Reading Habits, WIPs, and Serial Fics.

[annerbhp]

I've been reading a really loooooong fic for the last week or so and I noticed that when originally posted, this 27 chapter novel of a fic had been posted serially. Meaning that the authors (there are two of them), routinely posted a chapter every Monday and Wednesday night until the fic was complete. I found this an interesting idea. Kind of like

Comments

[nandamai]

I'm like the new(ish) you. ;) I need to be able to edit the entire thing several times, because often new themes announce themselves toward the end and I say, "AHA! That's awesome! Thanks, Brain!" but I have to work them into the earlier parts too. I'm also working with a therapist on my perfectionism.

But also, being a special snowflake and putting years into finishing a novel length fic, one would also like each chapter to be enjoyed on it's own. Or is that just annoying as hell and far too much like being all, "I MUST GET X REVIEWS OR I NEVER FINISH!" *FLOUNCE* ?

Erm, for me? Yeah. My first instinct, when the story is finished but the author posts it in chapters, is "Ugh, she just wants more reviews." Intellectually I know that's not always true, but, see, sometimes Brain does not cooperate. But I don't mind an author posting chapter by chapter as much when I know it's done and she's just proofreading/polishing as she posts.

[annerbhp]

My method of writing is still fighting against completion of the whole thing. I am not very good at the writing fast and finishing a complete rough draft. Rather I tend to write little scribbles of the whole thing and then obsessively nitpick over the parts already written instead of filling in the blank spots. It's a disease.

Yes, as I suspected. I can't pretend it doesn't at least cross my mind though, even if I know it's stupid.

[zinke]

I tend to write little scribbles of the whole thing and then obsessively nitpick over the parts already written instead of filling in the blank spots. It's a disease.

If it is a disease it must be contagious because I totally have it.

[meneleth]

I wait till I'm done writing but then post it in chapters mainly to make it easier for readers. I usually avoid a 45,000 word single chapter (for example) because I don't always have time to read the whole thing at once.

[lanna_kitty]

"People who put "the pairing is a surprise" in their header should be forced to wander the pit of despair for all time." <-- THIS. this a thousand times this. and they have to have an angry, screaming monkey on their backs. On fire. with noisemakers. I , uh, may have an opinion on this c.c

[annerbhp]

Haha. I just threw in some pet peeves of mine to spice things up. Lol.

Yes, I understand the annoyance and danger of WIPs. I honestly think a lot of my fics never would have been written otherwise though. That's the kicker. I would just have a hard drive full of 87% done fics. You know, like right now. Lol.

I tried a few round robin sort of fic things when I first got into fandom. Now I am way too much of a control freak. ;)

[jafacakes]

Posting a finished fic in chapters in consecutive days is a kind way of an author giving the readers a life ;-) Making them wait a week for them is a cruel punishment!

[annerbhp]

Ha! That's a good way to put it. That's like my current WIP where people keep saying, on the one hand, I just want the whole damn thing, on the other hand, it might depress me past the point of living if I read it all in one swoop. Lol. So maybe uber-darkfic are the exception? ;)

[carta]

My absolute dream authors write novel-length fic that is edited and revised prior to being released into the wild, and have an off-LJ site where all the 234134 pieces are in one glorious file that doesn't require clicking and clicking, and which is easily downloaded so I can read it offline. <3 <3 <3

Also, I never read any story that has "Part 4/???" in the header. Never ever. Ever.

Just so long as the chapter isn't a DRABBLE. ARGH.
FANFICTION.NET I AM LOOKING AT YOU.

[annerbhp]

Yes, in an ideal world. Of course, in that world I would probable post a fic once every two or three years. Lol.

Back when I had a webpage for my fic I used to post text files for the long fics. Haven't thought about that much since then. Though sometimes people email me for files and I'm perfectly happy to send them. My worst pet peeve is reading a multiple part fic that doesn't have links at the end to the next chapter. What the hell?

[annerbhp]

I feel like I should join WIPs anonymous. Because I don't read them, but I write them. Special ring of hell for those kind of people.

At least we usually don't have to wait as long as we do for printed books in series. Usually.