How many chapters do you expect per week for ongoing novel?

[Galen]

Depends on the length of the chapter, or the content of said chapter. If it takes one whole week to only get to read a thousand or less word chapter. Bleh! But if it takes a week to get a chapter with 5k words or more? Sure waiting once a week is fine!

 

[tigerine]

Truth be told, I feel like I'm cursed. Whenever I start reading an original story that I actually like, the creator will inevitably go on hiatus after a couple of chapters. Sometimes, they even delete their projects. So I've sworn to myself that I won't start reading before the project isn't finished. It's better for both them and me
I might make an exception if I see the creator has several finished projects already that were consistently updated but even then, I'd have to read all of them first before starting on anything new. Actually, I'm doing the same with translations in where I want at least 50% of the novel to be translated or even more if it's an unknown translator/group.

What if the author is consistent about updating (or about communicating when/why there will be no update)? Does communication or consistency matter?

 

[yansusustories]

What if the author is consistent about updating (or about communicating when/why there will be no update)? Does communication or consistency matter?

Not if it's their first story, no. If I see at least one finished story on their profile, I might give a second one a go after it's been started a bit ago, and the likelihood of me trying goes up the more finished stories there are. But never with first-time authors, no. I've just seen way too many drop their stories for that.

Actually, no shade there. Writing is hard. It's even harder when you just start out and need to get a grip on this completely new thing you're doing that you know nothing about and have to learn about first but then are made to feel like nobody really cares because you don't get many views, hardly any likes, almost no comments. People are bound to be discouraged by that so it's really not strange at all that most give up before ever finishing that first story. In fact, even when you've been writing for a few years but hit a rough patch, it can happen. It's just human. But it's also just really annoying for readers.
In fact, the latter makes this a bit of a vicious cycle: Readers burn their hands on stories that are started but never finished, then some - like me - decide just not to start reading stories that only started out because they don't want to go through that shit again, so they at most shelve them for later. As a result, first-time authors lose out on the response they could have gotten, are more likely to give up, and thus add to the pile of unfinished stories which will just discourage more readers from starting these kinds of stories.

 

[IDreamNovels]

I will try hard to finish my novel.
I want to finish it asap, so I can start another one. I'm so confused!

 

[tigerine]

Not if it's their first story, no. If I see at least one finished story on their profile, I might give a second one a go after it's been started a bit ago, and the likelihood of me trying goes up the more finished stories there are. But never with first-time authors, no. I've just seen way too many drop their stories for that.

Actually, no shade there. Writing is hard. It's even harder when you just start out and need to get a grip on this completely new thing you're doing that you know nothing about and have to learn about first but then are made to feel like nobody really cares because you don't get many views, hardly any likes, almost no comments. People are bound to be discouraged by that so it's really not strange at all that most give up before ever finishing that first story. In fact, even when you've been writing for a few years but hit a rough patch, it can happen. It's just human. But it's also just really annoying for readers.
In fact, the latter makes this a bit of a vicious cycle: Readers burn their hands on stories that are started but never finished, then some - like me - decide just not to start reading stories that only started out because they don't want to go through that shit again, so they at most shelve them for later. As a result, first-time authors lose out on the response they could have gotten, are more likely to give up, and thus add to the pile of unfinished stories which will just discourage more readers from starting these kinds of stories.

I would counter with the argument that many creative people don't like shouting into the abyss and hearing nothing back, so stories are more likely to get dropped when no one engages the author. But fair enough.

 

[yansusustories]

I would counter with the argument that many creative people don't like shouting into the abyss and hearing nothing back, so stories are more likely to get dropped when no one engages the author. But fair enough.

That ... is exactly what I said?

 

[bafflinghaze]

If a story is really unique or interesting or memorable, then I'm very willing to wait

But for more generic ones, I'll forget the story if it doesn't update at least weekly at which point I tend to just drop them rather than reread

 

[kola]

When I am not the one writing it.
Daily updates

But when I tried it myself on the story I was writing. I was burned-out soon......lost motivation.

