Story length

[Carnevil9]

if the story is good with a well developed plot and a good flow to it, no one cares how long it is.

That's true, but you never know that going in. If it is an unknown author and there are no hints that it will be remarkable, I tend to pass on anything over two pages.

Okay, why is my post at the top of this thread? It was the second reply!

 

[damppanties]

if the story is good with a well developed plot and a good flow to it, no one cares how long it is.

I do. About the first thing I'll do with a new story is check how many pages it is. If it's more than 2, then sometimes I let it go unless it's recommended by someone. Guess I'm lazy.

 

[S-Des]

Okay, why is my post at the top of this thread? It was the second reply!

I just noticed that...

I'm a tireless crusader (i.e. nag) about story length. Other than a 2 page stroke story I wrote for the last nude day contest, all of mine are at least 5 pages (usually more like 12-15). My favorite writer here posts stories longer than that (now in one single post, rather than as chapters) and gets tons of comments, views, and very high scores. I have found myself in a mood not to read a longer story before, but the shorter ones don't often make much of an impression. If I can read LOTR in two days (with lots of coffee ), I'm not going to be intimidated by a 5 page Lit story. You might lose some readers, but you'll gain ones who look for a story with depth and twists. Those are the readers I'm writing for anyway.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Some of my favorite stories are over 5 pages long.

As Dar said, so long as it is written well, no one really cares how long it is.

 

[jomar]

Now that I think about it, I've never been a big fan of short stories. I read novels but not a collection of short stories. so maybe that's why I tend to stick to 1-2 pages here unless an author grabs me. I think another factor is it's on a computer screen and not in my hand - I haven't printed a long story out yet though.

eta: It'll be an interesting time here until manu gets the code fixed and the posts get sorted out correctly.

 

[Nameless_Rose]

I already posted essentially the same thing in the story ideas section before realizing that I might be better off posting in the authors section, but oh well. Anyway, I was wondering what people's opinions are on the right length for a story. Do people loose interest if a story is over 5 or so pages, or do they prefer a longer story with more character/plot development and multiple sex scenes. Should longer stories be broken up into separate submissions to make them easier to read? I'm interested in hearing some opinions about what story lengths/formats people prefer.

P.S. The formatting for this post is all screwed up. It's rather frustrating. Sorry about that, everyone.

 

[Dar~]

I already posted essentially the same thing in the story ideas section before realizing that I might be better off posting in the authors section, but oh well. Anyway, I was wondering what people's opinions are on the right length for a story. Do people loose interest if a story is over 5 or so pages, or do they prefer a longer story with more character/plot development and multiple sex scenes. Should longer stories be broken up into separate submissions to make them easier to read? I'm interested in hearing some opinions about what story lengths/formats people prefer.

if the story is good with a well developed plot and a good flow to it, no one cares how long it is.

 

[3113]

I wish this had been a multiple choice poll--because thought I *usually* read stories 2-5 pages, I *will* read stories that are longer if broken into parts. So I'd have picked both those choices if I'd been given the option.

 

[3113]

Do people loose interest if a story is over 5 or so pages, or do they prefer a longer story with more character/plot development and multiple sex scenes. Should longer stories be broken up into separate submissions to make them easier to read?

It's not that people lose interest in a story longer than 5 pages, as multi-chapter stories on this site can attest.

BUT, people often read stories when they can, like lunch hours or on break. And 5 lit pages (which is about 50 regular pages) is the most a lot of folk can manage in a sitting. Not to mention they are reading it off a computer screen which might tire the eyes, etc. So they might give up if they see that the story is going to run them 10 Lit pages. And they might look for stories or chapters that are under 5 pages. Also because they can read more lit stories that way. Three 2 page stories rather than just one 6 page story.

Hence, I do think longer stories should be broken up into chapters of no longer than about 5 chapters--though there are readers who can and will read more--especially, yes, if those pages involve very erotic and leisurely sex scenes.

As for which they prefer--lots of sex, characterization, plot...that's up in the air. Some want just a quick stroke story, some want a long, involved, plot-driven tale that has complex characters. Some want all that plus a lot of sex, others are willing to hold off on the sex if the characters and plot are well done. Which they want is often category dependent. For example, romance readers will accept a story with a lot more plot/character than sex.

 

[sullivan96]

people have complained about the length of my stories

two folks have said they were too short-and one was mean about it! i keep it short because the epic is dead...so to speak. I like things quick and to the point, it's part of my aesthetic.

 

[shereads]

Story length is irrelevent to me.

If I'm caught up in a story, I don't want it to end.

If a story hasn't grabbed me within the first minute or two, I don't wait to see how long it is.

 

[Grushenka]

I read for only one reason here, so unless something else about the writing grabs me, I'm out in two pages.

p.s. Nothing about the 'writing' has grabbed me yet on anything I've read here.

 

[shereads]

I read for only one reason here, so unless something else about the writing grabs me, I'm out in two pages.

p.s. Nothing about the 'writing' has grabbed me yet on anything I've read here.

You're reading the wrong writers, then. Literotica is not only an excellent source of free dirty stories; it's a testing ground for some talented people who gain confidence here, and then discover they take their writing serioiusly.

I get to say that with a straight face, because I have nothing of my own to recommend.

 

[starrkers]

I do. About the first thing I'll do with a new story is check how many pages it is. If it's more than 2, then sometimes I let it go unless it's recommended by someone. Guess I'm lazy.

That's pretty much me too, although I'll give a three pager a go, sometimes.

Man this thread's hard to follow!

 

[shereads]

Man this thread's hard to follow!

It's too long, for one thing.

 

[damppanties]

It's too long, for one thing.

Not yet, it isn't. I'm going to stop reading after 2 pages.

 

[starrkers]

Not yet, it isn't. I'm going to stop reading after 2 pages.

Don't think I'll give it the benefit for more than 2 pages this time. Not enough happening.

 

[Nameless_Rose]

cursed

Maybe my thread is just cursed