Story line length
- restricted
- Forever Mummified
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RE: Story line length
Just for the guidance of authors, what length of story do you prefer? Short, long or a series (chapters)? You may say it depends on the story, but overall what do you prefer?
I used to be weird and kinky. But then I joined Bound Forum and became normal.
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- Strict Strappado
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RE: Story line length
You're not going to like my answer.I read a lot of stories, and find that length is really an unimportant factor. A good story will hold your attention and interest to the point that you want it to continue. A story that is to short doesn't have time to develop a proper plot and story line. Of course it's also possible to drag a story out with no real plot as well.On thing that I see occasionally is when an author decides the story has reached it's proper length and simply tags ''The end' on wherever that point happens to be. It's usually not quite as bad as 'And then he - The end.' But if you read a few stories that are posted you are bound to run into one that has died a premature death.You said you would be using Word, and I applaud that as it will catch many errors for you. You probably already know this, but I would also recommend reading your story the day after you write it. You'll be amazed at the number of mistakes you will catch, or just minor changes that you will make. It is easy to know what you meant, and when you re-read what you wrote your mind fills in missing words, or corrects errors by filling in what you meant to write. I try to let my stories sit for at least a week before I re-read them to minimize this problem. Not that I'm a good writer by any stretch of the imagination. I'll be looking forward to reading your work.
RE: Story line length
I'll say that pretty much all of the things that I imagine aren't so much stories as they are scenes. Some of them are mere snapshots.
I think the shortest consists of me, suspended. My ankles are attached to a spreader bar. My wrists are attached to the same bar. (They may be spread, or attached to the center.) I'm gagged, but not blindfolded.
The domme (off camera) approaches my very exposed genitals with some kind of implement (off camera). My eyes get very big.
That's it. No real description of the domme, or of the particular implement. No mention of how I got there, or what's going to happen next.
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I think that one reason why my "stories" don't end is because the kind of scenes that I want are those where I don't know what's coming next. I like to speculate about what's next. But actually deciding? That's not what I want.
I think the shortest consists of me, suspended. My ankles are attached to a spreader bar. My wrists are attached to the same bar. (They may be spread, or attached to the center.) I'm gagged, but not blindfolded.
The domme (off camera) approaches my very exposed genitals with some kind of implement (off camera). My eyes get very big.
That's it. No real description of the domme, or of the particular implement. No mention of how I got there, or what's going to happen next.
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I think that one reason why my "stories" don't end is because the kind of scenes that I want are those where I don't know what's coming next. I like to speculate about what's next. But actually deciding? That's not what I want.
- restricted
- Forever Mummified
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RE: Story line length
Fair comment, but do you look at different stories, decide the shortest and read them first or decide to glance through the plot first? As you say, a good plot will hold you. But I often wonder if a good long plot gets "boring" in the and people drop it for a while. I am doing as you say, re-reading the Christmas plot I have written, and "tweaking" it to cut out errors and improving it. I have asked someone to give it a once over as well.
I used to be weird and kinky. But then I joined Bound Forum and became normal.
RE: Story line length
Length depends on the story.
I've observed that virtually all of the ones I've thought of, are based around the begining of a session. Not the entire session, just how the sub got there. To me, the "story" ends when the sub loses the ability to have a voice in what happens next.
Another story may involve someone, say, accepting a job working in a dungeon. The story may follow him through a dozen or more events in which he is drawn deeper into things. These events may be days or weeks apart.
I've observed that virtually all of the ones I've thought of, are based around the begining of a session. Not the entire session, just how the sub got there. To me, the "story" ends when the sub loses the ability to have a voice in what happens next.
Another story may involve someone, say, accepting a job working in a dungeon. The story may follow him through a dozen or more events in which he is drawn deeper into things. These events may be days or weeks apart.
- Housebound
- Strict Strappado
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RE: Story line length
Length must depend on the content and context of the tale you are telling.My only request is that if a story/series naturally forms distinct segmentsthen it should be posted as separate threads and not added to after comments.
