If you hadn't noticed, I started posting a new story, but I am having some issues.
Here is my problem. I think the story really should be a stand alone story. I think it would work better that way. The problem is that length has gotten the best of me and I haven't even finished writing the whole thing yet. I think in the end it will be under 30k words, but feel as if that may be too much for one post (I think post should be kept under 10k and usually strive for 5k). Maybe its because I view Big Closet more like a magazine than a library though.
What do you gals and guys think though. Should I just post the story in one big chunk or break it up. Maybe I can do both, post it as chunks and then do a solo post later.
Comments
30K Is A Bit Hefty
Katie,
You might, if you can find convenient places to break it, keep it at around 3000-5000 words for each posting. That works well for me.
Portia
IMHO
I prefer 7,500-8,000 words in a post myself. I feel 5,000 or less is too short, its like going to a steakhouse and getting one of those silver dollar-size steaks. You can't even get a taste of the flavor before you're done. If I see that the average post for a story is less than 5,000 words, I'll just let them build up and read the story in chunks, two or three at a time.
And if a story consistently runs over 10,000-12,000 words I'll save them for late night insomnia situations.
Draw from that what you will.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
My preference?
Think "The Professor" length chapters... 100k characters.
Dayna.
Just use one word per post.
Just use one word per post.
Break up
I break into chapters of a few thousand words, but I always announce at the start that the story is completed, that it will comprise n parts and that I will be publishing each part at approximately daily intervals.
I think there are quite a few people who won't start reading a serial until it's complete because so often they never are.
By publishing daily, just for a few days you're up with Angharad, and you get people eagerly waiting for the next part to be published.
Help posting story advice
Do both.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Eeny meeny miney mo...
Different people have different preferences. 30k words may be pushing it a bit, but then again most of the first two books of Sara UK's "You Have It All Wrong" were around 20-25k each and the average Whateley story is 21k (Diane Castle's current average is more like 23k, although that's been reduced courtesy of Ayla 9, which is delivered in ~15k chunks - and there was once a 100k story posted in one go!).
So, if you can find a convenient break point (a cliffhanger usually works well!), 2x 15k posts would work, while as long as it's a one-off a single post for the whole lot would probably be accepted (although obviously you'd have to wait a bit longer for kudos / comments to appear).
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!