Does size matter? (Referring to thread length, that is.)

porneia

porneia

Really Experienced
I am curious on what your preference is for the ideal length of an individual thread; Both for writing and reading.

Personally, I find a good story to be key to enjoyable erotica so in my first story I wrote long threads that would range between 800 to 1,500 words. I noticed, however, my best threads usually were the shorter ones. Also, my favorite stories to read tend to be short.

I understand being “well written” is the critical part of any thread, but I am beginning to wonder if shorter isn't better, especially considered the interactive nature of chyoo.

For me new story ( https://chyoa.com/story/sandra-s-stories/thread/red-monika-beyond-the-bounty-erotic-fiction-37c68de2 ) I have set a strict limit of 400 words for each thread. It has been a fun challenge, and I think, at least for me, has made for better chyoo story telling.

What is your preference? Both for writing and reading? (Which I believe are two very different questions.)

Thank you.
 
I think, it depends on the kind of the story.

Within 2nd person stories the threads should be shorter to give the protagonist/reader the chance to do, what he just wants.
Novel type stories should have longer threads, which acts like chapters.
Everything between should have the cut at the position, where good different paths are imaginable.
 
Trugbild said:
I think, it depends on the kind of the story.
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Thanks for the response. I think your point is spot on. It does depend on the story. I am trying to write a mini text adventure, which by its nature requires shorter threads. I guess it says something about my reading habits that I prefer shorter threads.
 
I'm more comfortable writing shorter threads. I'm merciless in cutting down anything longer than 600 words, and about half that is my sweet spot. It keeps the story moving quickly so the reader always has another choice to make or another page to flip.
 
Patzo said:
It keeps the story moving quickly so the reader always has another choice to make or another page to flip.
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I agree. The power of chyoo is the ability to choose. Shorter threads work better with this format.
 
I'm kind of mixed on it....
I think each thread should go until you get to a point where there is a chance of making a choice. If there's no choice then why stop the thread? (But I understand leaving choice breaks even though you only have one choice written, so other authors can contribute) I also think each writer has a different idea on how much description there should be. Some stories are fast paced and shorter threads work. Some are more verbose but it adds to the detail and immersion.

I find the really short threads to be ... well... uninteresting? Might as well just combine it with the others to make a real story, especially when the "choice" is really minor.
 
Hypnoticus said:
I find the really short threads to be ... well... uninteresting?
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Thank you for the reply! If I may, what do you mean by "short" and "really short?" I agree when I see a story that has 100 words and is sloppy put together, I quickly move on. For my current story, as a personal exercise, I am keeping all my posts to under 400 words. For me, this has really improved my writing (I think) by making it more tight and concise. Also, I prefer reading short/medium (i.e. under 800 word) posts.
 
I sincerely hope not. I'm trying to discipline myself to writing 500-1000 line threads but at times I have gone up to 1500. :eek: However it does depend on the type of writing. Mine tend to be as part of something much larger rather than one-off quickie threads but I can see myself writing threads as short as 250-300 in the future once I feel I've set it up correctly of course ;)
 
My opinion of the entire question is 'how does this best flow?' sometimes you have to write threads that are upwards of 5000 words long: it just is necessary to adequately cover the content that thread is supposed to encapsulate. At other times a thread of 100 words is excessive, though such instances are rare. The trick then is knowing which is which, and writing accordingly.
 
In addition to the type of story, we also have to be mindful of what happens in the thread. Recently, I introduced a four new characters in one thread and had to detail not only their physical appearances, but each one's relationship to the protagonist since the latter was the pivot point of the choice - without defining the relationship, the essence of the choice is an animosity that exists as Word of God. It was 1207 words long. The expository threads have the same problem, especially when a whole slew of characters are introduced. New information means more writing, it's a simple fact. That said, how much information is created is determined by the type of story. A novel is prone to very vivid descriptions, while a one-shot can allow for some ambiguity in these things.
 
Kaitou1412 said:
A novel is prone to very vivid descriptions
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Applied to character descriptions, it depends. I often drip bits of information rather than give a full description and cv, perhaps because I'm aware of trying to move the story along in a format which lends itself to immediacy - perhaps this is a lack of confidence in my descriptive powers. At the start of "The Three Musketeers" there's at least a couple of pages on D'Artagnan but Dickens might spend a couple of chapters, whereas Shakespeare in a different medium (spoken rather than written) can deliver a character in a few phrases.
 
Beeble42 said:
whereas Shakespeare in a different medium (spoken rather than written) can deliver a character in a few phrases.
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Actually, he can't. He could give background in a few phrases, certainly, but the personality would require many lines and much action. He left most of the insides to be defined by what they say and do after interpretation, not by others' observations to be told to the audience - there were exceptions to this, but it is the general for his major players. And that's the model you described in your oft-used method: drip information. Establish what they are quick as lightning, but reveal who they are over time. That works well for everything, especially in a CHYOA story where characters can do complete turnarounds just by making different choices. Sometimes violating this and wholly establishing personalities from the start works too, even around here - so long as the motivation is omitted for a while - but less is definitely more. Mention the important elements, return to the story, and let everyone else have fun going their own way.
 
That is a good idea... I tend to go WAY overboard, easily in the 2ks at times with threads. Mostly because I enjoy longer threads way more than shorter, but as it reads here, most people like them shorter. So yeah, I will remember that and stay short. Better make 1 thread with 3000 words into 6 threads with 500 each, so it feels more alive. Copied that^^
 
Trugbild said:
Shorter threads also lead to the chance of more branching, cause other authors have more points where they can continue.
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yeah, Figured that out. I tried both now. I changed my posts on the Pokemon story I wrote in, into smaller ones, so others could take better use of it, but on the absolute power story, I continued with my long posts.

I guess the good thing would just to make logical cuts, wouldn't it?
So dont look at the length at all, just make one scene, and then a cut? That is what I will try at least for the future.
 
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