So, If I really love the story. I need story till the end....then the author should take his time and finish it up.

 

[tigerine]

That ... is exactly what I said?

I was referring to your personal preference, which you stated was not to get involved with stories that are not completed. Your recognition of pitfalls and problems that an author faces while writing didn't result in you changing your opinion or reading practices, which is why I left it at 'fair enough'.

 

[yansusustories]

I was referring to your personal preference, which you stated was not to get involved with stories that are not completed. Your recognition of pitfalls and problems that an author faces while writing didn't result in you changing your opinion or reading practices, which is why I left it at 'fair enough'.

Oh, so that was what you meant. You had me confused there

The thing is: From my experience, giving it a try won't change anything. Like, I've tried reading things when they start out, comment on each and every episode, and mention if I won't get around to reading it immediately. I even put in some encouragement about what I liked and even went so far as to follow the creator on their social media accounts which I normally don't (not huge on sm in general). Nevertheless, it was dropped and even deleted without explanation.
So yeah, no, I don't believe that me giving something a try is going to change anything. At most, it's losing me valuable time that I could have used better. I'd rather go and support somebody that has already proven to stick around even if they hit a rough patch.

 

[sereminar]

I spend to much of my life reading so like, i'll never drop a story if it updates slow? Like, I have some pretty good organization so i have stories on hiatus in a different file, and i'll check on them every now and then. recently a story that was on hiatus for like 2.5 years finally posted again and you know i was on that lol. But as far as what is comfortable and easy to follow anything from once ever 2 weeks up i can generally remember what is going on, anything less than that is going to have me review what the heck the story is even about.

 

[BlackStarLine]

Ideally? At least 2 a week. If they can manage more, great. If not, no big deal.

 

[Razmatazz]

As a (terrible) writer I don't want my pace to be set by some online readers I'll never meet or see. It's my story and my work to decide to create as and when I want to. As ironic as it sounds, a writer is not beholden to their readers.

Buuuuuut-

As a reader though, my hypocrasy is that I do hope for at least 1 a week to give myself something to look forward to. But consistency is the biggest thing for me personally. If you say you have an upload schedule then don't miss weeks, don't be a day late, stick to your word. Don't promise a schedule if you can't hold yourself to it. Professionals have standards. *

*Of course this only applies if you have a rigid upload schedule =)

 

[Enlyghten]

I tend to prefer one decently long chapter a week (won't complain about more as long as the author doesn't burn out), but authors have lives too. That's what reading lists are for, in my opinion. I'm more likely to wait months and binge read a slower author rather than read when the update comes out. With quicker updating stories I tend to read as they come out or once a week depending on my schedule. I also tend to not start reading a story unless it has 30 or so chapters with recent activity. Authors still drop stories after 30 chapters, but I find it's a bit less than <30.

I give a lot more leeway to authors that engage in their comments section. It tends to indicate the amount of passion they have for the project and if they value their readership. I also appreciate an author who lets their readership know if they're going on hiatus for a while. Life comes for us all and it can't be helped.

 

[Freesia.Cutepearl]

As a Reader, before I started writing my first story on this site, and with web novels, I would gravitate towards longer ones or completed ones, and binge read, switching back and forth between different series till I caught up.

Lately, after getting into writing, I've found myself poking into some shorter stories that are just getting started.

Writing has made me realize how much of an accomplishment it is to do multiple chapters a week, right now 3 feels like a good pace for me to write, and I would be happy with it as a reader. A few of the stories I've caught up to are only releasing once every week or two. It's become like a small little treat to check and see a new post.

There is definitely something immersive about binge reading though, that just isn't there once you're all caught up.

 

[BenJepheneT]

I do monthly updates so I don't have a say in this lmao

 

[Norseman]

20+ chapters already out, genuinely top rate story, plot, grammar, and a interesting take on it's genre - every 3 months is acceptable.

Cliche plot, bland storyline, under-developed characters, poor grammar, and mostly only dialog - it gets hard to remember who's who after a week.