Forum: Author Hangout

So an interesting notion…

I've almost finished the next 'Japanese Internet Confessions' anthology. Will be posting to Bookapy and also setting up scheduled posts on SOL.

As the book is an anthology, which do you think works better - setting up as a story with multiple chapters (which is what I did with the first 'Japanese Internet Sex Confessions') for each tale OR posting each as a stand alone story on SOL but 'collecting' them as a series?

Or am I just creating more work for myself?

A lot depends on how long the individual stories are/will be.

Or am I just creating more work for myself?

Try to view it from a reader's perspective. Because it's not about creating work for yourself, but for the reader!

I don't remember the name, but, just the other day, I found another collection of shortstories after using the Category Search, looking for something I might enjoy reading. And it pissed me off!

If you post it as a story, you tag it with the categories that will be included in that "Story". Depending on what those confessions are about, that list grows. In the example of the collection I found, that list was as long as my freaking arm! And then I sit here, realize that the "Chapters" aren't in fact chapters, but individual stories that have NOTHING to do with each other. So, how the hell am I supposed to know which tags correlated to which stories!?

Now, you might argue that all the stories you collect will serve the same theme, and therefore you should be able to publish them as chapters for the same story. But, looking at your first "Japanese Internet Confessions", I believe the themes are already diverse enough to create just that problem.

And, for me personally, chapters and individual Stories simply are not the same thing. SOL gives you the opportunity to create serials and universes. As a reader, I ask you make use of it.

If you write individual shortstories, please post them as such.