What is the best way to show that my story is divided into arcs?

[ScribeOfAyn]

Hey.

So, i want to divide my story into arcs. Now, if i wanted the chapters list to show that the story has arcs, should i add "empty chapters" or not? For example, i could create a chapter named "Arc I: ___" and place it right before the 1st chapter. The chapter will be empty but will let new (or existing) readers realise that this story is divided into arcs.
Otherwise, i would simply put the arc headings at the start of the 1st chapter of that arc.
Can anyone help???

 

[Tetrahedron]

the downside of making distinct chapter arcs here is that you had to label each chapter with [Arc 1]

unlike in Royal Road where you perhaps could separate it

 

[Kay_Ship]

Not an expert by any means but if you put the arc in the title, try to abbreviate it if you have chapter titles.
Instead of "Arc 1, Chapter 1" try "A1, Ch.1"
This will free up room for the rest of the title to show for people reading on mobile.
Just an opinion and nor based on anything besides preference.

 

[ScribeOfAyn]

What if instead I just label the first chapter of the arc as: Arc I: [name of arc] - chapter 1: [name of chapter]
And then past that it's just chpter names until the story gets to arc 2 and i again use the same format: Arc II: [name of arc] - chapter 20: [name of chapter].
And so on.

 

[TheKillingAlice]

What if instead I just label the first chapter of the arc as: Arc I: [name of arc] - chapter 1: [name of chapter]
And then past that it's just chpter names until the story gets to arc 2 and i again use the same format: Arc II: [name of arc] - chapter 20: [name of chapter].
And so on.

Why so complicated? If it's just about the Title, say "Chapter 1: Chapter Title [Beginning of Arc I]" or simply "Chapter 1: Chapter Title [Arc I]".
You can just put the title of the Arc above the chapter, no?
People will likely care little, and if they do, they can go and check. You could also build yourself a header to place above every chapter, that states Arc number, title, and chapter.

 

[MFontana]

My own approach has been to include a prelude and a series of interludes throughout as part of the narrative structure.
Prelude opens each volume, released with the first chapter of that volume. This is also the indicator of the first narrative segment or 'Arc' in a given volume.
Then for the later segments (Arcs), each opens with an Interlude (released alongside that corresponding chapter).

In Aestelle Nocte, which uses a different narrative structure, I've been writing "Episodes" and each of them begins with an Interlude (aside from the first, which opens with a Prelude and Prologue to set the stage)

 

[KarmicAcumen]

Generally, adding something like 'END VOLUME X' at the end of an 'arc' should be enough. Of course, I think 'arcs' should be expected by anyone who sets out to read anything longer than three chapters, but what do I know?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Most of the arcs in my stories have been side stories that just drag the MC along; as such, they just take up a few chapters, sometimes feeding into the main arc, sometimes standing alone.
Each of the Jack Diamond stories is supposed to be a single arc, though (but I've only finished one).

 

[Lysander_Works]

Probably do [Arc 1] Ch 3: Chapter Title,
but I'm soon to have the same problem. I got a system later that will look something like this:

Code: Leanne | Arc 15 | Branch 07 | Chapter 3: Chapter Title

and so on. Now sure how I'm to shorten that

 

[DismaiNaim]

Why do any of that?

In ASOIAF dude titles every chapter after the MC for that chapter. It works. Very efficient.

The chapters still progress normally, but he uses it to create tension after ending the chapter on a cliffhanger [with Tyrion, then five more POV chapters following someone else before going back to Tyrion].

So just:
Chapter 1: Bob
Chapter 2: Jim
Chapter 3: Tom
Chapter 4: jenny
Chapter 5: Bob

 

[Lysander_Works]

Why do any of that?

In ASOIAF dude titles every chapter after the MC for that chapter. It works. Very efficient.

The chapters still progress normally, but he uses it to create tension after ending the chapter on a cliffhanger [with Tyrion, then five more POV chapters following someone else before going back to Tyrion].

So just:
Chapter 1: Bob
Chapter 2: Jim
Chapter 3: Tom
Chapter 4: jenny
Chapter 5: Bob

Without spoiling the exact reason why, it's because it will utilize a non-linear and interactive story system, where each character will be the MC the reader chooses by clicking them (or merely advancing to them). Arcs represent a kind of time format, and branches represent specific events related to the choices the MC (or reader) makes. The complication is kind of required, just wish I could shorten it somehow.

 

[MarQaroll]

The way I plan on doing it is by having the name of the "book" at the beginning of the chapters since I'm having the entire series uploaded in one story.

For instance, chapter one of Album Zero, the Monkey, the first book is

[Album Zero, the Monkey] 1. SCREECH

And I plan to continue like that, just naming the volume/book/story at the beginning. You could do that with arcs!