Struggle and Submit
RE: Story line length
I wavered posting a reply or ignoring this thread. I debated whether Imight respond in detached fashion or whether some emotion might slipout.I agree with OneStrangeGuy in that story length is unimportant except that it is. I find readers today expect action from word one and they want it in a 30-minute TV type block. No time for the full hour or mini-series. Is that right or wrong? I'll allow someone else to make that call. It's just the way it is. Should Shakespeare's heir apparent stumble across 'The Bound Forum' and post some of his/her stories I don't believe the modern reader would give him/her a full read. I base that in large part to how many views a story gets and how many comments. Some of the finest stories I've read here get few views and fewer comments. Lesser stories {plot & character development wise; believability; story pacing; imagery; etc} seem to go viral when in comes to views and pats on the back. An astute editor would say write to the level of your audience; you can't change the world. But writers are weird in a way; they write as much for themselves as for an audience. Sometimes its write for themselves and damn the audience. To address Trekkie, what you describe as a scene or a snapshot; that's exactly what it is. For a singular image, opt for a picture and not a story. Stories add color; they fill in the blanks and introduce others; they reflect passions and disappointments, triumphs and tragedies. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. I assure you the thousand words took more time and effort.Compare the following two snippets and tell me whether the few extra words is worth the effort.FirstI was hogtied and naked before my Mistress. She was seated on a throne toying with a riding crop. I knew what was coming and awaited her firm flick of the wrist. The moment I looked away her riding crop slapped against my ass....Alternative Mistress first tied my wrists behind my back, then my ankles. I knew it was going to be a long evening by how tightly she cinched the braided cotton rope. She meant business. Then again, she always meant business. I barely saw Raven as she moved about the dungeon assembling tonight's toys. The sound of her stiletto heels on the stone floor was music to my ears. The room was dimly lit, just a few candles in the corners. Raven's dungeon was below grade, soundproof, had ten foot ceilings with eyehooks and pulleys,was constructed of brick and stone and so perfectly reflected Mistress Raven's focus on the details. "The devil is in the details," she often quoted. She was somewhere behind me, preparing what I didn't know. She began to wrap several loops of rope around my arms, used her leather clad hands to push my elbows close, then tightened the rope. I hated when she forced my elbows together. I must have disappointed her during the week. She remained behind me. I felt her pushing something between my legs. I was going to be hogtied. She cinched the new rope through the ones binding my ankles and pulled my legs upward. She ran the free end through my elbow bindings and pulled. Raven was slight of build, with a tiny waist, tiny tits, and tiny feet. What she lacked in size she made up for in intensity. I felt her standing behind me, and then she began pushing my ankles forward. I could resist--I had in the past. Not tonight. She leaned her weight against my legs, pushing them forward and pulling the rope with each move. I could feel the leather against my bare skin. I had weaknesses--some called them fetishes. Leather, boots, corsets. I went weak in the knees and erect elsewhere. When she was done, my body was hogtied in a bowed position. Raven's stilettos moved closer. She sat down before me, crossed her legs and dangled her boot inches from my face. Black knee high leather, with an impossibly pointed toe, a 6" heel and they glistened even in the low light. Mistress Raven had another slave, a former shoe repairer--she called him the Cobbler. He tended to her shoes, her boots, all her leather toys. I was jealous....As for me, I'd rather read the detailed version. I'd rather write it, and should fewer people take the time to savor the words, so be it.
RE: Story line length
A bad story is always to long and though we may wish it longer a good story is always the correct length.
- Ranai Pahav
- Tightly Hogtied
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RE: Story line length
I like all sorts of lengths in erotic fiction. Short takes, just giving a sketchy glimpse of an erotic scene. Short stories with a single plot. Long, sometimes multi-part stories with plenty of character development, suspense and drama.If they touch my personal kinks, the latter stories, long, with fully developed, three-dimensional characters and plot suspense are the ones I'm likely to read again.
RE: Story line length
Remembering fondly Larry Niven's Unfinished Story #2:
"There are some things that Man was not meant to know."
"There are some things that Man was not meant to know."
RE: Story line length
A story is as long as it is meant to be, unless you are working under a publishers set of restrictions (most magazines have a working word limit). For me, I am writing bondage fiction for both as entertainment for the readers and something fun to do as a writer. The length is not an issue as much as what is done within it. Get in, tell the story to your satisfaction and don't end it prematurely. For me, content is always more important than length.
RE: Story line length
[quote="Fesseln1"]Get in, tell the story to your satisfaction and don't end it prematurely. [/quote]OMG, as a reader I cannot stress this enough! don't end prematurely!!! there's nothing more frustrating that having a story just cut off when it gets to the good parts, it turns an awesome story into just an annoyance (at least in my mind) There are so many stories out there that I'm still waiting (endlessly) for them to be finished
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- Tightly Hogtied
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RE: Story line length
I like all inds of stories. They can be short if they have enough detail in that short amount of reading time. The only thing I am not too keen on is elaborate converstaions unless it is needed. I prefer the story to somewhat end and like the slave of sub to be stuck in a situation that he/she will have no choice of what happens next like an obligation
RE: Story line length
I reluctantly chose "A series", but I truly believe that the length of the story varies depending on the nature of the story. And I disagree with TutTutTut. I've come across some really good short stories where I groaned in frustration at the end of them because I know that as good as the story was, there was so much more that could have been done with it. If you ever read "The Pool Boy" by Chris Bellows, you'll know what I mean.
