Lessons Learned

Zeebop

Zeebop

CHYOA Guru
Post some lessons you've learned from CHYOA - either as a writer, a reader, or both. Let me start us off.
  • Give Your Chapters Descriptive Titles - While "yes" and "no" are popular choices, many readers appear to navigate using the story trees and click more often on descriptive titles than generic ones.
  • Do Not Give Your Chapters The Same Title - At least if you have a lot of options and/or chapters, it just increases bookkeeping and makes it harder to navigate on aforementioned story trees.
  • Write Down A List of Alternatives For Common Genitalia - Maybe this is just me, but I get really tired of writing "cock," "dick," "pussy," and "cunt" all the time, but attempts to change it up are harder than you think when writing on the fly.
  • When Introducing A Character, Make A Note of What They Look Like And How They're Dressed - Also, keeping track of nakedness of lack thereof. Really tricky when you're going back to chapters written days, weeks, or even months ago. Even if it doesn't all make it into the story, at least consistency helps.
  • No Kink Is Too Weird To Have An Audience - Probably preaching to the choir, but hey, never hold yourself back just because you think someone will judge you.
  • Giving Two Characters Similar-Sounding Names Is A Bad Idea - Again, that just seems like common sense, but in the grand scheme of who-is-doing-what-to-whom, it does become important.
  • Invent Words Sparingly - More of an issue for fantasy or super-science stories, but even terms like "cockwrangler" or "cuntsmith" can be so ridiculous as to take you and/or the reader right out of the story.
  • There Is Always A Moment of Instant Regret After Hitting "Publish Chapter" - Every damn time.
  • Readers Upvote Active Branches More Than Complete Ones - This feels counterintuitive, but I swear it's true. No matter how long or how many likes a particular branch has, reader attention is focused on newer chapters rather than older ones.
 
Some great points there Zeebop!

One I'd like to add for new writers here is to read your reader comments carefully. Try to separate the more "objective" ones from the more "subjective" ones.

If the comments have constructive criticism about your style or pacing or plot issues or such things absolutely try to learn from them. Take them in, think about them, and try to incorporate the good stuff.

If the comments are ones based purely on the reader's particular kinks or tastes take them with a huge grain of salt. It can be difficult as these can often be the most vociferous and passionate voices. Some can get downright nasty if you aren't taking the story where they like. Don't ignore these comments but don't take them to heart either, realize they are coming from very particular individuals with very particular tastes. No matter which kink you cater to there will be a group turned on by it and a group turned off by it. You can't please everyone.

That said, be on the lookout for the readers who really "get" your work. Know their names and look for their comments. While still subjective these readers have similar tastes as you and understand what you're trying to achieve. Their comments can be pure gold as they can help refine your writing and aid it in appealing to the audience you are going for.

These are my opinions. Hopefully they might help someone out there. :cool:
 
I'd like to add to keep chapters short-ish.
More chapters means more likes and comments, which means more motivation.
I just got done slogging through to the end of two long-ass chapters that really drained my enthusiasm, so keeping it short or splitting a scene up can help keep what you're working on fresh in everyone's mind (yours included)
 
Zeebop said:
Invent Words Sparingly - More of an issue for fantasy or super-science stories, but even terms like "cockwrangler" or "cuntsmith" can be so ridiculous as to take you and/or the reader right out of the story.
Click to expand...

"Your name is John Cuntsmith?"
"That's right."
"So do you know how many generations back you had an ancestor who was, uh..."
"Known for his magical manipulations of women's genitalia?"
"That's a good way to put it. I -- oohhhhhhh..."
"As you've just discovered, the number is zero."
 
If someone adds to your story, and you like it enough to approve it, give it a like. Encourage the author.
Try to add to another author's addition to you story. I don't mean force it, if you like it, but it's not your thing, don't feel compelled to write something you aren't happy with it.
Check regularly to see if anyone's added to your story. Don't let an author wait days for an approval or rejection. Check daily. Treat other authors as you would like to be treated.
 
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