Word count for series

[Randemtask]

I have written a taboo peice about a mother and son.
https://www.literotica.com/s/sailor
It has received some nice feeback in the comments with some people saying it was too short and asking for it to continue. I have decided to do so. I'm just wondering what would be an acceptable word count for each instalment or does it not really matter?

 

[TheWritingGroup]

You'll get lots of advice that doesn't much agree. The one rule most seem to think is correct: anything much less than two Literotica pages (and isn't a 750-word story) is too short for most readers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I have written a taboo peice about a mother and son.
https://www.literotica.com/s/sailor
It has received some nice feeback in the comments with some people saying it was too short and asking for it to continue. I have decided to do so. I'm just wondering what would be an acceptable word count for each instalment or does it not really matter?

There's a general consensus, whenever this question is asked, that a sweet spot for a chapter length is 3 - 4 Lit pages (9k - 15k words). Long enough to be self-contained, especially if you're releasing the content as you write it, and to get a result from arousal, if that's what you're after.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have written a taboo peice about a mother and son.
https://www.literotica.com/s/sailor
It has received some nice feeback in the comments with some people saying it was too short and asking for it to continue. I have decided to do so. I'm just wondering what would be an acceptable word count for each instalment or does it not really matter?

I thought readers would be too intimidated by my 90,000 word novel, so split it into six parts of plus or minus 15,000 words. This also worked well with each of Parts I - V being either wholly at a given location, or also traveling toward it.

 

[anthrodisiac]

They should be however long they need to be, as long as they're in roughly self-contained units with good hooks at the end, or wrap up nicely. The goal is to want to entice the reader to bother with the next chapter, so you want to make sure it doesn't end super abruptly (pisses people off, so only do it if you're doing it intentionally for some effect) and makes the reader want to continue. Cliffhangers aren't the same as abrupt endings.

But if you're looking for ideal, then as has been mentioned, 3 - 5 pages seems pretty solid/common. That's where I'm at with my series. More because that's how long the chapters just end up being than because I'm trying to fit that page length, though.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I have written a taboo peice about a mother and son.
https://www.literotica.com/s/sailor
It has received some nice feeback in the comments with some people saying it was too short and asking for it to continue. I have decided to do so. I'm just wondering what would be an acceptable word count for each instalment or does it not really matter?

It seems that I keep giving the same advice lately.

Figure out what it is that you are writing. Do you intend to create a story comprised of several pieces (chapters) that you publish individually until the completed work is all out there, or do you plan to create a series of related stories that each stands on its own, like the one you linked to?

Understanding what you are trying to create will be critical to guiding you in many facets, including how to structure each episode. Chapters feed off of each other for clarity and purpose. They should have a flow that will naturally draw the reader from the end of one to the beginning of the next. A series episode, on the other hand, will have its own beginning, middle, and end that leaves readers satisfied with what they read, but interested in reading more.

Where the length of an episode is concerned, readers will be more inclined to accept chapters that are only one or two Lit pages long if they can see that they are only reading part of the story each time in sequence. A series episode will generally have different expectations since it has to include all the elements that allow it to stand on its own.

I no longer publish individual chapters, but when I did, they typically were between 5K and 9K words (2-3 Lit pages). My series stories here average 5 Lit pages.

 

[Rob_Royale]

One thing I would recommend is to more diligent when editing. Find a beta reader. When the second word in your story is an error, it doesn't send a good message to the reader that it's worth continuing.

 

[Randemtask]

Thank you to everyone for your input. As I said initially, a had initially intended for the Sailor story be a one off, but as people requested more, I am working on Part 2. I do appreciate everyone's assistance on the matter, I think that the majority of readers here come to "get off", so that's why I haven't dragged out too much of a back story and fillers. More meat than veg, you might say.