Hi! I don’t know if this is the right place for this but here goes. So I’m having some doubt about some writing I’m doing. I usually write one shot short stories, but I’m interested in trying my hand at writing longer stuff.
After writing the first chapter, I guess I feel like it has some issues, and I was wondering if anyone would want to test read it and give some feedback? The chapter is about 3151 words long.
I’m worried about the pacing, like if I spent too much time on certain plot points. Also wondering if I take too long to get to the transformation.
If someone is interested, please let me know. I’ll be open to any feedback you have. Thanks! XOXO
Comments
Just do it!
to borrow a well used slogan.
If you don't try then you won't know if your idea translates from a short story to a longer one.
Then... another phrase
"Practice makes Perfect"
Pacing is hard to perfect but TBH for most readers of this site, it does not matter one little bit.
Give it a try. Get some reaction and if it is truly bad then ask Erin and she'll delete it.
Samantha
Thanks
One way or another, I’m going to post it eventually. Might just agonize over it for a while first.
Whatever you do you will
Whatever you do you will receive criticism. I write 1000-1500 word stories. I get told they are too short. I often feel pressure to add to them. Almost evey time I do the subsequent chapters do not get the appreciation that the first did.
Writing a long setup sometimes loses the reader. Many platforms like these story sites are not the best for novel length stories. What I'm saying is if you put it on here and don't get the reaction you want, please don't take it to heart. I just means they hare probably not your target readers.
Leeanna
Writing longer stories
There is an art to it.
You have to keep the reader wanting more. One way is to learn how the cliffhanger works.
However, taking a short story and making it longer does not always work because your original piece has come to a logical conclusion. Most of the important loose ends have been tidied away. Much of the time, the cries for 'more' are because the reader has become involved with one or more of the characters. By involved I mean related to, empathised with etc.
There is nothing wrong in taking those central characters and developing a new and longer story around them. The grandmistress of this was Agatha Christie. With Miss Marple and St Mary Meade... she had a perfect base from which to write stories. (many other writers do the same)
Samantha
Chapters
One of my favorite authors once said a chapter can always be any length you want it to be.
When I first started writing chapters, I always tried to make them ten to twelve pages long.
Now they vary between four to seven pages sometimes.
If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
― Toni Morrison
Stories
Readers do have a clock inside their heads. The good news is -- as the author you have some control over that clock.
For example -- the timing of when the transformation will occur depends highly on what kind of story you're writing. If the transformation is the change you want your protagonist to achieve the transformation should be at the end of the story. If the transformation is at the jumping off point of a great adventure, the transformation should occur five to seven percent into the story.
There are those who believe writing is highly formuliac. There are probably more who believe writing is all about soul-searching without any rules.
I believe readers' enjoyment is highly dependent on stimulus response chains that are continuous through the entire story. Let the reader guess what will happen next and feel good when they get it right and amused when they get it wrong.
I've worked with dozens of writers on BC over the more than two decades I'm been here. Send me a PM if interested. No cost.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)