Why so few readers for Chain stories?

[Alex De Kok]

They're still stories by the people you enjoy reading elsewhere. Is it because you think you'll have to read them all to make sense of anything? Not necessarily so. I've only participated in two chains. The first was the 'Talisman' chain, where the link between the stories was the Talisman, and how it affected each writer's protagonist. My current effort is in the 'Magic in America' chain, where the magic is the only common link. There are three stories up in the chain so far.

The first, and an excellent job it is too, is dr_mabeuse's Keeper of the streets

The second is Black Tulip's The Sequoia Secret, a super tale with some excellent illustrations by Rhinoguy, and a real sting in the tail.

The third is my own story, Long Walker, about the search for a totem.

What prompted this query was the fact that despite my story posting yesterday, near the top of the 'New' list - two above Black Tulip's story, so she may have noticed the same - in 24 hours it has picked up the princely total of 13 votes. In fact, as of five minutes ago it's still near the top of the 'New' list, as only three stories have been added today - so far. A story of mine posted last Friday ('Rescuing Rhonda' - in Mature) picked up 400 votes in 24 hours, so why so few for a Chain story?

Is there an explanation?

Alex

 

[Liar]

Is there an explanation?

Think like a wanker, not like a writer.


Go to Literotica.com.
Choose a category that tickles your fancies.
It will not be Chain Stories.
Because you don't know what kind of kink a chain story will be about.
(Unless they don't read the category description and think it's bdsm deluxe.)
For all they know, a chain story can be "gay male erotic scat horror" or somehing similar that would be a turn-off for the average wanker.
And the risk of bumping into a turn-off when in a wanking mood will deterr a vast majority from seeking out chain stories whren there are so many other categories stacked with stories.

 

[elsol]

Sure there is...

Chain story carries the phantom of chain letter... bad juju.

But mostly... it's hard enough to get some consistency out of 1 writer, now we're talking multiple writers who can't even be in the same room?!?

Thanks but no thanks.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[TheEarl]

Well, thinking like a writer, I very rarely read chain stories. I understand what you're saying Alex, but whenever I think of chain stories, I think of one story in several chapters, each written by a different author. Styles could clash, directions of story could differ and you could be in the middle of a really good story only for it to be spoiled by a substandard chapter.

That's the idea I get from chain stories - you can't tell whether one's a continuing story, or whether there's just a common theme like the Magic in America ones. So I generally just stay out.

The Earl

 

[Alex De Kok]

Fair comments, guys, so thank you. Only my second contribution to a chain, and probably my last. Themed stories, which are posted in the relevant category, might be the way to go, but passing the word then becomes the problem.

For the record, I think the Doc's story would be either SF/Fantasy or Non-erotic, BT's would be in SF/Fantasy, while mine would be in Romance or possibly First Time - if there were any less sex in it, it would be in Non-erotic! They're all completely separate and independent stories, by the way, the only link being the 'Magic in America' theme. Mine set in the middle 1800s, the other two present day.

I'm still miffed at only 13 votes and 380 views, though. All three stories are worth more than that.

Alex

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Probably Magic In America shouldn't have been undertaken as a Chain Story, because it really isn't. It's more like a collection of Theme stories. Earl pretty much nailed it: a chain story is a sequential tale in which different authors take turns with different chapters. They're really more like what you see in the Chyoo section.

I took part in one other chain a couple of years ago, and the readership there wasn't much better, so I went into this one with eyes wide open. With my story being non-erotic, I didn't expect more than a handful of reads.

--Zoot

 

[Pure]

because they're of vastly uneven quality.

because they're incoherent as a whole

because they are not marketed well. e.g., 'here are 6 stories of increasingly bizarre anal sex'

my impression is that they are the output of a social gathering, like a song people sing together in the barroom. (because they enjoy doing it together) but (in the bar case) they don't expect other patrons to listen in admiration, nor do they try to sell the cd of it!.

 

[BlackShanglan]

What they said, really. I'm afraid all of those reservations are mine as well.

 

[impressive]

Probably Magic In America shouldn't have been undertaken as a Chain Story, because it really isn't. It's more like a collection of Theme stories.

Same with the "It's Just Sex" chain -- which is also cursed with lack of readers. There is one common character in the chain, but she is not central and is very un(der)developed until (I think) the upcoming final chapter.

Hell, not even all the participants in this chain have RVC'd one another. One should AT LEAST be able to count on that many votes, I would think.

I think Chain Stories would do better as a category if Lit maintained a descriptor page outlining the premise and then linked to each of the chapters and the forum discussion thread.

My 2 cents ...

 

[cantdog]

Doing them seems like a writerly thing. I might not be very writerly.

Magic In America started life as a theme thing, like the Rainy Day thing, but mutated into a chain, for reasons I don't understand. It has no link but a theme and the stories are not chapters in any way. That said, the two I read were good.