What are the characteristics of long but interesting stories?

One characteristic is complex characters. In interesting long form stories, characters are well - developed with their own personalities, motives, and growth throughout the story. Another is a detailed setting. It could be a vividly described historical period or a fictional world. Also, an engaging plot that has twists and turns, keeping the reader interested from start to finish.

Long stories often have complex plots. They usually involve multiple characters with different motives and personalities. For example, in 'A Tale of Two Cities', there are many characters like Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay, and the plot weaves through the French Revolution. Long stories also tend to cover a wide range of themes. They can explore love, death, power, and morality all in one. Additionally, they may span different locations and time periods, adding to their richness.

They are concise. They usually have a single main plot or idea.

One characteristic is that they tend to have a moral or lesson at the end. Such as in Aesop's Fables. Each fable is relatively long in the sense that it has a detailed story leading up to the moral. For instance, the fable of 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' where the ant worked hard all summer while the grasshopper played. When winter came, the ant was well - prepared and the grasshopper suffered. It imparts the wisdom of hard work and planning ahead.

Long fantasy stories often have complex world - building. They create entire new worlds with their own rules, cultures, and histories. For example, in 'The Lord of the Rings', Tolkien built Middle - earth with different races like hobbits, elves, and dwarves, each having their own languages and traditions. Another characteristic is a large cast of characters. These stories can have many characters with different personalities and motives, which makes the plot more intricate. Also, they usually have an overarching quest or conflict that drives the story forward, like in 'A Song of Ice and Fire' where the fight for the Iron Throne is a central conflict.

Indian long stories often have a strong moral or religious undertone. For instance, in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, there are lessons about dharma (righteousness). They also tend to be rich in characters, from gods and goddesses to humans and demons. The settings are usually vividly described, from palaces to forests. And many of them are passed down orally for generations before being written down, which gives them a certain authenticity and connection to the cultural heritage.

Arabic long stories often have rich cultural elements. They are deeply rooted in Arabian traditions, values, and religious beliefs. For example, many stories in 'One Thousand and One Nights' reflect Islamic teachings and Arabian social norms.

Long folktales stories often have complex plots. They are not simple, one - dimensional tales. For instance, in 'The Odyssey', Odysseus' journey is full of various challenges, from facing mythical creatures to dealing with the wrath of the gods.

One characteristic is the slow build - up of suspense. In a long story, there's more time to gradually increase the feeling of unease. For example, in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the author slowly reveals the strange happenings in the house, making the readers' anticipation and fear grow over time.

Complex characters are also common. For example, in 'The Silence of the Lambs', the characters of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter are multi - dimensional. Their interactions add to the suspense as you never quite know what Lecter will do next or how Starling will react. Long suspense stories often have a lot of sub - plots too. In 'Inferno' by Dan Brown, there are multiple storylines running parallel, all contributing to the overall mystery and suspense of the story.