The number of chapters in stories

[JesusA (imported)]

A great story is one that grabs its “author” by the throat and doesn’t let go until it’s told. Some are quite short and others take much longer. Some great stories on the Archive are very brief. Kortpeel’s “Evenin’ Dearie” is less than a page, and it would be impossible to change even a comma without damaging it. Others require many chapters to tell. Androboy’s “The Tribes” and Paolo’s “XY-n” keep getting better and better as the characters reveal themselves to their authors and to us, the readers. I can’t imagine trying to condense them. To tell the characters that their story can’t be told. A true author lets the story take him (or her) where it will and the readers should be grateful for the results. For all of you authors (and would be authors) struggling to let the stories flow through you, we should all be supportive.