[@shylarah] [quote=shylarah] Heavy handed narrative is almost entirely independent of medium, I think. [/quote] That previous example I gave with Fate/Zero wasn't given without any thought -- the character of Kiritsugu is presented entirely differently due to the [i]lack[/i] of details. You can be more heavy-handed with certain mediums because the details are where the truth is found. When I said heavy-handed narrative, I was referring detailed and thorough narrative - therefore able to get the point across - or what people have been calling 'long-winded' a lot on this site. There's only so much you can say in one sentence in comparison to forty sentences, and that additional content can make [i]all[/i] the difference. The concept applies to debates as well -- a single sentence of 'you're wrong, because ___' is far less likely to get my attention or even be worth listening to than someone who can present a long and thorough argument that has scrutinized the details. Characterization will only go so far without details, and the details are where you find the lore that's actually been well-thought-out instead of being full of holes and contradictions. I'm a casual literary analyser, and I've helped authors progress their works in the past by pointing out holes that were missed due to not being detailed enough -- the sort of details that best-selling novelists often end up missing. They're lucky most consumers aren't like me or they'd be out of business. [quote=shylarah] And visual novel generally implies that a person can make choices and interact to some degree. [/quote] I've been told about - and witnessed myself - visual novels with no interaction at all. This is what my project would be. [quote=shylarah] But yeah, the ability to use multiple types of media is very useful, particularly for details. And I never said weak storytelling. A straightforward manner does not mean poorly written, simply a different style. [/quote] [i]You[/i] never said weak storytelling, but [i]I[/i] did -- I rarely see overtly straightforward stories that I truly enjoy. You not feeling the same way as I do doesn't mean I'm putting words in your mouth. I'm not an easy person to impress when it comes to writing - or pieces of fiction in general - because of my attention to detail and my willing suspension of disbelief. [quote=shylarah] If you want an example of one story over multiple installments, hm. NOvel-length installments...I don't know if there are any. Mostly because if you reach a certain length, it becomes possible to find resting points where putting a break feels right. Sort of like chapter breaks, but in different books. I /might/ suggest the Daggerspell book and its accompanying series, but the narrative jumps time periods a lot, and is pretty complicated. Actually, you might like it for that, even if it isn't episodic. It's been a long time; I forget how solidly separated the books were. [/quote] I don't have time to go looking up franchises to confirm or deny this whole concept -- my post was only meant to emphasize that I think classifying books into light novels or regular novels is fundamentally flawed literary analysis from the beginning. I don't think [i]any[/i] of them truly fit my work, and my attention to detail demands I take the best of all mediums to create the most compelling work. I've observed - and worked with - very complicated storylines, some of which were working with several time periods - and, in my own case, multiple dimensions - in a single episode simultaneously, and it was never difficult for me to follow. Perhaps I'd find it interesting - if I like the overall aesthetic (I'm very difficult to please) - but as I mentioned I don't have time. Remaining on this site and juggling it with my project means I currently have no free time whatsoever -- I pretty much only get to step away from my PC to eat or shower, or run errands. [quote=shylarah] Now I'm getting confused. You're saying serialization of light novels as opposed to regular novels, and yet I see books in all sorts of series formats. And we've established that light novels are likewise episodic or not as the fancy takes the author. [/quote] You're missing the point - but you did say you were confused - that I was saying that regular novels follow a serialization method (a.k.a. have an entirely self-contained story in the book, even if it's not the whole plotline), as opposed to light novels which tend to be more varied. I already stated in my post that I'm aware that light novels don't follow a constant format. [quote=shylarah] However I do know with the rise of self-publishing and ebooks, there are things being released that are called novels (or at least books) but are not complete stories. I've read a couple. They sorta have a start, middle, and end, but there's such big unanswered questions that will be handled in later books that I don't consider it a complete story (something I rather dislike them doing, I should add, as it basically forces someone to buy the rest of the "series" or not get answers). [/quote] Any decent storyline is like that (the thing you just said you didn't like). You can't tell an entire storyline for an anime series in one episode - and those who try to end up creating really badly put together adaptations - so, yes, people will need to buy the whole anime series if they want the whole story -- they shouldn't have a problem with that if they enjoyed what they've seen so far. Honestly, if you don't like unanswered questions you should probably avoid my work (on or off the site) entirely, because I build up a lot of stuff I don't plan to reveal immediately -- that's what foreshadowing is meant to be. Unlike many authors who lack details though, I'll eventually explain [i]everything[/i]. [quote=shylarah] One reason I feel writing to be superior to most other media is because it is the only one where you can really get inside the heads of different people, see what they're thinking and feeling. Particularly if one often misses social cues, as I do. Yes, you can miss things even in writing, or perhaps the author implies but does not state, but it still feels far more connected to the people there, instead of going /only/ off expressions and actions. The drawback is that no matter how much you describe something's appearance, the mental image probably will be different from someone else's. [/quote] You've listed [i]one[/i] of the reasons I consider writing superior. As for the drawback -- this is why I include illustrations. [quote=shylarah] Ugh, I know I keep saying this, but, obsessive details is a huge turn-off to me. I can handle a wide range, but while details do make the story, so does execution. That is to say, details may make the story, but they can also break it. ^.^; [/quote] Whereas I'm completely turned off by writers who [i]miss[/i] details. We don't see things the same way here and are unlikely to. If lots of details - in order to flesh out and make the work as thorough and compelling as possible - bother you so much, don't read my story? I'm not forcing you to, and I'm certainly not going to write something I'm dissatisfied with just to please other people -- I hate authors who sell out.