A Story Hour Question

[haiiro]

I have a dilemma.

My campaign has one session per month, and I write each one up as a campaign journal. These journals are somewhere between a log and a story -- I try to be accurate, but I also don't worry too much about exact dialogue, and the goal is to make them fun to read.

Previously, I was posting these journals in a Story Hour thread, but I found that one update/month means the thread is never on the front page for long -- and therefore never draws any new readers. After a few months, I asked that the thread be locked and stopped posting to it.

I write the journals because I enjoy doing it, and because they're very useful for our game -- but I'd love it if more people had a chance to read them, give feedback, make comments, etc. (If you have a SH thread, I'm sure you understand. )

So here's the dilemma: I miss having a Story Hour, and being a part of this community in that way, and I'd like to start it up again -- but I don't see why anyone would wait for small posts a couple of times a week when they could just go to the campaign website and read the whole thing in one shot. At the same time, I want my players to be able to see the whole journal on our campaign site.

Assuming all that made sense, what do you think -- should I give it another shot? Hopefully I'm not the first person who has run into this issue.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions, criticism and opinions.

 

[Crothian]

post a link in your thread and do a story hour......

 

[the Jester]

One of the best pieces of advice I can give re story hours is...

"more frequent, shorter updates are better than a few occasional, longer updates."

Sometimes long entries turn me off- a few pages in Word is about my limit for most SHs.

 

[haiiro]

One of the best pieces of advice I can give re story hours is...

"more frequent, shorter updates are better than a few occasional, longer updates."

I'm all for shorter updates, and that's good advice.

What do you think about the dilemma, though -- does it make sense to post a SH in pieces here when interested readers can go elsewhere and read ahead? Is the feedback factor -- having the author on hand to answer questions, and to discuss the game elements (rather than the story elements) -- enough to make it worthwhile?

 

[the Jester]

What do you think about the dilemma, though -- does it make sense to post a SH in pieces here when interested readers can go elsewhere and read ahead? Is the feedback factor -- having the author on hand to answer questions, and to discuss the game elements (rather than the story elements) -- enough to make it worthwhile?

Different people will read different formats. You will prolly find ENWorld readers who just don't go to other places to read that sort of stuff.

 

[Crothian]

Ya, I think it is. More people are going to read a SH then follow a link to another site.

 

[el-remmen]

Onc you have a few readers (and this can take a while) one update a month will be enough and they will look forward to it.

Don't worry how long the installments are (mine are often 8 to 12 pages in Word, and that is just 1/2 to 1/3 of one session!) or how often you update (I update only every 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes less often, rarely more), if you build it they will come.

There are all sorts of readers out there for all sorts of story hours. Just post it. You may never get as many page view as Pirate Cat (everyone knows he uses his admin powers to cheat anyway ), but you'll draw a handful of regualr readers and that is all you need if otherwise you'd be writing it anyway (which is the most important factor).

I may not have as many regular readers as I once had (I assume because of the increasing length and space between updates), but the few I have a re loyal and curious, which is the best combo for a story hour audience.

 

[haiiro]

I may not have as many regular readers as I once had (I assume because of the increasing length and space between updates), but the few I have are loyal and curious, which is the best combo for a story hour audience.

Any tricks to inspiring curiosity?

In a thread from a while back, some established SH writers said that the OOC stuff (mechanics, behind the scenes elements, etc.) generated the most commentary. Have you found this to be true with your SHs?

 

[el-remmen]

Any tricks to inspiring curiosity?

In a thread from a while back, some established SH writers said that the OOC stuff (mechanics, behind the scenes elements, etc.) generated the most commentary. Have you found this to be true with your SHs?

I don't think you're getting the point.

Just post. It will attract the people it will attract. Do what you would do, not more and not less.

Playing to your audience doesn't work for Story Hour because it is a varied audience.

 

[jerichothebard]

ALWAYS have a link to it in your .sig here at enworld - and update the sig when you update the SH. I find most of the ones I have read that way - PC's and Jonrog's, in particular.

jtb