Story Length Preference

[Arkane]

One of my things is that I am not especially a fan of much science fiction unless most of it can be explained through physics.

I agree.

I don't want to derail the thread but "realism" is another issue for me. It's not that I'm absolutely against a fantastic setting, but if I'm reading  a kink story the fantastic element deviates from the main theme (kink), and I don't want this. (The same if a long preamble or digression brings me to some boring details that are not so relevant, and so on).
I can relate if a character is subject to bondage or a painful punishment. Even electrical stimulation is already irrelevant to me (I never experienced it at a painful level so I can't imagine it). A suffering induced by magic, for example, isn't interesting at all in my opinion, unless it's told in a way I can relate to it in the real world.
A world of orks and fairies probably will be un-erotic for me, and I won't read any of it if something bondage or kinky related doesn't appear in the first paragraphs. No Lord of the Rings in bondage, no Star Wars in slavery, thanks. Not for me, at least.

Exceptions may exist, but I prefer my bondage fiction reasonably short and right to the point.

[ElectroPainLover]

Thanks Max. And, you are very welcome.

Anymore, I will always respond to a story I have read; good, bad, or indifferent. I have found that even old stories get a new spark by a recent reply to them.

I can only hope the stories I write are interesting to my readers. I assure you they are interesting to me when I write them and remain so when I re-read them once they have been out of my mind for some time. I write, for the most part, about what I enjoy and fantacize about. I will step outside of my bounds on occassion as the story requires, but, mainly as a means-to-an-end to meet my requirements to maintain a sentiment of realism.

Though I am admittedly trying to open my mind to allow for a little less strict-line realism, I doubt you will ever read a story by me which includes out-right anti-physics stories, stories of potions or magic, Giantess stories, or plant or person vore stories. Again, I write about my interests and I have not found those to be particularly interesting or of my particular taste.

Thanks again, as always Max.
Dana -- EPL


Thank you Arkane.

Unfortunately, I find it much too difficult to jump immediately into the meat-and-potatoes without enjoying a pre-dinner salad first in my writings. I have to give some background to inspire myself and set the pace and particulars of the story. I am saddened that this style turns you away for the most part. I have tried to jump right in and skip the preliminaries but am rarely happy with the progression of the story afterwards. My Halloween story incorporates the trick of starting some time into the story, then, returning to the beginning to fill in the background. I may also use this technique for future stories. But, like Fordman, Lobo, Steve Spandex, and a few others (sorry if I have forgotten you) have told me...write about what you like and how you feel comfortable telling it. I have taken their advise to heart and have been following it.

I doubt you will ever be disappointed by my lack of keeping quite close to realism within my stories Arkane, but that is only if you can get past my opening babble to set the stories characters, scene, background, and other elements I wish to present as a guide for the rest of the story.

Thank you for the comments.
Dana -- EPL

[absolutist]

Regarding realism: I strongly believe in the suspension of disbelief and therefore I'm also not overly concerned with the verisimilitude of a story. If there are FTL spaceships, dragons, improbably beautiful and impassioned princesses, masked avengers and disfigured arch villains figuring in a story, I just take them as the usual props populating a certain genre.
What I do appreciate, however, is consistency and plausibility within the framework of “reality” as defined by the story itself. In this respect, I feel that magic or technology so advanced it's nearly magical pose a challenge, since without clearly and logically defined limits for their application, the reader/viewer is constantly wondering why the problem at hand can't be solved by these means (StarTrek springs to mind and the myriad of “reasons” they have to invent why the transporter can't pull the protagonists out of harm's way just right now but only when hope's almost lost).
Also, and most importantly, the motivations of the characters – although maybe exceptional – should be at least discernible. I personally find it hard to emotionally invest into characters whose actions appear completely random to me.

[TeaSer]

Without wanting to restart a fruitless debate, can I please have some guidelines to just when a story is a story - and not a novel.

This becomes more queer as in danish a novel is a short book - like 10-15 pages. A book is more likely 150 pages. Then a story? How long is that? And given some of the scenes at just a few pages - how should those be named?

Of course you might say it's irrelevant, but for me it does matter: If I know I'm going to read a scene, I'll be happy to add my own imagination to it. However if I expect it to be a longer story, I feel disappointed if things are too schematic - just hinting what's going on. And of course if it's a long story, I most likely will bookmark it and read it when I do have the time to take larger chomps of text.

And really - when answering the questionaire I had to imagine some 'standard' reading situation - both longer and shorter stories works for me too.

TeaSer

[64Fordman]

I don’t know what they do in Europe, but American publishers use four categories:

Short story: Under 7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 40,000 words
Novel: Over 40,000 words

Not sure how this applies here, but there you go.

[ElectroPainLover]

Thank you absolutist.

I think you and I agree on the purpose of a story if not exactly on the means to tell it. I need the story to be logically plausible and the characters to be as well. My understanding of your tastes is that the characters and props can be what they are as long as the plot holds a bit to reality.

