Long story or serial

blackbirch
I have a part 3 in mind, which will depend on the comments, I suppose. It might be a segment too far...

Don't hold back on your story if you're confident in it. I've done a lot of second-guessing about creating sequels, especially when I hadn't originally planned one but a reader suggested "what if ...?" and I tried running with the idea. Some wound up being submitted or waiting for submission, but others wound up being abandoned.

So if you're happy with Part 3 then go for it. We aren't exactly the NY Times literary critics here; if you write it people will read it.

That's very public spirited of you. Hats off! There are some writers who split their stories into very small sections which must surely clog up the system.

That's me! I'm the clog!! Yyyaaayyyyy!!!

Burgundy
That's me! I'm the clog!! Yyyaaayyyyy!!!

No, you are the teacher who understands we have shorter attention spans than we once had, and work to accommodate those shorter attention spans.

Actually in hindsight, if I had to re-split my serials, I would split them into fewer parts. But I was new to both writing and the site dynamics -I'm sorry I clogged the system, I didn't know what I was doing! I don't seem to be cranking out any 20,000-word submissions anymore anyway (thank goodness).

Ah, go on Burgundy, do a big one. A reader can get well established in 20,000 words and be aghast when finished.
You have the Easter break to write it - if you still get the holiday in Canada.

Would you even read it, or are you just trying to send the competition on a wild goose chase so you can have the field all to yourself?

Wild geese here are pretty scarce, unlike in your place; except for up north, which is too hot to chase anything.
No, I am in earnest, and would read it. You can send anything you think too big for the library directly to me, or anything small for that matter. stgec@bigpond.com

Word count is less important than what you do with those words. This is a spanking story site and while you don't have to rush to the action, I do think you have to establish the scenario or at least potential scenario. If you're not putting compelling characters in a compelling situation, then the story is going to feel long even if it's less than 5000 words. There are some authors on here who write longer stories that I couldn't stop reading because they played on my anticipation and curiosity.

In general, the benefit of the shorter format is the reader assumes that there will be some delivery on their curiosity within that shorter frame, giving them a reason to read on.

I personally enjoy the serial approach, except for when the author loses interest or stops adding episodes abruptly and doesn't finish story lines. I'm still waiting for profken to continue two serials, "Southern Exposure" and the "Parental Involvement" series. Southern Exposure has some story lines that have been alluded to that haven't been fleshed out, and Parental Involvement has some avenues I think would be very interesting such as seeing how students who use their disciplinary authority in inappropriate ways are discovered and dealt with.
I am guilty of clicking into a story, finding it doesn't interest me a great deal, then moving on without reading the entire work. If Burgundy wishes to make the trip, she can come to Texas and deal with me.