Series - Short or Long?

[UntoldDepths]

I’ve published a couple of stories on here. I was wondering what the thoughts were on series length? Do you find people lose interest, by the time you reach episode x, or do you find people stay with it?
I’d expect numbers to fall over time, but is it like a sine wave, where stories can come to the fore, even after a few years of publishing?
I guess the question is, is there an optimum number of parts to a story?

 

[ElectricBlue]

I’ve published a couple of stories on here. I was wondering what the thoughts were on series length? Do you find people lose interest, by the time you reach episode x, or do you find people stay with it?

Depends whether or not you keep the story interesting. The longest series I'm aware of is a million words plus. I'd never read it, but obviously the author keeps going because it's being read.

I’d expect numbers to fall over time, but is it like a sine wave, where stories can come to the fore, even after a few years of publishing?

Chaptered stories see a natural drop over the first three chapters, then a long tail to the last chapter.

If you keep writing, you'll see your back catalogue keeps being read. If you don't keep releasing content, then I suspect your story will peak early, then be forgotten. Unless it's very good, and is in a Hall of Fame.

I published a novel length story years ago, which reached a thousand Views on the last chapter after a year. It's just ticked over 4000. It's a steady state growth, with spurts every time I publish something new.

I guess the question is, is there an optimum number of parts to a story?

No.

The optimum chapter length, though, whenever that question gets asked, is about 2 - 4 Lit pages (7500 - 15000 words). But that's a separate question.

 

[UntoldDepths]

The chapter length info is helpful. Ta.

 

[Stanfield2025]

I’ve published a couple of stories on here. I was wondering what the thoughts were on series length? Do you find people lose interest, by the time you reach episode x, or do you find people stay with it?
I’d expect numbers to fall over time, but is it like a sine wave, where stories can come to the fore, even after a few years of publishing?
I guess the question is, is there an optimum number of parts to a story?

I'm doing a series right now, and numbers fell right after chapter 1 (I've read that usually chapter 1s get a steep drop-off, so this is probably part of that usual pattern) but I'm still gaining a few followers. I've gained a few likes in my later chapters. So I know that interest can still be kept after at least five chapters of consistent publishing.

 

[UntoldDepths]

Good news. BTW, it’s not the glory I’m after. I just don’t want to waste time, flogging a dead duck. Which, ironically, is the plot of my next story.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I encourage you to read this how-to article.

It will help you understand the difference between writing a series and writing serially.

 

[UntoldDepths]

Okay. I’ll have a look.