Short chapters

[Brutal_One]

I have recently got back to submitting stories after a fairly decent break of over a year. I return with 2 separate story series, one is a follow on from previous completed series carrying just the one central character. With both new series the one common theme is movies - either making them for one series or them being watched in another. Both new series focus on a much smaller number of characters, just three in the continuation and similar three or four in the new series. Both are in the same category group sex. Previously I was writing principally in BDSM / Non Con. Having written pretty much all I wanted to write with the previous two interrelated series (one designed as a home for short stories, the other a lengthy 2 part novel.

The two new series are conceived in similar fashion. One to write a series of short story yarns around the three main characters, the other building a chapter by chapter novel.

For both but in particular the new novel series I find my chapters are coming out at just 1 or 2 lit pages in length. What a chapter is for though, I.e. advancing the story with a satisfying end to each. Of course the erotic writing tends not to lend itself to the trope of action / adventure writing leaving the reader hanging for the next chapter as a hook, but there is still a way to set up the “what next” for the new novel series in particular.

Early responses to both (I assume most ratings from the 20 plus followers i have) have been good. There have been some new bookmarks and a few new followers off the back of the latest series.

I had a recent post about writing fast or slow and basically with both new series the ideas come fast `and I can write most chapters in a day or two.

Short chapters are therefore not an issue I feel and I have read books that do contain short chapters which tends to draw you in as it is satisfying to end a reading session at the end of a chapter.

With the new novel series in particular the first part is a back story to the two new main characters to be introduced at the heart of the story. In the writing too one of the main characters will die. Having built up with what is turning to be a great new character that I think readers are already liking this will be hard. Hard in some ways to write and will be emotionally hard to read I imagine. But it will be an important event for the heart of the main series.

Short chapters therefore are not a bad thing. The good point too is I do get usually pretty quick submission for new stories with the 38 or so published stories to date.

Finally it is good to be back writing and submitting again in Lit.

Brutal One

 

[SimonDoom]

If you are satisfied with the way it's going AND you find that the way you do it keeps you writing, then keep doing it that way.

 

[MrPixel]

Personally, I find short chapters more comfortable, and maintain my interest to the end. Truthfully, my interest in a story here - standalone or a chapter - wanes if there are more than 3 LitE pages.

OTOH, is there a "bookmark" feature I'm missing? Something that lets you resume reading a story at a specific point after leaving the site or even quitting your browser?

 

[XerXesXu]

Personally, I find short chapters more comfortable, and maintain my interest to the end. Truthfully, my interest in a story here - standalone or a chapter - wanes if there are more than 3 LitE pages.

OTOH, is there a "bookmark" feature I'm missing? Something that lets you resume reading a story at a specific point after leaving the site or even quitting your browser?

The bookmark bar in your browser'll return you to your current page.

 

[KeithD]

If you take into account that traditionally, in the mainstream, a standard chapter was considered to be 5,000 words, two Lit. pages per chapter would be just fine.