Sequels
- Thread starter jack30341
- Start date
Those questions are vague. What are you asking?
Not every story needs to continue. The best will read as complete. A significant number of comments will tell you if readers felt unsatisfied, and if they are specific they will suggest areas to take the story if it does need to continue.
You can't know what readers want, so write what would appeal to you, and your interest and enthusiasm for the subject should help it appeal to others. Choose the category well and hope to please a majority. A story posted in chapters will carry its own fans to let you know you are on the right track. The number of reads will likely diminish dramatically after the first chapter, for a number of reasons, but those who read the second chapter will surely read the third, and so on. The benefit of this is that once satisfied, these readers will be more inclined to give high votes, and your story gains red H's in no time. At least, that's my obsevation.
Not every story needs to continue. The best will read as complete. A significant number of comments will tell you if readers felt unsatisfied, and if they are specific they will suggest areas to take the story if it does need to continue.
You can't know what readers want, so write what would appeal to you, and your interest and enthusiasm for the subject should help it appeal to others. Choose the category well and hope to please a majority. A story posted in chapters will carry its own fans to let you know you are on the right track. The number of reads will likely diminish dramatically after the first chapter, for a number of reasons, but those who read the second chapter will surely read the third, and so on. The benefit of this is that once satisfied, these readers will be more inclined to give high votes, and your story gains red H's in no time. At least, that's my obsevation.
DarkBee
Metal machine
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Mostly, writing sequels happens when you have a lot to say (or haven't figured out how to end your story). Some ideas just lend themselves to novel(la)-sized stories, which can't be posted at once because nobody wants to dig through 10+ pages on Lit.
Sometimes, it's also nice to view the same story from another point of view, or to make a prequel/sequel of some sorts.
Sometimes, it's also nice to view the same story from another point of view, or to make a prequel/sequel of some sorts.
sirhugs
Riding to the Rescue
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My sequels usually continue the story, often adding sex with additional characters. Some do better than the originals. I try to write them so they can be read free stabding.
I did one novella split in 4 chapters posted concurrently. Each chapter got successively fewer readers, but good response.
One thing I've learned is that the Lit Story indexing favours sequels which reuse the original title with just a ch # added. I think however that this mighht discourage people who missed earlier chapters. I know if I am reading the New index, an interesting title & description won'yt encourage me to read something already at ch. 10.
I did one novella split in 4 chapters posted concurrently. Each chapter got successively fewer readers, but good response.
One thing I've learned is that the Lit Story indexing favours sequels which reuse the original title with just a ch # added. I think however that this mighht discourage people who missed earlier chapters. I know if I am reading the New index, an interesting title & description won'yt encourage me to read something already at ch. 10.
snoopercharmbrights
Was charmbrights, snooper
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I think that there are two sorts of readers of any given first story.
The majority don't like what you wrote and will never look at one of your stories again.
The much smaller minority do like what you wrote and will look for the sequel, or a new story by you. Since they like what you wrote the first time, presumably they will like whatever you want to write next. It is interesting that the sales of my first Delights novel were higher than those of any of the other eleven, but that there is little to pick between the rest of the series, which bears out this theory.
wildehafer
Pussy muncher
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You should already know before you hit that first key on the keyboard if it was going to be a multi chapter thing or not. If you don't you haven't thought it out.
It's handy to have the complete story arc in your head from the get go. You don't need all the details straight up, fill them in and add as you write, but have an idea of the whole and how to segment it.
Multi chapters need defined beginnings and endings, just like a stand alone story.
Readers want all the categories you see in Lit. Write what interests you, then there is some passion in it. Write what you like to read. Guaranteed you're not alone in that. Read stories that you like, get ideas on plots, characters, writing styles and then develop your own.
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snoopercharmbrights
Was charmbrights, snooper
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This is true, but not what jack asked.
If you write a story, complete in itself, with a beginning "boy meets girl" (both 18-y-o, of course), a middle "boy tries to seduce girl", and an end, "boy gets girl into his bed" then it is possible that some readers will wonder "What happens then?" and ask for a sequel. The question was, as I understand it, "should such a sequel be posted as a chapter 2 of the first story, or as a stand-alone?"
To my mind that depends on whether the second story will make sense to anyone who has not read the first.
Experiencedguy
Really Really Experienced
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Lots of good input here. Here is my view: It helps if you know in advance that this is going to be ongoing, and can use the same title (with chapter #'s). If that is your plan in advance, give us a nice ending (hot, satisfying, whatever), then give us a teaser of what is to follow, so we are looking forward to the continuation.
If you write a stand alone, but had such a great response that you want to do a follow one, do so, but make sure your loyal readers know that (ie: if your first story was b meets g, title the second one b meets g chapter II, or b meets g followup (chapter I, if you intend to make the followup story multichaptered).
Good luck
If you write a stand alone, but had such a great response that you want to do a follow one, do so, but make sure your loyal readers know that (ie: if your first story was b meets g, title the second one b meets g chapter II, or b meets g followup (chapter I, if you intend to make the followup story multichaptered).
Good luck