Character motivation and desire is why I like to 'set the stage', so to speak, with background and character development. If I delve too quickly into the happenings I feel I leave too big of hole to expect the readers to fill in for themselves. Also, in all honesty, it makes it easier for me to accidently stray away from the original story I wanted to tell in the first place. I need to be able to form a picture of my character and their history and motivations to hold to my story line. This, I know is my own shortfalling but I do no justice to my writings or their readers if the story hops around too much or becomes too non-linear as it progresses. It has caused me to leave out important factors I missed in writing and editing and posting a story missing something I meant to have in.

Thanks again for your idea's of an enjoyable story.
Dana -- EPL


Thanks for the points TeaSer.

My understanding of the lengths of writings may be all-wet but have been formed by my reading over the years. Here is my understanding;

Story/Tale: A short writing of a basis or plot. One paragraph to several pages. (An essay)

Novella: A short story or novel. An abridged book. Several pages to fifty or sixty pages. (A short tale not having too much depth of twist or chapter hopping)

Novel: A short book or collection of novella's. Seventy, or so, to a couple hundred pages. (A lengthy and descriptive tale with possibly a few side stories within the chapters...Collection of novella's such as The Bachman Four which included; Road Work, Rage, The Long Walk, and Thinner; while Stephen King wrote under the pen-name of Richard Bachman).

Book: Sometimes called a Full-Length Novel. Usually two hundred-fify pages to four hundred pages. Several novella's in a collection. (A lengthy story which provides in-depth descripts of people, places, things, and events. Sometimes several small sub-stories which all tie together at the end. The most popular length of popular writer's and publishers).

Epic: A long book. Four hundred to a thousand or more pages. (A highly descriptive and complex storyline. War and Peace by Leo Tulstoy, It by Stephen King).

Saga: A collection of any of the previous which follow the same characters and general plot. Could be several books and/or several thousand pages long. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tokien).

Again, this is my understanding and personal description of the lengths of written texts. I am sure there is a fairly well defined definition and/or tighter outlined explaination of the differences or more classifications. I am working from my personal experience as a long-time reader. Though in the poll I offered, I adjusted story lengths based upon the typical writings found on Gromet's Plaza.

Thanks,
Dana -- EPL

[ElectroPainLover]

I don’t know what they do in Europe, but American publishers use four categories:

Short story: Under 7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 40,000 words
Novel: Over 40,000 words

Not sure how this applies here, but there you go.

I knew there had to be defined parameters. Thanks Fordman.

Dana -- EPL

[Arkane]

Unfortunately, I find it much too difficult to jump immediately into the meat-and-potatoes without enjoying a pre-dinner salad first in my writings. I have to give some background to inspire myself and set the pace and particulars of the story. I am saddened that this style turns you away for the most part. I have tried to jump right in and skip the preliminaries but am rarely happy with the progression of the story afterwards. My Halloween story incorporates the trick of starting some time into the story, then, returning to the beginning to fill in the background. I may also use this technique for future stories.

While I didn't mean that I don't want an established context (I just get bored if this part is too long) it's a well known narrative trick to start the story "in media res" that is, in the middle of the action, using then flashbacks and other techniques to give the needed background. I see you're well aware of that.

Another trick is to mix the details and the background in the action. It can be done always, even in a short story. A very good example of this can be found here in the Plaza: http://www.boundstories.net/storieslr/purepulp_hannahobutton.html
I can concede the characters get very little physical description, but in just a little more than 2000 words you learn a lot on these two women, they meet in a hurry, they need to dress up for work, they know each other for some time. The bindee is bold in her dressing for pleasure choices and is not shy about asking for extreme bondage, maybe pushing herself too much. The binder is maternal and cautious but when the action start she's revealed as a stern disciplinarian, quelling pleas for mercy with severe bondage; then while quietly reading a book she adds another level of torment with the casual action of pressing again the button (the bound woman gave her this power but didn't ask to be repeatedly tormented with it). Probably there's everything we need to know but the story has no preamble at all.

[ElectroPainLover]

Hi Arkane.

I get what you're saying and desire. I try to use some of the techniques you refer to, though I admit I didn't know it was called "in media res" but have seen the style. Usually in novel's I see it by chapter. I am a 'linear' thinker. A mild stroke a few years back has really played with my memory...especially short-term...and the doctor said my brain may or may not compensate for the damage. I believe it is. And, the more I write, it seems, the more it adjusts. That is why I am starting to broaden my writing style a little. I had struggled to come up with new idea's for stories and now new stories are flooding in. However, the stories seem to be quite involved and lengthy for me to tell...correctly in my opinion.

I want to to stop being so linear and time-line oriented on every story also. It is my next battle to take on to reroute some neurons. As an amature writer, I have to learn and learn to adjust. Both have been difficult but not unable to achieve.

Thanks for your input Arkane. It helps me more than you may realize by showing me areas to work upon.

Dana -- EPL

[Arkane]

Thanks for your input Arkane. It helps me more than you may realize by showing me areas to work upon.

Dana -- EPL

You're welcome, and I think trying to learn writing techniques is very stimulating, and not the inspiration-killer some think.
Anyway I was just speaking about my tastes.

[ElectroPainLover]

And I enjoy learning what you, and others, tastes are. Hence the polls  .

Thank you for enlightening me of the stories you like to read. It does help me as a writer.

Dana -- EPL

PS - Thank you for linking Pensive's story...it was a great read!

[AmyAmy]

Over 5000 words is "Long"? Seriously?