Stories that are too long.

[JustAGuy (imported)]

Hey members, I was just wondering who agrees with me when I say that stories longer than just a few "episodes" is to long. This is just my personal opinion but stories that are longer than four or five chapters is too long. It's one thing to break down a long story in to a few chapters, but when you get it to where its 10, 15, or 20 chapters then the story is just going nowhere. For me a story (unless written quite well) shouldn't be too long, for that really does cause the reader to lose interest in it. Also that in itself could even cause the author of the story to end up contradicting him or herself from what was originally said from earlier chapters.

Honestly I feel that a good story is say no longer than 5 chapters of say 5-10k of words each (at most).

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

JustAGuy.

[A-1 (imported)]

Well,

Probably it would be courteous for Authors to caution readers regarding their plans to write a long mini-epic for the E.A.

...But for HEAVEN'S SAKES... let us not BAN them... O.K.?

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

I disagree with the blanket statement that these lengthy epic sort of stories are too long. Some stories just require a long telling.

On the other hand... some story writers just suck in their telling of their stories, long story or short story, if the story teller wastes too much time to get to some points, then any story is too long.

So I think it is better to say not so much that some stories are too long, I think it is more accurate to say some story tellers just plain SUCK at telling stories.

Now, we have already (extensively, repetedly, reiteratively, exhaustively... etc.) covered "some common misteaks" and various "writtting airors" so I really don't want to beat that dead horse.

If someone is a good writer and they are telling a good story, then I love to read their work no matter how long it may be.

[Kortpeel (imported)]

I've nothing against long stories as such but I prefer them as one download rather than in serial form.

I can understand it though. The writer, having completing Chapter 1 of his masterpiece, is eager to post it and see if he can get any reaction. If he does he is inspired to go on to chapter 2. All perfectly normal and understandable.

However, my advice is to resist the temptation to post anything before you have completed the whole thing. As JustAGuy says, there is a very real risk of contradicting yourself. Characters develop and become 'more real' as you write and inconsistencies can easily arise. Also, you deny yourself the chance to rewrite the earlier stages to fit the really cracker ending that you come up with as the writing proceeds.

But do keep writing.

Kortpeel

[kristoff]

Bitch Bitch Bitch. Don't like what you see? Start writing your own. Or start paying for what you are getting.

[Dave (imported)]

I write short stories that I keep sending to journals to be published and I can tell you, sometimes 1000 words is sufficient and other times 20,000 words is still too few. Even with the stories I post on my website, I have limited control over the length.

It's no different for anyone else writing and posting stories. I used to create chapters. I still create divisions in stories but that is all artificial and up to the author and not the reader.

[JustAGuy (imported)]

Bitch Bitch Bitch. Don't like what you see? Start writing your own. Or start paying for what you are getting.

Look, I'm not bitching, I was simply saying my personal opinions. Now I'm not sure if you live in America or not, but here we have a right to be able to say what we think. It is the First Amendment rights as long as it doesn't cause any harm to others.

[Paolo]

It's one thing to break down a long story in to a few chapters, but when you get it to where its 10, 15, or 20 chapters then the story is just going nowhere.

Tell this to Stephen King or JK Rowling.

I'm really getting tired of posts and emails whining about the stories and related features, too.

Granted, things aren't perfect. But until someone else puts together a site with such a large collection of stories about castration/eunuchs, this is it.

Take it or leave it. Or as Motley Crue once said, "Don't go away mad, just go away."

[PiperBuffy (imported)]

I have to wholeheartedly disagree. Some of the best stories on this and other websites I have read have been the ones that carry on. If someone has a story to tell and it takes a lot of chapters to tell it, I would much rather them tell it in the correct detail rather than cram it into a shorter space.

[Bluecowboi (imported)]

I think it is simple. If you think the story is to long don't read it.

What I would like to see is an easy way to locate a completed story for download or printing or reading.