Topic: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

Hello.

I am close to finishing a story I plan to post here for review. I won't say 'short' story as it's over 12K words now, and I think will cross the 14K boundary, if not the 15K mark. That would technically make it a novelette. My story Chainsaw (posted here) stands at about 12K words. My new one will eclipse that length.

I am writing this post to ask you, my fellow critiquers, your thoughts on long-ass postings here at the site. Do you prefer such posts to be split and posted as parts? Or as one ginormous post, in the way it would be as a final product? Several reviewers of Chainsaw said nothing about its length-some even stopped reviewing and simply fell into the story. That may be the exception rather than the rule, though. My current monstrosity of a 'short' story does have parts; I could easily make three or four posts out of it. But I feel it loses the cadence and flow when it's broken apart. And the way it unspools is an important aspect of the critique. When it's in parts, it's harder to tell if one section drags, or another reads too fast. I don't think the final credits awarded will be any different whether it's one post or many. Would it be more work for you to make three or four reviews? Or is that offset by the length of time it would take to review the story as a single post?

What are your thoughts on this? It's probably not a bad thing I seem to be the only one with this problem. I will admit to jumping all over past submissions with large credit awards for a review, even if they're chapters mid-novel. But the largest I've seen outside of my own submissions (Chainsaw, Nit, A Matter of When, Mother of Grub) was a tad over five credits. Chainsaw alone will net you 8.03 credits for a measley fifty word review. I'm quite pleased with the way this latest of mine is progressing (though not too happy with how long it's taking me) and would really prefer to load it as a single post. But I would like to hear all y'all's opinions. One big honker or more digestible parts?

Thank you.

Quote Post 1

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

I, personally, like long postings. I get a better feel for the voice and the plot arc. Even if it may take me several "sittings" to do a review.  I do break my long chapters up, for the reasons you've stated and get critiqued on how badly my chapter breaks are. wink

Quote Post 2

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

I definitely prefer shorter posts. It makes it much easier to review parts in one sitting, which is why my current WIP splits each scene out as a TNBW chapter, same as what you did for Maiden. Rather than split the short story Into multiple short stories, I suggest publishing it as a book on this site.

Quote Post 3

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

For me, I don't understand why it makes a difference to folks. The credits are the same either way. It takes the same amount of time either way. However, it is easier to get a handle on as one post. If one doesn't have enough time at one sitting they could simply save the draft and continue at their leisure -- at least that's true for the in-line, not sure about a fifty word regular, but if that's all you're gonna leave, you really don't have a time issue, do you? Yeah, I realize that's too much common sense for some reviewers, lol, but hey, it's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.

The way I review, I read the entire post before starting a review and then go back through it with a second read to leave comments. It is easier and more fun to read it through without stopping for suggestions and you get a feel for how things connect so you don't have to question something that's explained later -- though you might wish to say the explanation would work better at an earlier point. Anyway, I think you already have the solution when you say you prefer a single post. A good reviewer will adjust to what you offer. Nuff said. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 4

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

Don' make me no nevamind.  I's reads longs or shorts, jus' whateva I's in da mood fo'.  Too long fo' you, den don' read it.  Too sho't, den read two.  It be dat simple.

MJ
(Just practicing for my character, Sam Woodard.)

Quote Post 5

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

Well, okay. One long-ass post rather than parts. So, at a cost of over 51 credits to publish, I present my story "Unpelted", a 16K-word monstrosity of military science-fiction set in the world of my manuscript, Terrorcruise.

A review earns you a whopping 10.36 credits. That's over ten credits for fifty words. Ho. Lee. Shit. That is insane!

Get to it, fans, friends, and readers of all ilk!

Quote Post 6

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

I put it on my list. Looking forward to reading it!

Quote Post 7

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

Seabass. I'm on board. 10+ points. Wow.

Quote Post 8

9 Reply by Marty Reeh (edited by Marty Reeh 2019-08-19 21:23:57)

Re: Curious about your thoughts on long posts

Personally, I don't like long posts, especially if it's a story I want to review. As far as readability goes, shorter is better. It's much easier to review a shorter post. First, long posts take a longer time to read and unless you take notes as you go, you might miss things you want to point out. Second, the time it takes to read a longer post can be intimidating. I really wish that writers would break  their posts into segments no longer than 2-3000 words, that tends to be more manageable. For me, I review better with short segments. I don't mind reading parts of stories as opposed to the full length. I'll e able to review you better that way.  Just my opinion, of course

BTW, read your post about what you're doing. That's way too much for me--wish you'd break it up

Quote Post 9