I'll do what I can and will do as I do, but I won't do more based on a comment. Could be a story there -- "The Comment".

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I usually don't leave the reader hanging, but I do have one chapter of a story posted here and no more. I have several queries from readers about finishing the story. I have pointed them in the Smashwords link for the completed story.

So far none have complained about having to purchase the book to finish the story.

 

[lovecraft68]

It got to where I couldn't sleep. Part of me feared that I was feeding some sick fuck's fantasy and was I was going to be responsible for some sick shit. I know that's irrational thinking but I was bothered to the point I almost deleted it all and started over under a new pen name.
I ended up reading an interview with an FBI profiler who stated that these people aren't driven by stuff like what we write, but by some other mental flaw.

Okay, well I'm not that bad. I sleep no matter what

But I don't dwell on it and as for mother/son I don't have the kink I write them for views and votes in my mind I see them as cougar cub stories.

That's odd about what the profiler said. It's the opposite of something I heard at an open lecture at my daughter's college I attended with her.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I want to write sequels to all but one of my stories. I even have them started somewhere on my hard drive. I just lose focus on certain projects, no matter how badly I too want to see more happen within that story.

 

[TE999]

If my stories are a one shot deal, I decisively conclude them; if they're in a multi-part series, I always close with a cliffhanger or a teaser so there's no question about a conclusion. I have, however, written sequels or changed a story line in response to readers requests on occasion.

 

[lovecraft68]

Every thing I have written has a definitive ending.

But that has never stopped people from going "More, more!"

The problem is for me what most chapter incest stories are is the same characters doing it over and over again just in a different place or in many other family members join in.

I get bored after the initial crossing of the line and not one for family orgy or multiple incest.

So from me you will never see:

Chapter three. This time mom takes it in the ass in the pool!

Or

Chapter two: Daddy catches us and joins the fun!

Nope, not my thing.

 

[MatthewVett]

This is a comment I received for a story and I would be interested in exploring this subject:

I read your story "A quickie from sister" and I enjoyed it. But it's been a year since you left it hanging. I wonder if you plan on either adding more chapters or atleast tie things up. Allot of writers has been doing that a lot and it's just not fair to the readers. I understand sometimes things happen so they can't write but if they plan on writing a story atleast write the whole story first then submit either the whole story or one chapter at a time. That way they don't leave a story hanging with no ending.

In my experience, and which I shared with this reader in a private email, is that I will write a story with the intention of it being complete and then readers will ask for more, so I'll a chapter or chapters to please them, and then the story is incomplete.

When I intentionally write a multi-chapter story I will write all chapters in advance and post them a week apart.

Not sure what other authors do or if they leave the stories hanging as I have done. Guilty as charged. Any comments, accusing or helpful? Would be interested in reading them.

This is definitely a common thing. I mean, doesn't everyone like to see their favorite story continued? If I have a good idea that works with an older IP, I'll try to work it in. But typically, I find that new ideas work best with new situations, and so a lot of older stories just never get sequels.

 

[Darkniciad]

I actually do have the urge to write some characters again but not much in the way of substance to the story surrounding the naughty bits. Ended up creating sections on my website to host those, as I don't feel they have enough meat on the bone to post here, but they had enough oomph for me to finish them.

"Jerk Pt. 2" was supposed to be one of those, but as I worked on it, enough character development crept in for me to promote it *laugh* So, it proved a useful exercise, and even when it doesn't, some of those readers who are always clamoring for more can sometimes find it, if they choose to look.

 

[lovecraft68]

In an example of some people are never happy with when and how you end a story....

SWB was 40 chapters plus a 5 chapter spinoff that factored into the ongoing series. Then a 5 part "Okay, they ended up together, but this is what happened after that"

I even did a Halloween one shot for fun with them so 51 installments and the ending painstakingly tied up every loose end imaginable. To the point that during dozens of privet feedbacks there were no "Well what about..."

But I still even two years later(probably from people just reading it) I think you should have them adopt or I think you should bring back so and so and....

I appreciate people got attached to the characters, but if 932k total is not enough you need to find that elusive life thing and move on.

 

[LOAnnie2]

Weighing in, I have only one story that I've designated as definitely being a chapter story (others will be getting sequels and additional chapters, but only one was written with the idea that there is guaranteed more to come).

Besides the life being busy (graduating from college woot!), sometimes it also depends on the storyline itself. In my case I've probably written the third chapter of the story about 7 different times now and I keep scrapping it as I don't end up being happy with it.

Granted, with the way I've written the story I could easily just skip chapter 3 and write and publish chapter 4, but I want the whole story told right. I'm sure other authors can relate.

 

[SecondCircle]

Sometimes here on Lit, I write stories that are long enough that I divide them into chapters. To me, it's easier than having a twelve page story that seems like it should have went into N&N.

But there are times that I write a standalone story, and then decide I want to add another scene or event using that initial storyline. A sequel I guess. Each installment of these always wrap up in a way that they could end that way nicely, but always leave room for another entry.

I think of it like each short story is its own story, much like a full book is its own book. Then, each chapter I might add afterward is like another "book" or sequel, not merely a small chapter of a longer story.

Many people confuse this with "not finishing" a story. It isn't necessarily that. Not that I've ever read them, but the Harry Potter books weren't all written together as chapters at once and distributed together as a complete story. In some cases I write a full SHORT story and treat it much like a book. Then the following chapters are new entries.

So in a sense, I guess it isn't really "not finishing" a story for me, but rather "whether or not it goes on". Like I said, at the end of each short story installment, it could work as the end, but leaves room for more as any story would do.