Post Long Series as One or Multiple Books?

[Geek_Aflame]

I'm getting to the point where I'm going to have to decide if I split one of my series into multiple books as I'm getting closer to a new story arc. While some websites like Wattpad favour complete books others are more favourable to long-form web novels. I’ve gotten mixed feedback from Tapas just by looking at how people post their stories. I think people talking about their experience will be helpful not just for myself but other writers in a similar situation.

What experiences have you had with sequels?

Is it better to have a 500K - 1M word series as multiple or one book?

Another idea I had was each trilogy as one volume/book, so no book was too large. Would this idea be a good medium between the two?

[Leverance]

I'm personally in a similar situation. However, my series is a duology (each part with ca 30 parts each). I've seen conflicting feedback regarding it and haven't settled quite yet. I've no prior experience on Tapas regarding sequels or series. I'm still learning as I go.

Though, I know stories that are around 800-1K words chapters are favored (but I usually stick to having my chapters in complete form).

[milejdyvan]

The thing I like about Tapas is that it allows us to have a much longer series, somewhat like a manga (even if we are writing a novel). This is why I plan to use this fact to my advantage. I do have multiple parts in my series and I plan to have them all as one story, only divided by word count and covers. Technically, they are the length of regular books each with a solid storyline and ending, but they all tell a long-running story. As for you, it is up to you, but I think to keep up with consistency of the medium we use, it's good to at least divide the story into parts and make it obvious when a new part is beginning for the readers. So that they don't feel like they are reading a neverending story. Parts should have proper endings and then a new chapter begins, and the flow remains consistent, i think it could work. That is at least what I am trying with my series.

[cherrystark]

My series is several novella length stories under one link. I'm past the 120k word count mark. If your series is still getting reads, post under one link. It's been a lot easier for me, because I know readers will start at the beginning of the series where I want them to. Before coming to Tapas, I posted my first 3 stories individually on Wattpad. I wasn't getting the reads I was looking for. A big part also was that the readers were reading the series out of order, so they'd be turned off by "floating head" characters and nonsensical references that if they read parts 1 and 2, they'd understand completely.

Plus, it's also a billion times easier to market one link instead of 2+.

[therosesword]

Because I don't post until the volume is completed I've gone the route of separate volumes with my Bright Morn of Issareth series. I actually hadn't planned on making it a series but the more I thought about it and read more I thought that it might make it easier for the reader to divide it up.

Each volume, however, does not stand by itself. You do need to know what happened in the last. Although I have a new beta reader for the second volume going up this weekend and we'll see what she says.

Write hard, write true.

[lunagraves714]

I feel like I have a pretty unpopular opinion here on this, but I guess I prefer separate novels just because from a reader’s standpoint, if I open a novel that looks interesting but has hundreds of chapters and seemingly no end, I’m probably not going to read it. I like knowing that a novel is going to have a conclusion, which can be hard to broadcast sometimes if multiple books are packed into one web novel. I don’t know if that helps, but either way, best of luck!

[Geek_Aflame]

A big part also was that the readers were reading the series out of order, so they'd be turned off by "floating head" characters and nonsensical references that if they read parts 1 and 2, they'd understand completely.

This is one of my main worries. I've been looking at how all the sequel novels I own re-introduce characters in case someone does start reading at the second part. While I've tried to make sure the book could be understood as a stand-alone novel, not reading the first story arc leaves the reader without a lot of background information to understand the overreaching story of the entire series.

[Geek_Aflame]

I guess I prefer separate novels just because from a reader’s standpoint, if I open a novel that looks interesting but has hundreds of chapters and seemingly no end, I’m probably not going to read it. I like knowing that a novel is going to have a conclusion, which can be hard to broadcast sometimes if multiple books are packed into one web novel.

This is why I'm leaning towards placing each trilogy into separate books rather than each story. I'd prefer separate books, but I've seen too many writers mention readers struggling to read long series' in the right order. The idea of a series is to have an overreaching story arc. I'm worried people won't understand the full story I'm trying to tell if they read it out of order.

[cherrystark]

Go with your gut. With my writing style, it would be weird (for me) to re-describe/introduce my characters each story. I like to rely on personalities to define my characters, since it's more natural for me to casually mention my computer genius sitting at his station working than say "Nick, the team's computer expert" fifteen times a story.

If you can make the reintroductions work, do it. Readers like multiple volumes. If not, try posting all the work under one link. I use different thumbnails for each story so readers can see exactly how many chapters I have per story, instead of making them assume all 120 chapters are one story.

[lunagraves714]

I guess something you could try is including “Book 1/2/3” or something like that on the cover or include a link to the book(s) that come before each one in the novel’s description. Regardless of what you choose to do, I’m sure it’ll turn out great!

[Geek_Aflame]

All my books have their own rounded contained story to give the reader a nice, rounded experience while contributing to the whole series story arc. The A Story in each book is exclusive to each book while the B Story is the one connected to the series' overreaching story. Even the B Story in each book has a beginning, middle and end within each book, slowly revealing each piece of the story.

[SilverLugia456]

For me I'm dividing my long series up into seasons each with its own sub title under the main series title. Each season will end at a point where the setting will change from the previous season. I'm not sure how many seasons but my idea at least goes through two seasons. I'm still planning everything out but I have a general idea. I'm sure you will come up with a good set up for your long series.

[Geek_Aflame]

The different thumbnail idea is a good one. I'm also planning to list the name of the book/story arc on each chapter related to it, that's how I've seen people do it on other sites. The reason I’m deciding now is because I need to commission new cover art, no matter my decision.

[NellieVP318]

I decided to go separate with my stories. I also planned to link from my previous book and I think re-introducing characters for me may not be a problem. I think it really all depends on your story.

[MeltingCORE]

Mine personally is an ongoing series with multiple volumes. I plan to keep them all in the same story here on Tapas. I divide them with art and whatnot. I've seen others do the same with long, ongoing works. But if it's just a story, then a sequel, and that's it - then it might make more sense to split the books up!