Length of stories

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Mon, 2012-01-23 18:44

Length of stories

Hi dear ABCers, I have just (after much dithering) posted my first prose submission "Ursa Major". Oldpesky was the first on to it and posted some very positive comments (thanks Peskmeister). OP enquired as to why I had only posted three short chapters. I explained that this is how I have the story arranged in its final format and that I had used up my 'three a day' allocation and therefore couldn't post any more.

I reflected on OP's observation and on balance thought 'sod it' I'll post the whole thing and be damned - but conscious of the length. The story is a little over eight thousand words (about fifty min's of reading for me and I'm a slow reader).

I recall Archiemacjoyce's "The end of my youth" which is an epic poem arranged into sonnets is also about the same length as "Ursa Major" and it was well read and well commented on (rightly so given its quality). Do you think that I have made the right decision in posting the whole thing or should I as jolono has sagely advised, split the story up into three sections?

Your opinions and advice would be much appreciated.

P.S please do not view this as a tout for 'reads', it is certainly not meant to be one.

Mon, 2012-01-23 19:18

Silver Spun Sand

Hi there, scratch. I started to read your excellent story yesterday...four times, I might add, and at each attempt, the phone, the doorbell, etc. etc. interrupted me. In all honesty, I was so enthralled by some of those descriptions of yours, I couldn't stop reading it. Wonderful! I am finding it even more interesting because my husband was on the oil-rigs of offshore Aberdeen in the seventies and eighties. I digress, sorry;-) From a personal viewpoint, I would find it more convenient in say, three or four chapters at a time. Life's a bitch and can sometimes ruin the best of intentions;-) Having said this, I can certainly see your reasons for wanting to post it in full. Either way, I am looking forward, very much, to reading it in its entirety. Tina

Mon, 2012-01-23 20:10

scratch

Many many thanks SSS for your comment. I have a slightly more relaxed feeling now given your words. The chapter division that I have included seems to be a decent halfway house based on the observations and the preferences of others also. Thanks for the support and the advice it is much appreciated.

Mon, 2012-01-23 22:04

scratch

And that you enjoyed and will return; the doorbell notwithstanding. :)

Mon, 2012-01-23 22:14

andrea

Peoples attention span when reading online is quite short, Scratch, in my experience. I would advise, if possible, subs of 1500-2000 words. "The end of my youth" would have been very difficult to chop without ruining the flow (as I think I said somewhere, but long shorts (so to speak) are easier to split, I would think (and also keep the readers 'on their toes' and waiting for the next instalment). My opinion only, of course. http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukapress.com

Mon, 2012-01-23 22:29

scratch

And this is the point Andrea. There is a decision making process involved in terms of motivation and commitment to read. There's no doubt (in my opinion) that there is a different cognition involved in terms of reading on-line compared to paper. Maybe that more often than not you pay for paper and read on-line for free and that difference inevitably focusses the mind.

Tue, 2012-01-24 11:52

andrea

Dunno, in my case it's 'cos I'm blind as the proverbial, and find the screen more tiring for me peepers... (rather unfortunate, since I spend an inordinate amount of time reading mss online). http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukauthors.com

http://www.ukapress.com

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