When are does a Story have too many Chapters?

[FlyontheWall99]

When does a Story have too many Chapters?

It's an interesting question, when does a story end? When does a story have too many Chapters?

I'm asking it because I'm in the midst of writing my first series, "The Making of a Film Star" which I'm writing a Chapter Four for (?) right now.

It seems that the first two chapters have received some support in terms of views and votes. I have got some nice messages from readers about them, including requests to keep it going and suggestions as to what the characters can do next.

Me being me, I promised to write a fifth chapter incorporating some of the suggestions. For the most part I write solely for my self and a couple of close friends who like to read my stuff, but now I'm writing to please strangers ..... a very peculiar situation.

So I was wondering if what other people thought about reader requests and how they felt as authors and readers about stories which lead to a series. I've read a few people generally don't go beyond Chapter 2. Personally I quite like reading a long series that stays true to the characters, I find it rewarding, rather than reading copious amounts of new/different works.

Just a thought

Back to writing ....

Fly

Oh yeah, here are the links to my "Making of a Film Star" series:

Chapter 1 = www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=90*** that's 90*** (can't get the bugger to show up)
Chapter 2 = www.literotica.com:81/stories/showstory.php?id=97530
Chapter 3= currently pending
Chapter 4= on my desktop
Chapter 5= in my mind
Chapter 6 = not thinking that far ahead ....

 

[Chicklet]

A story ends when it is over. I have tried to write stories in chapters, and, well, it drags on at times. If I'd written it all out at once, instead of promising myself that I'd write another chapter, my story might have ended. As it is, most of them just trail off into nothingness.

Lately I've been excited about "episodes" - stories using the same characters that you know and love, but different situations that can keep each story its own story. There's nothing worse than getting to the exciting part of a story and having to go find the next chapter.

mho.

just keep writing until you're done.

-Chicklet

 

[FlyontheWall99]

Ahh bugger it, I've edited that first post like 12 times and I can't get the first link to work, so stuff it ....

Back to writing ...

Fly

And I managed to stuff the thread name, jeez this posting is more frustrating than writing.

 

[KillerMuffin]

It has too many chapters when you start another one after the story is over.

A story should be like a girl's skirt, short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover the subject.

 

[Chicklet]

Ahh bugger it, I've edited that first post like 12 times and I can't get the first link to work, so stuff it ....

there are some links to Lit that just don't seem to work. Don't feel bad about it = )

You might solve that problem just by linking us to your member page, though...

 

[snooper]

I never cease to be amazed by people who can start to write a story without knowing exactly where it is going, and where it will end. This thread is called a "plot", and to my mind is absolutely essential to the craft of writing.

 

[Why]

A story needs a beginning and a point which you are aiming for i.e. an end.

You can brainstrom an outline/plot line, but often when it comes down to writing the beast, it decides to go left, when you wanted it to go right. It happens to every author.

Thing it to whip the bugger back to the right path or at least get it going in the direction of your conclusion, then again

 

[FlyontheWall99]

I can never just write off the top of my head, I hate to see where it ended up, probably like a greatest hits album with a bit fo everything and some seriously worn out characters some 100 pages later ....

As far as writing extra Chapters I have tried to write them back to back, but I find it better to go on to some other project then come back to the next Chapter. Saying that I just finished a two parter which started as a one off but ended up growing to big for it's own good ....

I'm also working on an episodic series which I find a lot easier because it is just a different scenario with one character carried over. Nice and simple ....

And hopefully this link works:

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=194521

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've seen *BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPING out the name of a fellow Lit-author* write stories like "Katie's Sex Adventures, ch. 42", and that makes me avoid the person altogether.

To me, an author who goes on and on about the same character, instead of inventing new ones, screams of boredom and lack of imagination.

 

[FlyontheWall99]

So I'll stop at Chapter 41 then ....

 

[Alex756]

I think characters know when they are done.

Most of my stories will never have a second part added to them.

However, the exceptions are what make responding to this interesting. I have one story, forst 3 chapters up, 4 and 5 almost done and 6-9 ... I know what needs to happen. Then the story is DONE, fin, over ....no desire to write more.

I have another story... Its writing itself very oddly. Everyone little while another piece of it come to mind. I -think- I know where it wants to go, and while not excaclty chapters, piece 3 happened to br writen first, then piece one, pie two got started, piece 5 is done, piece 4 is a pretty full idea and piece 6 is almost ready to be writen, then the only thing after that is the conclusion of piece 7. When I started writing this, piece 3 was an odd idea that popped into the head and I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it, then piece 1 just demanded I write it one night. Obviously with how it isn't progressing linearly, none of it is up yet, althought a few people have read the pieces soo far.

Some stories are just long, some are short. But when an author has like 10 stories and all of them are 20+ chapter works and then when you look at them the chapters are all 1 lit page ...*shrug* I don't get that. Heck for my little fan fic piece ch 4 & 5 are short so I'm posting them together. by short I mean probbaly a page and a half each, so together they'll be about a 3 pager

YAA
Alex756

 

[deliciously_naughty]

My short stories are usually 5 chapters if I do a serialization...

Novels are another matter

 

[FlyontheWall99]

Actually it's a good point when it comes to Chapters about length. I get frustrated when I read a long series and the Chapter has been put together for no other reason than the author can no longer be bothered constructing the characters, the scene or an introduction. They are one page because they jump into sex after the second paragraph.

I'm not sure why this is, one can only speculate, but maybe it's because the author feels "obligated" to write for dedicated readers, or some as trivial as boosting their submission count.

In the end I only write for my own enjoyment, and I'll stop a series when it suits me, when I don't want to write it anymore, I'm sick of the characters or whatever other reason jumps into my head.

Of course it is nice to get reader suggestions for sequels, that has tempted me to extend some of my existing stories.

Back to writing ....

Fly ...

Chapter 3 of "The Making of a Film Star" has just be posted:
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=98633