Thoughts on sequels!

[In Blue]

I have only started submitting stories to Literotica since the end of last year. With my first story was a pleasure to write and although I am still quite a novice, I felt the story could stretch a few more sequels. However some of the feed back I recieved was encouraging about the series, while a few felt that the final part failed to deliver.

When I submitted another story called "Admiration of Holly" I recieved quite a few piece of feedback, encouraging me to write a follow up to it.

So what I would like to discuss here is what the general opinion is towards stories with sequels. What makes a good story beg for additional parts, and what should it deliver to the reader.

All feed back is welcome.

In Blue

 

[Quixote]

I would also like to know if people actively set out to read squels by favourite authors, or if they just go on to the next new thing. I am also a novice but noticed that the first chapter of my series netted three times the votes as any of the others which have about the same amount (but have a higher ranking).

 

[In Blue]

fair point

My three part series was sort of the same, the first story was the most popular. Maybe readers lose interest in the same story, and prefer to read something new and freshly submitted.

Another possiblity is that when a reader sees a series, sometimes they find it off putting when all they what is a quick fix.

 

[Weird Harold]

I am also a novice but noticed that the first chapter of my series netted three times the votes as any of the others which have about the same amount (but have a higher ranking).

All I can base this on is my reading patterns, I can't really speak for everyone.

I will almost always read a "chapter one" if it sounds at all interesting. Whether I continue with the series depends on how well written the first chapter is.

If others follow that pattern, it would explain the higher totals on the first part and higher scores on the later parts. People who don't like the first part will vote on it and ignore the following parts. The following parts gain a built-in readership who are predisposed to like the story and will not vote negatively.

In Blue asked:

So what I would like to discuss here is what the general opinion is towards stories with sequels. What makes a good story beg for additional parts, and what should it deliver to the reader.

I personally prefer sequels to stories that were intended to have a sequel in the first place, rather than "stories that demand a sequel."

A story that "demands a sequel" is one where the author didn't wrap up his story properly. That is distinct from a story with likable characters readers would like to see another story about -- not a sequel, but a related story.

For the purposes of this discussion I consider a "sequel" as a continuation of the original story and not just any story using the same characters.

 

[Ask For More]

Well the second part of my "Never turn back" series has twice as many votes as the first part....even though the first part has an "E"!

Maybe an exception that proves the rule?

 

[In Blue]

Thanks!

Thanks for the input guys it is much appreciated. Its good to know how the rest of you view sequels.

 

[Samuari]

If the story is well written, I almost always want to know more, what happens next? It seems to me that if the genre has a fault, it is that the stories are often incompleat, unfinished. It is as if when the sex reachs its climax, the story does to. The other thing that happens is that the author loses focus, and the planned extra chapters just don't materalize. I am as guilty of this as anybody. Angel has been in rewrite mode for months, and I have 3 more episodes started, burt I have no idea what it will take to get me going.

 

[Bob Peale]

I have never intentionally written a sequel.

Now you may say, "But Bob, I don't think you have a single instance of a story on here." (Go on, say it; I can take it).

What I did learn early in my Literotica career was that Laurel watches her bandwidth . If I submitted a story that was too long, I notices a disclaimer that said "This story was divided into smaller parts for faster loading."

So, being the smart guy that I am, after I finish writing my story, I break it into chunks approximately 5 pages in length for "faster loading".

At least this way, Laurel doesn't have to fret about a logical place to make the cut, and people don't have to suffer through all 20 pages at one time.


Peace,
Bob