no, really. REALLY.

[schmerica]

ATTENTION FANDOM: STORY LENGTH AND STORY QUALITY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. There is no direct correlation, either way.

Some stories need a lot of words to tell. Some stories don't. Some people prefer nice long stories they can sink their teeth into for hours and hours. Some people prefer things shorter and self-contained.

I, personally, with everything else being equal, would rather read five 5000 word stories than one 25000 story, and three 3000 word stories than one 9000 one. Does that mean I think short fic is better? No, it just means it's not my personal preferences. Does it mean I think you're wrong for liking longer stuff? No, it just means our taste is different.

WHY OH WHY IS THIS SUCH A DIFFICULT CONCEPT? I SHALL NOW STOMP AROUND IN AN ANNOYED FASHION.

Comments

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

You're right. The real problem isn't that people have preferences, though, or even that they feel they must state them forcefully. It's that there have always been some fans who feel they have to pressure other writers into writing what said fans personally want and pressure them into not writing what they don't want, and then they want to make rules for everyone based on their personal preferences. Some fans even seem to want to eradicate certain pairings or styles, or whatever. I understand the urge, it's human nature, but the truth is, it does not create happiness. We have free will; it is useless without the ability to make any choice we want to. Even if it's "so wrong." So what, you know?

I think the more variety there is, the better. I think people should write what they want to write, and read what they want to read, and ignore what they don't want to see. That way does lie happiness. It really works! :) (Sorry, I know I'm preaching to the choir, here.)