Traditional Chapters vs Episodes

[FlyontheWall99]

I'm back with another question for all the authors out there. I've been writing for some time now, but only submitting to Literotica for about three or four months. As such I'm still finding myself and the reader/author community and feeling out a favourite style.

Of late I have been writing a series in the traditional chapter format (The Making of a Film Star series) which as such involves the same characters and the story generally builds on itself with each passing chapter. That is what I consider a traditional chapter, like any other form of story writing really .....

The other style I have just discovered and am having some fun with is the "episodic" style. In my books that is where there is a nuifying theme but generally all the stories are stand alone. There is no real history built up in the various episodes, more a collection of different situations and new characters interacting with the subject.

What I'm wondering is whether any other writers out there have tried the episodic style and if so what kind of experiences have they had with it.

I would imagine that it is favourable to the bulk of the reader community because they don't need to remember and history or depth in a character, just enjoy the story for what it is.

Does anyone else think that this is a good style??? Or one that works??? Or is it a bad idea that is doomed to crash and burn???

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

 

[Alex756]

I do both

I think both have their place. It just depends on how the story has to be told.

If characters themselves are carried over and not just a setting I think even 'episodes' carry history, just with more of a stand alone quality. I mean haven't we all watched TV shows where a character developes as the seris goes on?

As long as its well written, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a reader to read multiple chapters which really are best of read in order.

MaxSebastian has one of my favorite works on Lit in many chapters and its worth reading in order, very worth reading, and had it been done in any other way I don't think it would have been as compelling.

One of my favorite Authors (HP Lovecraft) wrote much more disconnectedly, and his whole Mythos was pretty much a bunch of short stories with some carry over some developement but each story could stand alone ... but together they were much much more than the individuals.

Alex756

 

[FlyontheWall99]

The reason I ask is of course because I am writing an episodic series and I have really gotten into it. I find that I'm really excited about writing again after a little bit of a lay off. I still want to write another chapter or two for my existing series, but sometimes I look at it and think I've got to get all the history right and carry it over.

With an episodic series I just have to stay true to the central character and her surrounding circumstances, much less to worry about and tease out of a story than managing a whole range of characters and background.

I also have to talk to the powers that be about changing the numbering system for my episodic series. I don't want it to be labelled as Chapters as is the standard because to me that makes a reader feel obligated to read the preceding work, or give it a miss. That raises a whole other dilemma I have to work out myself I guess ....

 

[Alex756]

I am inmitating a episodic Lit thing called Faetopia (sp?) with starting things with seris name : episode title

Hence my demonology seris will be alot of loosly connected stories set in the same world.

The Fae stuff is even written by differant authors, its really cool how that many poeple have used the same universe.

Alex756

 

[FlyontheWall99]

How does that work??

I would imagine that working with other writers would be a bit of a chore. I can't see myself at this stage wanting to contribure to a series written by a host of people, purely because of consistency. IMO it would be hard to get a uniform feel to a piece of writing if bits are from different people .....

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

 

[Alex756]

How does that work??

I would imagine that working with other writers would be a bit of a chore. I can't see myself at this stage wanting to contribure to a series written by a host of people, purely because of consistency. IMO it would be hard to get a uniform feel to a piece of writing if bits are from different people .....

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

I thinkt the reason it works with Fae is becasue there is sooo much of it out there. The original author really developed it and started a real fanbase out there, then he threw it open to other people writing in the same world if they wanted.

Its kinda like those anthologies where a bunch of authors write in the basic world of sometone they all respect I don't think its ever something that can be planned but just something that happens, my demon thing is just to indicate they are all mine in the same world, I just thought the Fae thing was really interesting.

Alex756

 

[gauchecritic]

I t hink you can probably combine the two things in one 'serial'.

Slightly more difficult but as Alex said lots of TV shows do the same thing.

Each standalone story can have the same characters but don't necessarily follow a linear storyline.

Having said that one of my pet peeves about these serials is that they often disregard thier own history altogether.

This is where the problem lies. If you use a previous story to influence a succeeding story you still have to make it understandable and independent.

I've enjoyed a serialised story and introduced characters to stand front stage in later episodes. Whether they stand as alone as I think they do I can't say because I know their entire history written and unwritten.

Gauche

 

[FlyontheWall99]

I'm taking your concerns into account gauchecritic. I've noticed that too about some serials, that they are just a jumble with maybe one identifiable character.

In my upcoming series it is going to revolve around one character and her exploits, but will very gradually build up some history and depth through each episode. I don't want to have a glaring contradiction in the stories, but at the sametime I don't want the history to become an anchor on my character and thus have to incorporate some historical tidbit to each new story.

I think where some people get lost is if there is a fork in the road. Where one story throughs the whole thing open and the character can develop in one way, but the author develops them in two different ways ....

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

 

[MathGirl]

What I'm wondering is whether any other writers out there have tried the episodic style and if so what kind of experiences have they had with it.

Dear FW,
I label my stuff "Part 1, Part 2" etc. That's because it's composed of ..... well ..... parts. Call them chapters, episodes, parts, whatever. It also makes it unnecessary to think up a new title for each one.
MG
Ps. Under your AV, it says "Location: Monte Carlo." Isn't it a little uncomfortable living in a Chevrolet? Hope that question isn't too personal.

 

[Guest]

I didn't intend my stories (almost finished w/6th) to be called chapters but it's OK now. I have one main character and a few recurring minor ones plus new ones in each episode. Basically they're about a sex-worker in Tokyo and her various clients and a few assorted others regular persons in her life.

After the first two were posted I rec'd criticism about not explaining why the main char. was doing sex work, but as I write more episodes I do flashback type stories. It's working for me, but I have no idea if more than a few readers like it, which is Ok because I really do only want to please myself and one other reader.

Re. Gauche's note, I do have to keep reviewing the past stories to be sure there's a continuity. I'll probably miss something sometime but mostly I keep all the facts straight. I actually did not intend to write more than three episodes but I have grown fond of my character and keep filling in her life.

Perdita

 

[FlyontheWall99]

Dear FW,
I label my stuff "Part 1, Part 2" etc. That's because it's composed of ..... well ..... parts. Call them chapters, episodes, parts, whatever. It also makes it unnecessary to think up a new title for each one.
MG
Ps. Under your AV, it says "Location: Monte Carlo." Isn't it a little uncomfortable living in a Chevrolet? Hope that question isn't too personal.

Not half as comfortable as living in Monaco!!!

I have to say my just posted story "Lesbian Heated Showers" was labelled as part 1 of two parts (the second still pending). But the powers that be have changed it to Chapter 01 when posted. I don't have a grudge with that, because the story is only going as far as those two "chapters," "parts," or whatever else.

I'm hoping to introduce a new style numbering to my new episodic series which I hope is more conducive to readers who aren't interested in reading multiple chapters but can enjoy the story for what it is. A one off situation ....

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I prefer chapters because I prefer to get into my characters head's and give them more depth. That way, the relationship that began in chapter 1 gets a chance to develop, grow, and be tested before resolving in chapter 5.

 

[destinie21]

I stick to chapters because it's almost impossible to write episodes (for me anyway) where the charcters need no history or where they would make no references to the previous installment. Also I usually write a portion of the story and submit it before going on to the next part so my one story wont end up being 10 lit pages long. Also this method allows me not to get burnt out on one story. I alternate to keep things fresh.