RE: Story line length
[quote="Myya"] [quote="Fesseln1"]Get in, tell the story to your satisfaction and don't end it prematurely. [/quote]OMG, as a reader I cannot stress this enough! don't end prematurely!!! there's nothing more frustrating that having a story just cut off when it gets to the good parts, it turns an awesome story into just an annoyance (at least in my mind) There are so many stories out there that I'm still waiting (endlessly) for them to be finished
[/quote] The problem sometimes is to determine when the story is "finished". There are some stories that demand a sequel and some that are written as a one off but reader's request (strongly) continuation or resolution. I don't know about other writers but usualy I get an idea which I then explore in the story. The length is detrmined by the complexity of the situation: describing it , the reations to it and the resolution. One way to shorten it is to skip the resolution and leave it as a permanent torture, letting the reading revel in the unending bondage but that gets a bit gimicky if you do it too often. I think the main thrust of the thread is "How much detail?". I came across a book recently that spent virtually a whole chapter describing the weather - personally I would give up after a page or two of that. But...... details of hair, eyes, muscles? Colour of wallpaper? Exact dimensions of room? How much is enough and how much is too much? As a reader I like to be able to put myself into the scene; if you give too many details then that becomes impossible but if you just concentrate on the action it can be a bit "Wham, bang, thankyou ma'am". As far as the internet goes the other factor is reading it. A very long story sat at a screen is a pain in the ass literally and printing it off is time and paper. R G Bargy
[/quote] The problem sometimes is to determine when the story is "finished". There are some stories that demand a sequel and some that are written as a one off but reader's request (strongly) continuation or resolution. I don't know about other writers but usualy I get an idea which I then explore in the story. The length is detrmined by the complexity of the situation: describing it , the reations to it and the resolution. One way to shorten it is to skip the resolution and leave it as a permanent torture, letting the reading revel in the unending bondage but that gets a bit gimicky if you do it too often. I think the main thrust of the thread is "How much detail?". I came across a book recently that spent virtually a whole chapter describing the weather - personally I would give up after a page or two of that. But...... details of hair, eyes, muscles? Colour of wallpaper? Exact dimensions of room? How much is enough and how much is too much? As a reader I like to be able to put myself into the scene; if you give too many details then that becomes impossible but if you just concentrate on the action it can be a bit "Wham, bang, thankyou ma'am". As far as the internet goes the other factor is reading it. A very long story sat at a screen is a pain in the ass literally and printing it off is time and paper. R G Bargy
Are you free to participate in bondage
RE: Story line length
Don't obsess on length, unless you have some sort of limit placed on you by a publisher/sponsor. Rather, concentrate on the content of your story. A well-written story can be one page or one hundred pages. Your readers will appreciate the effort taken to write it.
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- Chair Bound
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RE: Story line length
I like short stories. That being said I like a lot of character and suspend building. Personally most of the stories I sit down to write I plan on only being a really short story, and end up, hours later with pages of content. When I'm reading a story though, I like it to grab me within 2 paragraphs or I start skipping ahead. I'm sure there are a lot of master pieces that I'm missed out on that I would have really enjoyed but I was not in the mood to read it fully. So the length of the story means nothing to me as long as the story grabs my interest quick enough to get me going in it.
- happily_locked
- Forever Mummified
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RE: Story line length
For any who care, I frequently receive MS Word files which are
in excess of 250K. When I convert them to simple text, none has
been over 40K. I would think dialup users would prefer simple text.
I refuse to save word files beyond the time it takes me to extract
the text.
FWIW, most of the MS Word files contain data unrelated to the text
that the sender intends to send, things like email addresses, and
other things that I consider private.
My professional contacts no longer send me Word files, just simple
text. It turns out that I do not need multiple colors or fonts to
be able to read what they sent.
in excess of 250K. When I convert them to simple text, none has
been over 40K. I would think dialup users would prefer simple text.
I refuse to save word files beyond the time it takes me to extract
the text.
FWIW, most of the MS Word files contain data unrelated to the text
that the sender intends to send, things like email addresses, and
other things that I consider private.
My professional contacts no longer send me Word files, just simple
text. It turns out that I do not need multiple colors or fonts to
be able to read what they sent.
- knotseraph
- Hopelessly Suspended
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- Joined: 15 Jan 2007, 23:49
- Location: UP of Michigan
RE: Story line length
I generally like short but not too short...too short and you can barely get in arousal before it ends. But too long and it gets repetitive and confusing. Basically a night of bondage has to end and if the characters have tried every position and are cycling back to old positions, you're better off just reading the story again. (As in, the girl is tied to the chair and teased while wearing the red skirt...and then hours later after torment she is tied to the chair without the red skirt...) And if the characters are in bondage for too long, it becomes unrealistic.
A series is nice if there is a reason for there to be a series...repeated encounters or several days of the weekend or the morning after the evening. Though, I would venture in this genre, the attachment to characters is a little less than in other genres. Some of us may really like one character a lot but she might be just as likable as one from another story...and so Jane the sub from story one and Jill the sub from story two might be just as good as two stories about Jane...
A series is nice if there is a reason for there to be a series...repeated encounters or several days of the weekend or the morning after the evening. Though, I would venture in this genre, the attachment to characters is a little less than in other genres. Some of us may really like one character a lot but she might be just as likable as one from another story...and so Jane the sub from story one and Jill the sub from story two might be just as good as two stories about Jane...