Unfinished stories

[PennLady]

I think what he was trying to say was "would the other two films have been RELEASED if the first one had tanked," even though they were all completed. I don't think it would have been that simple though.

Me either. Like I said, I think they would have released straight to video if nothing else. But I wonder if New Line had committed to release, no matter what.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Me either. Like I said, I think they would have released straight to video if nothing else. But I wonder if New Line had committed to release, no matter what.

Of course they did. It was their idea to make a trilogy. The money was already spent. The photography on all three films was done before the first was even released. They never could have made any of that back by going straight to video.

 

[PennLady]

Of course they did. It was their idea to make a trilogy. The money was already spent. The photography on all three films was done before the first was even released. They never could have made any of that back by going straight to video.

Well lucky them, I think they made the initial outlay and more back on just the first movie. I recall reading that the figure was $90 million for all three movies.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Well lucky them, I think they made the initial outlay and more back on just the first movie. I recall reading that the figure was $90 million for all three movies.

Closer to $270 million. Jackson kept the cost down by doing all filming in New Zealand, and using his own special effects company for most of the effects work. They filmed in as many as seven locations simultaneously over the 430 days of shooting.

 

[PennLady]

Closer to $270 million. Jackson kept the cost down by doing all filming in New Zealand, and using his own special effects company for most of the effects work. They filmed in as many as seven locations simultaneously over the 430 days of shooting.

Ah, I guess I was thinking $90 million per movie.

But to bring it back to the idea of unfinished stories, movies that are meant to be the first in a series often don't pan out, though in my experience those single movies are "stand-alones." Such as "The Golden Compass" and "Percy Jackson..." (didn't see the last one, perhaps it did have a cliffhanger). But the decisions to continue are based on the success of the first movie and made by studio executives, not the authors or directors (usually).

That's different than an author on Lit not finishing.

 

[JackLuis]

Guilty as charged your honor.

However in my defense, I do try to make every chapter 'end' with a shivering climax.

 

[BONNIEBREA]

That really depends on the author. Neil Gaiman mentioned in a recent commencement speech that "People keep working, in a freelance world... because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don't even need all three. Two out of three is fine." Douglas Adams famously said "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." (DA's editor took to moving into his house near deadline time, to oversee his work...) And there are plenty of other big-name authors who are notorious for missing deadlines by months or years.

Still, that tolerance is very much at the discretion of the publisher, and publishers aren't always lenient - even with BNAs.

That said: Lit authors don't contract to deliver a story and they don't receive any sort of advance, so I don't think the parallel really applies.

Sure there are authors (a very few) who can get away with it. It's like: Albert Pujols can wallow in a 9 for 74 slump and not go to the minors; but he's the exception rather than the rule. My view really is much more in relation to myself: how I view myself as a writer. Can I be professional enough to conceive a story and carry it through to completion? Or am I a flailing amateur without a clue as to what my goal is or how to get there? I'm willing to put in the effort to be the former.

Plenty of TV series get axed mid-season, if the network decides it's not worth their while - look at 'Firefly' or 'Father of the Pride', to name but two. The network and its writers may well be contractually obliged to one another, but there's no such obligation to the viewers.

But those series don't get cancelled because the production company just doesn't bother to make an episode. And viewers never turn on the series at the appointed hour and simply find nothing there.

They sure are, and if this thread prompts would-be authors to be more realistic about their plans to write a series I'd be delighted. (I can't say I like our chances, but we can hope ;-)

Amen!

 

[LuvinWritin]

A couple of comments

I love the debate but I do have a couple of comments.

1st. The LOTR issue that everyone is talking about is the movies. The books came out half a century ago. New Line was commited to the entire series due to the immense popularity of the books. I may be wrong but I think parts of the second movie were filmed before the release of the first.

2nd. The comment about soap operas is really different than multipart stories. Soap operas are more like chain stories than multi-chapter stories.

3rd. Please remember that we are all amature writers. We don't want to impede the fresh creativity that these authors have with a strict sets of rules. But at the same time we need to understand the needs of the audience we want to subscribe to us. That is why I think Literotica needs to be involved in this.

