Every story has a
different feel and flow, and this particular one had natural beats in which to
end each chapter. Given this plot uses prolonged tension; I felt it was the best
way to present the story.
I’ve broken down
50k words stories into four chapters, sometimes six. I will always post long, meaty chapters.
The final edits
really matter. Even after reviewing this story a million times, my beta is
reviewing each chapter before it posts and finding all kinds of little errors. (Betas rock!)
And finally, this
is my story. This was how I wanted to share it. Read it as I post, or in one sitting. Sit back and enjoy it. 🙂
I used to think that if a story was finished, it should be posted in its entirety. What transparent grab for attention, for the author to post it as chapters! How pathetic! But I wasn’t going to be played like that! If I read the story at all, I’d read it once all the chapters were posted, and you better believe I wouldn’t reward the author by commenting on each chapter separately or some similar nonsense.
You know what that kind of thinking is?
It’s entitled, self-satisfied, clueless bullshit.
Even leaving aside things like editing and not working your poor beta to death, someone wrote a story. For free. If it’s being posted in chapters, chances are it’s a fucking long story that took a lot of time and effort. And even if it isn’t, the author still doesn’t have to justify posting the damn thing as they see fit.
If they want to post three-paragraph snippets on days starting with T, that’s their prerogative. If they want to post chapters that are sometimes 8K words and sometimes a sentence long because their way of storytelling demands it, that’s their prerogative. If they want to split it into 10 or 15 or 37 chapters going by word count or scene break or POV switches, that’s their fucking prerogative.
“Oh, but I won’t read it if it’s posted like this.” Then don’t.
“Isn’t this kind of pretentious?” No. Even if it were, so what? How does that harm you?
“But why do they have to-” Go. Away.
From a writer’s perspective, having to bend over backwards to make sure your readers are enjoying themselves is nice and all, but can we please keep in mind that the content creators have a right to enjoy themselves, too? Especially if they display their content for free? If they feel their story works better in chapters, leave them the fun of posting it that way, jfc.
And from a reader’s perspective, um, hello? If you decide to read along as the story is posted, you can dig into the drama and enjoy each cliffhanger in the happy knowledge that you won’t fall victim to an abandoned WIP? That’s a plus? Are you new here?
So, sincerely, enjoy that a new story exists, that (in this particular case) it’s being posted on a regular (daily!) schedule, and that someone invested the time and energy to create something for you to delight in.
Personally, I love knowing I’ll have a new chapter of fic to potentially read!! Sometimes that’s what gets me thru my week!!!
*huggles to all the awesome writers out there that keep me well fed on fic*
As an effort to bring an equal playing ground to both artists and authors, we are introducing the SPN PROMPT BANG! Each prompt will have one author and one artist… given the same amount of time (four months) to work on their fill, and allowed to either collaborate or work separately.
All ships! All ratings! Gen fic? Come on down! Destiel? Wincest? Sastiel? Bring it on! We will have both canon and alternate universe prompts… a little taste of something for everyone!
Sign-ups are open until August 31st – at which point artists and authors will be given information about claims. Wanna join? Sign-up here!
Make sure to check out our rules and schedule beforehand. Any questions? Our askbox is always open.
Sam can’t stop staring at them – the way they protrude from Castiel’s broad shoulders; God, they look soft. “Does – does it hurt when they come out like that?” he finally asks.
Castiel smiles, shaking his head. “No, Sam. It’s just a little pressure. Nothing I can’t handle, to be honest. Would you like to feel them?”
Sam swallows hard. “Is – is that allowed? Like, it won’t hurt you or anything?”
“No, definitely not. On the contrary, it feels nice when someone touches them. Go on – – I promise it’s okay.”
Sam reaches out, letting his fingers brush just over the tip of the wing, and yeah – it might be the softest thing he’s ever freakin’ felt. “Wow, how come you don’t let this out more often?”
Castiel shrugs. “As you can see, they take up a fair bit of room.” He reaches his own hand out, fingers grazing Sam’s hair. “You’re very beautiful…”
Sam’s eyes widen, his cheeks hot. “W-What?” His finger stop, resting lightly on the feather.
“I’ve been meaning to say that for years, Sam Winchester.”
Karate, SPN Demonic Octopus Guardian 