Epilogues, Short Stories, and Bonus First Chapters

[LilyBLily]

We've probably discussed all these on other threads, but to avoid resurrecting an old one, I'm asking my questions here.

1. I've had reader complaints that my epilogues aren't long enough. What is now considered the optimum length for them?

2. I've completed a brand new 8k short story to put in my box set as a bonus. Is it enough to say "Books 1-3 & Bonus" on the cover or should I do something like "Plus! New Bonus Short Story!"?

3. When including a taste of the next book in the series at the end, how long should the excerpt be, and do you edit it?   

I've been dragging my heels on this project. It's finally almost done.

[TimothyEllis]

We've probably discussed all these on other threads, but to avoid resurrecting an old one, I'm asking my questions here.

1. I've had reader complaints that my epilogues aren't long enough. What is now considered the optimum length for them?

As long as you need. Or as short.

I don't get why an epilogue needs any specific length. It's a tacked on extra for a specific purpose. Most of mine are not more than a dozen sentences long, and usually mostly dialogue.

2. I've completed a brand new 8k short story to put in my box set as a bonus. Is it enough to say "Books 1-3 & Bonus" on the cover or should I do something like "Plus! New Bonus Short Story!"?

Probably the latter.

3. When including a taste of the next book in the series at the end, how long should the excerpt be, and do you edit it?   

Not more than 10% of the length of the actual book. The rules changed a while back. Mainly for KU manipulation, but they made it general.

Edit it? I don't do this at all, but 1 chapter seems sufficient to me. And if the book isn't out yet, very yes you edit it and proof it just like before a launch.

[elleoco]

1. I've had reader complaints that my epilogues aren't long enough. What is now considered the optimum length for them?

I don't know about optimum length, but mine (Western Romance) are all the same general length as a chapter. I've never had a complaint about length but have had some about not having an epilogue. Romance readers evidently expect one.

[alhawke]

The only book I ever added an epilogue to had only a few pages. But I did it more to complete my last book in series than for any marketing purposes. I haven't had any complaints--yet.

For added material in a boxed set, I'd check out a few sets in your genre as examples and pick and choose your method for titling.

Finally, for your sample, personally, I like using my first chapter. For a few books, the first chapter was so long that I gave an excerpt of only about the first ten pages. I'm wide so I don't have to worry about KU rules.

[LilyBLily]

When I said "edit" I meant "abridge." In the first chapter in Book #4 of a series, there are going to be some introductory words about characters that perhaps aren't needed and would slow down the story for a reader who has just finished the prior books and knows exactly who everybody is.

[alhawke]

I abridge samples frequently in order to not give too many spoilers.
IMO, I don't think it matters if you do it for an upcoming book to entice a reader, as long as your first chapter is mostly recognizable as the same work.

[R. C.]

Generally, I like to use the full first chapter of the next book as the epilogue. But, what do I know, my stuff doesn't sell...

R.C.