Temporarily closing a series - experience?

[Writer61]

In my current series, after a flurry of writing, I have published five stories. I have outlines for another five or so; however, it will take a couple of weeks before the next one is ready.

Instead of adding stories one by one, I am considering closing the series now and reopening it when all the stories are ready in around two months' time.

Does anybody have experience doing that? Was it good or bad?

 

[TheLobster]

In my current series, after a flurry of writing, I have published five stories. I have outlines for another five or so; however, it will take a couple of weeks before the next one is ready.

Instead of adding stories one by one, I am considering closing the series now and reopening it when all the stories are ready in around two months' time.

Does anybody have experience doing that? Was it good or bad?

If the series has already reached some kind of temporary closure, then it is an option. But I wouldn’t bother; two months is hardly a long enough delay to consider a series abandoned.

*eyes his own series, whose next part might need another month or so*

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Manually-controlled series are still in beta. I'd be afraid to touch a series more times than I had to.

--Annie

 

[StillStunned]

Manually-controlled series are still in beta. I'd be afraid to touch a series more times than I had to.

--Annie

I haven't had any issues. I've closed and opened my series "The Rivals" several times to add new stories.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I am considering closing the series now and reopening it when all the stories are ready in around two months' time.

Is there any reason to do so? Does it really matter? Would readers even notice?

 

[Writer61]

Is there any reason to do so? Does it really matter? Would readers even notice?

It is often said here that some readers do not begin a series until it is marked as complete.

 

[Writer61]

But I wouldn’t bother; two months is hardly a long enough delay to consider a series abandoned.

It might take longer than two months.

 

[AchtungNight]

Watch the cliffhangers. Not everyone appreciates them.

 

[iwatchus]

If there is not sufficient closure, I expect you will get complaints, both in comments and votes.

 

[Writer61]

Watch the cliffhangers. Not everyone appreciates them.

Good point. However, the series is episodic, so there are no cliffhangers to worry about.

 

[OldDog_NewTricks]

I don't want to take the thread off on a tangent, but may I ask a question?

I'm not an experienced writer (or even what I would consider an author), but can you explain what is meant by an "episodic series"? Is it a grouping of stories having the same main characters in different situations, but not following a specific timeline? Or is there a timeline involved culminating in an ending?

 

[Writer61]

I don't want to take the thread off on a tangent, but may I ask a question?

I'm not an experienced writer (or even what I would consider an author), but can you explain what is meant by an "episodic series"? Is it a grouping of stories having the same main characters in different situations, but not following a specific timeline? Or is there a timeline involved culminating in an ending?

NP

Having the same characters in different situations is essentially the definition of "episodic".

However, in this case, I do have a timeline, because some of the individual stories depend upon things and characters in earlier ones. I see it as a weak story arc.

 

[iwatchus]

I don't want to take the thread off on a tangent, but may I ask a question?

I'm not an experienced writer (or even what I would consider an author), but can you explain what is meant by an "episodic series"? Is it a grouping of stories having the same main characters in different situations, but not following a specific timeline? Or is there a timeline involved culminating in an ending?

Think of a TV series (like ST:TNG) that is made up of episodes, rather than a mini-series (like GOT)

 

[MrPixel]

Labelling a series as "completed" seems to me to be an informational tag more than anything else. Haven't determined if ticking the "completed" checkbox prevents the automatic series feature from adding series-named stories (even if you've selected "manual"!). I think this happened to one of my series, and I am unable to undo what the system added; the stories were (also!) added to another auto series, subsequently switched to manual.

Anyway, you can un-click "completed" at any time. IMO it has no functional effect, at least not an obvious one, and may or may not be revealing of the "beta" nature of series management.

It's glitchy, obviously.

 

[iwatchus]

Labelling a series as "completed" seems to me to be an informational tag more than anything else. Haven't determined if ticking the "completed" checkbox prevents the automatic series feature from adding series-named stories (even if you've selected "manual"!). I think this happened to one of my series, and I am unable to undo what the system added; the stories were (also!) added to another auto series, subsequently switched to manual.

Anyway, you can un-click "completed" at any time. IMO it has no functional effect, at least not an obvious one, and may or may not be revealing of the "beta" nature of series management.

It's glitchy, obviously.

I think it's intended to be reversible. Although intentionally temporarily closing probably violates the spirit of the completed tag. Mostly, some readers only want to read "completed" series. This makes more sense for non-episodic series. As a reader, it can be infuriating to start a series only to be left hanging. So I do think it serves a purpose for the readers.

The auto-series feature is somewhat glitchy at times and the moderation for series is silly -- why do they have to moderate creating series at all. Sure moderate the description, but create the series upon request.

 

[OldDog_NewTricks]

Thank you Writer61 and iwatchus for the info. I get it now.

One last question if I may. If an episodic series follows a timeline then there is probably an ending somewhere. But, if it is more like a TV series, how do you submit subsequent stories to keep them together in your stories list while you try to write and submit one off stories not related to the "series" in between "episodes" ?

 

[iwatchus]

I have a few spin off stories to my original series, which was closer to chapters than episodic, but somewhere between the two really. I may create a second series of connected stories. Right, I just update the description of the series to mention them. But I still have questions how I want to handle it.

 

[Britva415]

Is there any reason to do so? Does it really matter? Would readers even notice?

I don't think readers would notice or take it seriously.

@Writer61 I do think that closing the series is the wrong thing to do when you in fact do not intend to stop adding to it.

 

[Britva415]

how do you submit subsequent stories to keep them together in your stories list while you try to write and submit one off stories not related to the "series" in between "episodes" ?

Just... Don't add them to the series?

Give them a different title without any numbering, so that the auto-series feature can't grab them and insert them into the series, and don't use the manual-series feature to deliberately put the one-off in the series.

 

[Writer61]

One last question if I may. If an episodic series follows a timeline then there is probably an ending somewhere.

Yes, sort of, but I have structured my series to cover a period in the main character's life, and they don't lead to a denouement. In theory, I could open up the earlier series (effectively, Adam at university, and Adam's first experiences in Asia) and add more stories.

But, if it is more like a TV series, how do you submit subsequent stories to keep them together in your stories list while you try to write and submit one off stories not related to the "series" in between "episodes" ?

It is not a problem. Other stories are allocated to their own series or left as standalones, accordingly.

 

[Writer61]

I don't think readers would notice or take it seriously.

@Writer61 I do think that closing the series is the wrong thing to do when you in fact do not intend to stop adding to it.

Understand your position.

What do you see as the downside of such a course? Have you had a negative experience in doing this?

 

[Writer61]

Just... Don't add them to the series?

Give them a different title without any numbering, so that the auto-series feature can't grab them and insert them into the series, and don't use the manual-series feature to deliberately put the one-off in the series.

I have considered that, but a suitable break is at least two stories away.

 

[Britva415]

Have you had a negative experience in doing this?

No, but I haven't had a negative experience of not doing it.

 

[Britva415]

I have considered that, but a suitable break is at least two stories away.

That was addressed to someone else's question. Was it a question you also had?

 

[MillieDynamite]

I've abandoned a series at one site, but I didn't close it. I've had a lengthy delay in one series, but I won't close it. I like to keep them open for when I do want to revisit those characters.