Do you remember your highschool musicals? We applauded thier effort but we still didn't like it when they sang flat.

 

[sr71plt]

That is why I think Literotica needs to be involved in this.

When you've been here for a while, I think you'll "get" that there is very little chance this is gonna happen. There isn't even much chance they know about this discussion--or care to know.

 

[PennLady]

I love the debate but I do have a couple of comments.

1st. The LOTR issue that everyone is talking about is the movies. The books came out half a century ago. New Line was commited to the entire series due to the immense popularity of the books. I may be wrong but I think parts of the second movie were filmed before the release of the first.

As others have said, all three movies were filmed at the same time, over something like eighteen months. And the business of making and marketing movies is totally different than what we're doing here.

3rd. Please remember that we are all amature writers. We don't want to impede the fresh creativity that these authors have with a strict sets of rules. But at the same time we need to understand the needs of the audience we want to subscribe to us. That is why I think Literotica needs to be involved in this.

If you think Lit needs to be involved, then send a PM to Laurel and/or Manu, who own and run the site. They don't peruse the forums, so don't expect something mentioned necessarily gets their attention. But if you do PM, don't expect action, immediate or otherwise.

 

[SweetDreemz]

I get really tired of reading multi chapter unfinished stories. I always check to make sure the last chapter in a series is at least a couple of years old but that obviously isn't going to guarantee the story is complete. The got to ch. 10 of the last one I read and then it just dropped. Has anyone addressed this problem. I had a couple of suggestions but I'm not sure that they would fit in with the framework of how Literotica is run.

I never thought about this frustration from the readers point of view. I always try to publish chapters that are satisfying on their own, but hold promise for even more. That way, readers can enjoy what's there (assuming they like the story), yet they'll want to read the next chapter.

My Private Sex Party series is my favorite story I've written. The story is complete now, but I'm still adding standalone sequels based on the characters from that series. They were all highly rates, as far as votes and number of favorites. I didn't get any comments from people who were frustrated it wasn't finished, but maybe because those people wouldn't even start it.

Does your frustration at this pet peeve go away if each chapter has a satisfying conclusion?

 

[spikedlee]

put your money where your mouth is

I get really tired of reading multi chapter unfinished stories. I always check to make sure the last chapter in a series is at least a couple of years old but that obviously isn't going to guarantee the story is complete. The got to ch. 10 of the last one I read and then it just dropped. Has anyone addressed this problem. I had a couple of suggestions but I'm not sure that they would fit in with the framework of how Literotica is run.

There are several authors here that have unfinished stories and the storyline, I find, so erotic that all manner of future scenarios pop into mind. Some I've even continued to write MYSELF. I figure it might jumpstart the author with some ideas so I've even sent the stories and comments directly to the authors. I never hear back. copyright being what it is, I'm afraid to submit something like (insert unfinished or continued story here) chapter (next)
but although not the original, it'd be fun sharing and might even work for some of us,
would I be rejected or kicked out for something like that
I'd give original author the credit and warn readers of course.

 

[Swilly]

I try to write stories in a way that I can always add to them if I'd like to. That doesn't mean I will. As some have pointed out, only the death of the main characters ends a story. Even then, you could always go back and fill in blanks. That being said, I have always had some completion or resolution. I do get requests to continue a story line though. I guess I'm doing it right if people want more.

 

[Bramblethorn]

...that'll teach me not to check posting dates for stuff that I've ALREADY REPLIED TO. Ignore me, going back to bed

 

[robertreams]

I would like to speak to the other side of this issue. I have unfinished stories on Lit. That is because my readers keep demanding more and more chapters. The idea of adding chapters was theirs not mine. Now I am busy publishing stories for sale and I still believe I will get back to adding to or finishing those stories. What is wrong with writing serialized stories. Twain did it. O Henry did it. Dickens did it. in fact, many many writers have begun their careers in such fashion. At the point where I am, my readers demand for more and more has outstripped my ability to write the stories. Everyone will have to be patient.

