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timepiececlockDear 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.
****************
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!"
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.
****************
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!"
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 05:47 am (UTC)Ahahaha that entire second paragraph could apply to me as well. Vignettes! NOW WITH DIALOGUE. It's a step up, right? ...right?
Redemption through hunger pains!
I want you to know I am actually, honestly, physically crying because of that sentence. I want this to be canon omg.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 05:50 am (UTC)I want you to know I am actually, honestly, physically crying because of that sentence. I want this to be canon omg.
Me too. There's a famous literary architype or analogy somewhere in that idea, but my mind is blanking.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 05:54 am (UTC)Just sayin'.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 05:57 am (UTC)::cackle::
That's fantastic. I was thinking of something older/broader than GWTW, but oh that sentence would make a fantastic icon. Next time we see grubby Zuko on a screencap, it's got to be done.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 05:59 am (UTC)Ahahaha, but what could be more appropriate than Scarlett O'Hara's suffering? C'mon, let's be honest here.
MY LOVE FOR THAT ICON WOULD BE ENDLESS.no subject
Date: 2006-04-28 06:04 am (UTC)(feels heart break at the thought of Starving!Iroh)
As much as I want Zuko and Iroh to finally meet up with Aang, Katara and Sokka... I kind of doubt it will ever happen in canon since it's a bit to obvious. I'll still be praying for it though.
On HP fics, the only HP fic I read was a Harry/Snape fic but only because my best friend literally bribed me to read it. (This is the same friend who tricked me into reading Asimov's Foundation Series)
Apparently, Harry/Snape is a very popular pairing in HP fandom. Have to admit I had serious doubts about it, but it was nicely done and the romance was in the background plus Harry was older (sort of) Had to do with a magical mirror.
Unfortunately... that fic wasn't finished... still, I think. I so do not like it when I read a long story which has been left unfinished. However, the author did put a lot into it. It was very well-written.