So I am currently trying to decide if I should delete a thread from one of my stories. The thread in question was written by me and has 6 chapters in it, which is not a huge amount but I just kind of feel like it is going down a blind alley. I could leave the threads alone but I don't want to give people false hope that I will pick them up down the line since I know I won't not to mention the fact that they have not bee super popular. I can't even rewrite them since the direction they take the story is just not very interesting, they where born more out of a urge to give the reader choice even when that choice leads to dull outcomes. So should I just kill the threads and move on or let them hang around for all of time? Also, the story is 10 to 1
Any particular reason why? I feel like if I leave them they will just hang over my head and I will end up adding sub-par chapters to them just so I can do something with them. I also worry that they will give a false sense of the story having more going on than there really is. I imagine a reader who checks the chapters only to find them disappointing and unresolved.
A reason to leave it is that other authors might get inspired. Unless you've got definite plans, an artistic direction, and endings in mind, most stories on this site aren't, shouldn't be, truly finished.
I suggest leaving them. I however also suggest writing a note that the route will not be continued in all due likelyhood. For the why it is because for the reason of 'What damage will it do?'. You already wrote the chapters, no reason to delete them outside of the reader that might be disappointed. Readers are always disappointed. If Readers knew exactly what they wanted they would be Writers (At least that is my motto). If you however feel that you would spend time on writing a side-branch that you don't enjoy just for to keep it alive i do support the deleting of them. No use in keeping something around that provides you with a constant headache. Your story after all.
Yes, but, as usual, I find my own thoughts echoed by the general consensus. In short: put a note on them that informs the readership that this branch is open to continuation by other authors, then let the matter drop.
I agree with the previous speakers. Leave it, because what you see as a blind end, someone - maybe in a month or 10 years from now - will find inspiring and create his/her own continuation of your story... So make more of them, of this blind branches, for others to find inspiration in. The entire idea of the site is multiple branches of one story, for - THIS - IS - CHYOAAAA!
hmm, I will prob add a note to it then. I just feel guilty at the idea of a reader coming to a page that just says "Sorry this thread is shit, bye!"
Phrasing and placement is everything. 1: Don't make it its own page, leave it as a comment. 2: Don't say, "this thread is shit", instead say something like "my muse has left me on this thread, if you are inspired by it I would love to find out what happens next!"
I actually really like the idea of 10-1. Though it is interesting how little of it is written as a guy so far, which actually seems like the part that would be the most fun. I really liked the biggest section so far (the sally cross one). Would like to see a more aggressive guy dropped into that story as a protagonist. But the thing you are actually asking about, I think almost all of the dropped threads you have so far could make interesting jumping off points from other writers. Personally, I actually do this on purpose all the time, putting up plot hooks that other people could run with that I don't have really any intention of doing myself. It is a cooperative storytelling site after all.
I'm glad that you are enjoying it. I do intent to pick that thread up again but I found myself making so many threads that I decided to focus on just getting both chars through one full "day" as it where.
Hey don't despair. The story is very good and as far as speed I'm at 69 chapters for 3.5 days on a linear story and it's one of the most popular stuff I have ever written. I Think you should focus choices to meaningful events, the temptation is great to write a 5 choice chapter just because of clothes (did stuff like that long ago.) Killing threads is hard, stories are hydras cut one head and two will grow back.
