Request from a reader to writers of multi-part stories.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Most of you probably know I don't like starting to read multi-part stories until the last part has been posted. Not just WIPs but ones where the writer insists that the story is complete, they just haven't got time to post all the chapters. I got caught like that 5 or 6 years ago in another fandom. They posted three parts of what they insisted was a five parter, but they wouldn't have time to post the last two parts until the weekend. They didn't say which weekend and I'm still waiting.

So my request is for links backwards and forwards between the separate chapters. When several of you are doing it in one community it can get difficult for your readers to find all the parts that belong together in the right order. So being able to click on a link to find the next piece would make things so much easier.

This is just me trying to off load the effort onto someone else, instead of doing it myself. I don't actually know how much work it would cause you all. :-)

Comments

[avery11.livejournal.com]

It's a valid and timely request. I've only written two multi-part stories, one on my own and one with Spikesgirl. Both have links that take the reader to the next segment. There you go--that's one writer taken care of already!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Except for posting "The Oubliette," I stopped posting multi-part stories and WIP's a while ago on LJ as they're just too much trouble to deal with and even with links, they can get 'lost in the shuffle.'
" The Oubliette "was a WIP by circumstance and not by intention as quite a few readers asked for the story to be continued. As it was based on a weekly Picfic prompt, I thought it a challenge to continue with that; though I had to wait each week to add to the story for that reason. Readers had to wait, but so did I.

In the past I posted links to each chapter in my multi-part fics but didn't think it necessary for this particular story since "The Oubliette" was posted like clockwork on Tuesdays as part of the Picfic challenge. One would only have to click on Tuesday on the site calendar to get to each part of the story.

So I hope that didn't cause you any concern at least with my fic.

BTW I never post stories and leave them unfinished. I've been in the same boat as you, getting interested in a story only to have it abandoned by the writer. Very frustrating.

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Actually, Reapermum, I find it mildly annoying to post multi-chapter stories here; I don't think the site supports it. I post to AO3 and provide a link here. That way you don't have to hunt for previous chapters.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I try to post a link to the chapters as the story progresses. If you have any stories in mind I would be happy to try and help you out. I also apologize in advance for the unfinished story I have on ff.net that started on New Years. I really am going to finish that one :o

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I don't really post WIPs, but I often have stories that are longer so require multiple posts here on LJ. Though such story "parts" are always posted one right after the other on the same day, I still always put "forward links", e.g., a link at the end of post1 that goes to post2, a link at the end of post2 to go to post3, etc.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I found the Oubliette worked as self contained chapters so I could keep up with that one.

Actually this is a very good fandom for story presentation. Everyone can either spell or knows how to use a spellchecker/dictionary. And breaks text up into paragraphs to avoid great boring blocks of words. Typos I can forgive, but if you can't even be bothered to run a spellchecker I can't be bothered to read you.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

That's another answer to my problem. I like reading on AO3, the layout is clean and the navigation easy.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Good, glad you had no problems keeping up with it.

What fandom are you talking about, would love to check it out.

Hmmm, "Everyone can either spell or knows how to use a spellchecker/dictionary. And breaks text up into paragraphs to avoid great boring blocks of words. Typos I can forgive, but if you can't even be bothered to run a spellchecker" Yes can hear you on that!!!

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

It wasn't actually anything specifically here that caused me to post, so I hope I haven't upset people. But I thought if I mention it in one place I ought to mention it in others.

Don't feel you have to rush the one on ff.net I'm waiting for it to come to the top of the list with a Complete marker on the summary. Then I start reading from the begining. :-)

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

This is a nice fandom, writers take care of their readers with good spelling, formatting and completing stories.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

It's a good reminder that links are very important. It's tedious because you have to update the previous entry as well as getting the link for that one onto the newest. Tags are a good way to get to a specific writer, so you always have that to help out as well.