Hi
Just wanted to ask what the usual length was of pieces uploaded? I've had a look and most seem to be around 2000 words. My chapters are about 5,000. Is it the done thing to upload chapters this long?
C

Caroline

I think you've got to think about people's willingness (and ability?) to read so many thousand words from a screen. I think after about 2000 words it becomes a bit of a chore so maybe uploading your chapters in halves might be the answer.

My chapters are about the same length as yours and I started doing this with some good positive feedback - and I doubt I would've got as much with whole chapters of 5000 or 6000 words.

Good luck

Dave

Brilliant - thanks for that Dave

Caroline, my chapters tend to be around 3,500-4,500 words, which is really too long for a casual read. The only reason I feel confident to upload them is that I have built up a small but wonderful group of members who are following my novel. And, in the same spirit, there are other members whose work I always wait for and comment on.

Start off with smaller uploads (try a few RLGs – there’ll be a new one on October 1st with an explanatory thread) and, as you develop a relationship with others, you will get a sense of what is OK and what will look like a chore. I get the feeling from your profile that you won’t have too much trouble!

Good luck – and welcome.

Dee.

Caroline,

Anything longer than 3000 words can present a problem for the reader... a problem not of the specific length but a problem of trying to help with meaningful and honest opinions expressed in one's comments, for the length can get in the way of such an analytical but well-intentioned approach.

There is no 'right' length but the problem of putting up Chapters of a book is that this is part of a pattern, a 'canvas' that the Author is writing or has written. I think this may limit the 'value' of certain comments applying to the work as a whole.

Perhaps the practical answer to this is for you to upload your complete Chapters - if indeed they do 'stand on their own'. Quite a few years ago now I was involved in some field research that was concerned with people's willingness to read 'Short or Long Copy - it was to do with advertising - but the results apply to any form of creative writing... It doesn't matter how long or how short - people will read anything provided it captures and hold their interest from beginning to end.

Len

I upload rather long pieces sometimes (the longest was 13,000 words) and don't believe in tailoring things to suit the site at all. However, it can be difficult to get other writer's to comment on these 'novella' length ones, so if it's mainly feedback on style you're after,it's best to go for shorter pieces.

JB