A general letter on the length of chapters in fanfic

[timepiececlock]

Dear Avatar ficdom (and others),

Be not afraid of long chapters.

Apologize not for long chapters.

Shorten not your long-chapter-writing tendencies for the (illusory) benefit of your audience. Short chapters are not a benefit, they are a detriment. Long chapters means not only more of a good thing, but also more complete and coherent story progression, more time spent transitioning from scene to scene, and generally more care and attention to the overall plot. And if you don't believe any of that: they're also more like real books.

Write long chapters. Long and juicy and rewarding chapters.

Give us readers something to sink our teeth into.

Sincerely,

Rashaka


P.S. I myself am mentally, emotionally, and typographically incapable of writing long chapters. I have the quill's equivalent of ADD. This is my excuse. But those of you who talk about writing long chapters and then shortening them because you think people don't want to read a 20+ page chapter? YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS EXCUSE. You are in fact going against your long-chapter-writing nature, which is so very wrong. Anyone who tells you they want short chapters is lying. LYING. Peace out.



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EDIT to add:

So, I wrote a review last week, complaining about Zuko being a pod-person in the fic. I received this most amusing reply:

i reject reality and substitute my own. the zuko in the show is a new man in my fic!

At least she's honest. Still frustrating, but honest! I think perhaps I should use the above statement more often in my daily conversations:

"Make dinner? I don't need dinner. I reject reality and substitute my own!"

Comments

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

I reject reality and substitute my own!

Damn Adam Savage for making that insanely popular.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Aw, and here I was giving the fanpoodle too much credit.

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

There goes what little respect you had for her.

I used to watch Mythbusters constantly, so I saw that particular ep where Adam said that more than once.

Then, lately, it's all over the internet. Not three years ago, but now. Weird.

Double episodes tomorrow night!

I need to leave myself a note. I still need to watch Tuesday's House. Then it's almost Saturday already. Jesus, I feel like I just watched "Tooth And Claw" yesterday. If only I could forget it ...

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

Is that where it originated? I've seen it as a t-shirt, that might be the cause of its spread.

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, he's the originator. The episode he said it in, it was maybe around 2 1/2, 3 years ago? I only noticed it become hugely popular among those on the Internet in the last 5 or 6 months.

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

Unrelated, but I meant to ask:

Did you catch the last music post I did? It was Loreena McKennitt. I know you're always looking for new stuff, so I usually have you in the back of my mind when I'm trying to sort out which artists to upload.

Also, I'm getting ready to post the latest Depeche Mode record. I have no idea if you're into DM - I fuckin' love them - and this has to be one of their best records I've heard.

Oh, hey

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Double episodes tomorrow night!