I was wondering about the size of uploads
I have put up a few chapters of WIP so far, and each is over the 4,000 word mark.
It occurred to me that some might be put off reading the weightier uploads.
So my question is about etiquette really. Is there a considered maximum or perhaps just a case of ‘the size of the chapter IS the size of the chapter’

I'm fairly new too, but I gather that about 2,000 words is 'acceptable'. People do upload more, but it may put people off critting, or they may just crit the first few paragraphs. Look forward to reading yours,
Susiex

2000 words is about the limit of my 'comfort zone' for critiquing. If it's longer than that I start forgetting what I wanted to say about it.
Critting is different from reading for pleasure, it's not the storyline I'm looking at, but a host of stylistic, grammatical and structural parameters in the prose. The only time I register the storyline is if something seems out of kilter and I think it could use a bit of a rearrangement.
It's something you'll probably find yourself doing when you critique others' work - there will be times when the storyline won't interest you, but you'll get the feeling for whether it's well written or not.


- NaomiM

Thank you NaomiM and Susiex
I thought the opinion would lean this way
My first two uploads were the natural chapter size, and I was worried that it may have been just a bit too much to digest in one go.
(OK for a book, but overwhelming for a little web read)
So. I have decided to split chap3 into sections.

Rhys

I don't read anything over 2,000. One I saw recently was 6,000.

Sheila

I've just seen something the same, in the YA group, and the first few lines are beautiful, so I've bookmarked it to read later, but I've got a mind like a sieve and know I should go and print it out or I'll forget. But the consensus is right, it gets tricky commenting on things too long, simply because you have to start making notes and then it becomes a chore.

Sometimes shorter pieces are better simply because several people will give similar, or conflicting opinions on the same section - which rarely happens on the big pieces. It seems odd, but you tend to get more detailed crits with shorter uploads.

Colin M

Sometimes shorter pieces are better simply because several people will give similar, or conflicting opinions on the same section - which rarely happens on the big pieces. It seems odd, but you tend to get more detailed crits with shorter uploads.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there, Colin. With crits you're looking for a concensus of opinion which you tend to get in the shorter pieces because people are commenting on the same bit. Where as with longer pieces there is a temptation to save time by skipping the parts that other readers have already read and commented on.
If I'm confronted with a 6000 word upload I might only focus on the opening couple of paragraphs and a single scene of around 1500 words that has caught my eye somewhere within it, as I skim through it.


- NaomiM

I think that's an excellent idea, Naomi. I've been reluctant to comment on something I've skimmed through or when I've only read a part of the whole. I'll have another think about it, though after what you said about commenting on a section that catches your eye.

In the past I've printed off longer pieces I've really wanted to read. I often do short journeys by public transport so the reading part isn't a problem. I agree it's a bit of a kerfuffle making notes on the paper and then transferring then to the screen, though. I really have to be motivated to do that and it's only happened twice.

Sheila

Well I hesitated to mention it, Cornelia, because I know that some writers (on other writers forums, I hasten to add) have got a little hot under the collar about the validity of skim reading.
In it's defence, I find I get a much clearer idea of the overall structure of the piece, and, sometimes I see the same faults repeated over and over again, so you may as well just pick one or two sample sections to comment on otherwise you could find yourself repeating the same points several times over.


<Added>

On one level, skim reading could be thought of as synopsising the storyline.

Mmm... I see what you mean about repeated fault comments.

The required flexibility might be beyond one of my advanced years - I mean skipping lightly over to get the gist, then slowing down to concentrate on the interesting bits, then speeding up again to get to the end.

If I don't keel over from dizziness first, though, it might stave off Altzheimers.

Sheila

I'm all in favour of staving off Alzheimers