Pondering...

[ostarella]

Just thinking a bit (always a dangerous thing), but I've mentioned a couple of times over on the list how getting stories chapter by chapter (or part by part) can have disadvantages - people forget something from earlier, or they "see" things coming because they can't read the next part immediately, etc etc. But I'm also wondering if the waiting adds to the "positive perspective" - in that, because the reader is constantly waiting for that next part, the anticipation makes the story seem better than it is, that maybe the parts are better than the whole, to paraphrase.  ??

Comments

[beckyblack]

I think it depends on the story, some with lots of cliffhangers and action are more suited to having a gap inbetween, as the reader is on the edge of their seat waiting for it. And if the story has a lot of action, reading it all in one lump can flatten it out and make it less exciting for the reader. So if there's no way for the writer to relieve the action with a slower scene, then a gap between chapters works fine.

In a story that's maybe slower paced, while there might still be natural break points, the effect of it is maybe more cumulative and it's better for the reader to be able to consume long portions of it at one go.

I'm always coming back to and citing the fact that many novels of the Victorian era were published serialised in magazines, so they'd have had a similar issue. And the same serialised form is coming back with podcast novels. So the serialised long format story isn't new and is having a revival!

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. Stories that are "action-packed" are usually the ones where, even when I want to keep reading, I have to stop and take a break now and then, whereas with the "slower" ones, it is easier to keep reading.

I like the idea that serials are making a comeback - I always liked reading them in magazines (years ago). And if people like it, that might make it easier for more magazines to start doing that again.

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

It's no different than sometimes reading a book. At some point you have to put it down, to get on with RL, so it's the same on the ATSB. I don't think it matters if it comes in bit parts. If it's a good story, I'm waiting (im)patiently for the next part.

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

True. Probably just my insecurities coming out again :p I was just reading back over some of the comments from the list (way early on ;D) and someone had said, basically, it was hard to judge the story without having the whole thing there. Which I thought was kinda strange, considering the format of the list, but then I got to thinking about the piecemeal thing affecting the opinions of it, yada yada yada...

I think way too much sometimes (and not nearly enough others) LOL