It is patience, no impatience that is the virtue.

I used to pay my quarter every Saturday at the movies to see the next adventure of Tom Mix, or Flash Gordon. i looked forward avidly o the next episode and so should you. If the experience is so bad, why read ten episodes before you discover that it ends at ten?

Oh by the way. I am now a professional. I have so far sold 4 books, for a total of made $9.46

Woo HOO

 

[sr71plt]

No one here can put a gun to your head to add to stories, so any decision to add to them is yours, not your readers'.

 

[PennLady]

I would like to speak to the other side of this issue. I have unfinished stories on Lit. That is because my readers keep demanding more and more chapters. The idea of adding chapters was theirs not mine.

The idea may be theirs, but the decision to continue adding is yours. I've had people ask/beg/demand more chapters, but I don't have anything to add to those stories, and so I don't write any more for them. If you have more to add, then by all means, go for it.

 

[robertreams]

Of course it is my decision. For many years I would not show my writing to anyone, but now i write, at least to some degree to please my readers. Am i supposed to say no to my adoring fans, I don't think so. Whaen Shakespeare was asked why he wrote he said "For Money". Well, I have made very little money so far, but one can hope that at least some adoring fans will become paying customers. Either way, if they want me, I am theirs!

 

[LOAnnie2]

You also have to consider not every unfinished story is the author being lazy or abandoning a story. I have a series of stories I started where the third chapter has been eluding me for years. I've written it around 10 times and deleted it every time for failing to live up to my expectations. Only in rewriting the first chapter (which I've yet to update here on Lit) did I get inspiration for overcoming my roadblock.

 

[sr71plt]

What I consider is that it isn't a story until it's finished, and my respect for the reader prompts me to finish the story before offering any part of it for publication.

Of course, there obviously are others hooked on the never ending "General Hospital" approach. I just think which it's going to be should be clearly marked in the first chapter so those who don't want to invest in something just rambling along won't get duped into doing so.

 

[robertreams]

I have stories that continue, I have stories that don't. The first story I ever serialized, I had no idea of writing a serial. I simply wrote a story and posted it. I thought that was it. Readers actually messaged me, commented, etc. More, please. So I decided to try. In the case of my civil war story (ies) I have put a huge amount of time and effort researching money, transportation, travel, civil war battles, and more, to make the stories a authentic as possible. So for some ignorant yokel to assume that the problem is my laziness is ludicrous. Read what you like. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT DON'T read it! My readers do not determine what I write but certianly can ask for what they want. And if I am able, I will give it to them, as soon as i am able.. So to all my adoring fans, don't be pissed off losers, be expectant readers. I'll get back to you. And, per your request, some stories may never end.

And to some of you: life is what happens when we are busy making other plans.

And to all the rest; you are not my readers so go fuck yourselves.

 

[49greg]

As a reader I try to do as one poster suggested and check the tag lines to see if there is a hint that the story is done. Plus I check dates. That way if it has been years I am ready to be left hanging if that's what happens. I have sent my share of feedback requests for continuations.

As I writer, even though I don't have that many stories posted, I do have a some of loose ends. But one has got such a low score and no recent requests to finish it that I may let it die. As for another, I just can't seem to come up with a good ending. In fact the last several chapters have been started in an attempt to finish it.

I fully intend to finish a couple of others, but so far I haven't been able to.

 

[49greg]

That's odd. Normally a second chapter has a higher score. First chapters in most series are lower because a lot of people may not like it and vote low.

Most of those same readers don;t come back to the second chapter, but the people who like it do so usually a higher score.

I doubt it is the writing, you said "type of sex" was their something "taboo" about it or something out of line with the category?

My experience is that subsequent chapters get lower scores, lower views and fewer votes. At least that's my impression. I would guess, from my own reading experience, that much of the subsequent chapter reading is done as a result for of a story tag search, or seeing the story in the "similar stories" box at the end of someone else's story. Then all chaps are read, constantly keeping the first chapter at a higher view number.