How many chapters at launch are enough?

[TheOtherMan]

I wrote the first few chaps of the smut erotica I was writing. How many chaps on release?

 

[LilRora]

Most people do 3-10, but it's not like there are any specific rules. Each chapter you release at the beginning will get you more views and readers initially, but each chapter you release after that gives additional exposure. It doesn't make a meaningful difference in the end, as long as you don't push too far in either direction.

 

[expentio]

I usually do five. At least three to get started. Five to the end of the day would be good, and afterward, three to five more in daily releases, to show that you keep pushing out and aren't abandoning the work soon. Make it clear to communicate that you have a schedule. Supposedly most readers stray away, because they think you may leave them at the early chapters, which makes their time investment naught.

 

[Corty]

Lucky7

 

[EverenVale]

I only published one story here so far.
I started with the first three chapters since my story is short (17800 words) and has only 14 chapters plus one bonus chapter.
So I think it depends on how long your story is.
But I agree with others that keeping a regular schedule will be beneficial for your readers. If the story is good, they will anticipate for the next chapter.
right now, my schedule is updating one chapter on Mondays and one chapter on Thursdays. So, two releases per week.
How many words or chapters do you have in your story?

https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1446738/ashes-and-atonement/

 

[Heartmint]

As a reader, it's more to do with words count than chapter count. Generally I wouldn't read anything below 10k except for one-shot

 

[Clo]

I did 11 chapters on day one, because that is how many chapters were needed before I introduced all of my characters in the story.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I've done three every time so far - but have only once put anything out before I had ten chapters written.

 

[Forgotten_Fox]

I think 5-10 works well

 

[Rezcore]

Well... I do like erotica, so when you can gimme link

 

[Dec]

Personally, I aim to have the whole intro and first arc done before I release the first chapter. But I like to have a big backlog to rely on, cause I know I will not be able to pump out enough chapters with my planned release schedule

You should prepare as much as you are okay with. Can be one, can be 10, or can be a whole book. That's your choice there