Seriously, writing side chapters is a struggle in itself...

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So yeah, like what the title says, I think writing extra chapters is a class of its own. See, I have this quirk where I won't proceed writing my next arcs without fully completing my previous arc, extra (side) chapters included.

Now what I'm having a problem about is finding a story for side chapters. I'd like it to be light as possible (it's extra), but for some reason, it always end up being heavy stuff to be counted as a 'side story'.

Anyone got suggestions? My approach is to do a side chapter for each of my MCs, and I'd like it to be light read as possible.
 
LazyPanda

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There are some author out there that literally makes a new Novel and name it for side chapters for their main story. Other would make a new chapter label like : Sub Side(SS): 1, 2, 3 vs. Chapter 1, 2, 3.
Plus you can always use it as a undercurrent happening behind the scene of the main plot.
 
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LazyPanda said:
There are some author out there that literally makes a new Novel and name it for side chapters for their main story. Other would make a new chapter label like : Sub Side(SS): 1, 2, 3 vs. Chapter 1, 2, 3.
Plus you can always use it as a undercurrent happening behind the scene of the main plot.
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Hmm...sounds plausible huh? An additional volume...
 
BenJepheneT

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I just add a .5 after the main chapter, or just simply title it as "Bonus/Extra Chapter 1" or something like that.

if you want to tackle heavy stuff, I suggest skimping over it instead of giving it a proper build-up and a resolution. make it read like a small moment in life and leaving breadcrumbs and clues rather than revealing it as an actual, proper story on its own. most of these extra chapters just give the chapters a little bit more zest and flavour to it, sometimes letting the readers relive moments in your main chapters through another perspective to keep em engaged. just make sure they don't retroactively contextualize or retcon the actual chapters. remember that extra chapters are supposed to build upon the main chapters or lube up the readers for the next chapters, not make unnecessary customization to it.
 
PandaSempai

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I think it would be good to add some Slice of Life? Also, some brief scenes where it would show how the other characters were doing.

In my current Omake Episodes/Chapter, I made the first one a first person POV, showing the character of a certain Loli Angel. Then, in the next Omakes, I showed how the other children in Heaven was. It was just around 500~1000 so it was a relatively light read. Although it didn't encompass the POVs of other characters, I still managed to show how the other character was doing.
 
PandaSempai

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Slice of Life is, in my opinion, the way to go when you want to write a transition chapter. I do this whenever I couldn't think of a way to connect one event to another. Well, my story is a Slice of Life so...
 
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BenJepheneT said:
I just add a .5 after the main chapter, or just simply title it as "Bonus/Extra Chapter 1" or something like that.

if you want to tackle heavy stuff, I suggest skimping over it instead of giving it a proper build-up and a resolution. make it read like a small moment in life and leaving breadcrumbs and clues rather than revealing it as an actual, proper story on its own. most of these extra chapters just give the chapters a little bit more zest and flavour to it, sometimes letting the readers relive moments in your main chapters through another perspective to keep em engaged. just make sure they don't retroactively contextualize or retcon the actual chapters. remember that extra chapters are supposed to build upon the main chapters or lube up the readers for the next chapters, not make unnecessary customization to it.
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I see. Thanks for reminding me that. The key is 'build-up'.

Well, I wonder if it's also right to use the extra chapter as a way of further 'fleshing out' a character?
 
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PandaSempai said:
Slice of Life is, in my opinion, the way to go when you want to write a transition chapter. I do this whenever I couldn't think of a way to connect one event to another. Well, my story is a Slice of Life so...
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Yep, I'm trying to do that, but somehow, the story turns for darker tones the longer I dwell on it.

But yeah, I somehow manage to finish two SoL side chaps.
 
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PandaSempai said:
Maybe you haven't seen enough Loli anime girls in action. I'm sure this will remove the dark tone in your novel. Lol
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Nah. I don't watch anime anymore (I don't know where to download); I usually read manga nowadays, but not into lolis (some bad memories are trigggered).
 
tigerine

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Side chapters/extras should only be used to illuminate parts of the story that would not otherwise be explored, imo. If you had a scene where a character was saved in the nick of time by someone else arriving, it might be satisfying for readers to see how the rescuers worked out what to do, where to go. You shouldn't retread the same ground, only add to the reader's understanding of a character, arc, setting, etc, that they don't normally see.
 
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tigerine said:
Side chapters/extras should only be used to illuminate parts of the story that would not otherwise be explored, imo. If you had a scene where a character was saved in the nick of time by someone else arriving, it might be satisfying for readers to see how the rescuers worked out what to do, where to go. You shouldn't retread the same ground, only add to the reader's understanding of a character, arc, setting, etc, that they don't normally see.
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So it could be used to further flesh out a scene or character?
 
BenJepheneT

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HansTrondheim said:
Thanks for confirming that. So I was right all along.

My only problem left is how to write without getting the story dark.
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Like I said, don't dive deep. Surface level mentioning and leaving things hanging for interpretation with a maximum of only SLIGHT nudges towards a narrative direction.
 
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BenJepheneT said:
Like I said, don't dive deep. Surface level mentioning and leaving things hanging for interpretation with a maximum of only SLIGHT nudges towards a narrative direction.
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I always tend to forget that. ???

Well, in any case, thanks for the help!
 
PandaSempai

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HansTrondheim said:
Nah. I don't watch anime anymore (I don't know where to download); I usually read manga nowadays, but not into lolis (some bad memories are trigggered).
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Go download in kissanime.ru. That's where you DL an anime. You should play the video, right click, and save video as. That's where I download anime.
 
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PandaSempai said:
Go download in kissanime.ru. That's where you DL an anime. You should play the video, right click, and save video as. That's where I download anime.
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Thanks for the help, comrade.
images (13).jpeg
 
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