LENNY LIBRARY - If you look carefully in The Neopian Times, you see there are
many parts to each issue. You have the Editorial and Articles, the most often
read parts of The Neopian Times. Somewhere you see Short Stories, great for
a quick read, and Series, New and Continued.
Now, I assume you read articles if you are reading this. But do you read series?
Well, truth of the matter is not many people read series, probably because they
like a whole story in one. But sometimes getting the whole story in one isn't
such a great thing, for both sides. For example, this means the author has to
cram in as much stuff under 2,500 words, the Estimated Short Story Limit. Anything
above that is separated into a Series. (Take my recently ending intended to
be a short story, Spacegold's
Independence Day)
That takes away a whole lot of quality from the story! If I crammed that much,
you'd miss the joke where I get called a hypocrite, my discussion with the Amnesiac
Quiggle, plus much more!
Thus, this results in few readers, which even ends up leading to less feedback.
And almost any major Neopian Times author will tell you feedback is just as
good or even better then the trophies. (I even like a few flames, I laugh at
how some of the people flaming me about disliking Lupes think I own a Chia.)
So as you see, not reading a Series can pretty much decrease the quality of
Neopian Times. But, before you go and leap into some of the great series out
there right now, such as the Kau
Seer's Revenge or The
Clan of Ligmoore.
Avoid Scrolling Down to the Bottom
Lot's of us, being only human, have a tendency to scroll all the way to the
bottom of the series to see how long it is. There is a problem with this: It
may appear to be too long, which it never is if it is enjoyable, and you may
find out some info the author would rather you wouldn't.
This can make it more tempting to skip parts, possibly missing a crucial detail
in the story. If you find yourself to be that sort of person, there are many
things you can do.
1. Print it out! Surveys show it is easier to comprehend information
if it is on paper. Since this does take up a lot, try and make the background
not appear, print grays cale and double sided.
2. Turn on Accessibility Options. Lots of newer computers make it easy
for a person with a disability to use, and although some of the software, such
as Microsoft's Magnifier, is cool, it is pretty much useless. But, some of them
will make it easier to read for anyone, like High Contrast. This won't be an
option if your using a friend's or a public computer.
3. Find a different series! If that author types too much in a part
for you, go to a different series! Also, try and focus on only one to three
series.
4. Just ignore it and read. You'll get into the story, and soon enough,
you'll wish it didn't end so quickly.
Remember to read it Next Week!
I find lots of people have problems doing this. They read Part One of an interesting
series, but the next week, they totally forget to read Part Two. This almost
happened to me with Clan of Ligmoore, a series I'll constantly refer to in this
article. I read Part 2 & 3 each a week late. (Sorry much amerock!)
If you can't remember, here are some more helpful guidelines.
1. Tell a Neofriend or Guild about the Series! This way you both will
remember to read it during the time it runs.
2. If you use your Neopets Diary or Guild Calendar, they may become
a useful tool in remembering.
Custom Pictures used to Your Advantage
With the recent discovery of Meridell and a very deep plot, every clue will
help piece together the puzzle. Sometimes you'll see a series about Meridell,
and it has a picture made just for it. And of course, Neopets isn't going to
draw a picture that differs from the plot, right? So, if you read the series
and study the picture, you may be able to piece together the next piece of the
puzzle.
Of course, that's a rare chance, but don't forget it won't just help outside
of the series, it will help inside the series! For example, in my series, Power
in Quality, you see a picture of one of my Neopets, egold, pondering
the Wishing Well. Although we find out the Wishing Well is a part of the series
early on, we wouldn't know how crucial it would be until later on without the
picture.
The picture is not a spoiler, just a better way to make a prediction, which
could make you either right or wrong. For example, my guess about the Clan of
Ligmoore's Future in that the third Neopet gets connected to the Mysterious
Clan mentioned in the title and they have to defeat it may be totally wrong
or right. Speaking of predicting...
Predicting the Next Part
The cool thing about a series is that there is a next part, and you get a surge
of excitement raving about the series. For example, in shortly after Part 1
of Clan of Ligmoore I contacted the author congratulating about the series,
and she told me it would soon take a twist or something to that effect. The
Neomail is gone now.
Being a Long-term Series Author once, I know it is fun to spill the beans
in a small way. These beans do spread if there is a following of the series,
sort of like me following COL. But only if your connected to other readers,
unlike me. I'm sure your guild may develop an interest if you tell them about
it.
Also, don't depend on the author for your main source of information! I mean,
they are the only ones that know, but the readers have better guesses and are
more likely to be less vague. Although this means they are a whole lot more
wrong, it does mean room for discussion. So if you know people reading the same
series, contact them!
It may help to put of series you are reading in your userlookup and shop in
order to contact other members. A Neocircle isn't going to work as well, as
series do come to an end. Wahhh....I want more Ligmoore!
Final Notes
All's left to say about series reading is that whenever an author writers about
his or her own Neopets, is makes it a whole lot easier to relate to their Neopets,
and it makes great promotion for the series as in Beauty Contest entries and
Pet Pages! Visit both, you may get an extra detail about the series, and I wouldn't
mind having another person vote for one of my Neopets.
Also, reading series is the best way to learn to write them. *hint hint* When
writing a series, be sure to instead of directly submitting all of your parts
in one message, send them in one message, but as each part as it's own attachment.
Makes it easier for the editor to separate, at least I think.
Guild Leaders: Think about organising a Series Discussion in your
guild, for example, if your guild is the MegaBattling Shoyru Guild you may enjoy
the series Ses'
Story.
Well, anyway, that's all I have to say about reading series. I myself am thinking
about writing a new series, so be on the lookout for that. (Who knows which
Issue, I have yet to write a word. Heh.) Support the Reconstruction of Maraqua
and Bye in Six Different Languages until next time. If you want to Neomail
me or Check
out my profile I'd surely appreciate it! | 
