Chapter 11: How Long.
DISCLAIMER: I am not even sure I can use the title because I know of a song with the same title, and there might even be some other products I do not know of with the same name. I just hope and pray I do not get copyrighted for this.
DICSLAIMER: I am being particular with regards to english translated online novels
In the last few chapters I discussed, if you could call it that, about main characters and their relationship to their journeys and the other characters that inhabit the world they also live in. I also talked about certain tropes that are being abused in many of these stories.
At this point in time I want to turn my and your attention to some other aspect of online novels that I think has just as much importance as character building and world building. And that is, the case of the length of a story itself.
Frankly I am torn in the matter, forget the nuance for now, let us just look at the bigger picture. I want to pose a question. Should a good story need an end? Should it need to end? Some would say well, as long as it is good why leave it be to continue. Others might disagree. As for me, I am in the camp that a story, regardless of its caliber of storytelling, must come to an end.
All is well and good if the author can always achieve and maintain a decent level in terms of its reader base's satisfaction, that it is able to maintain decent amount in terms of the people who are willing come for the curiousity and stay for the story, ideally for eternity. But from my experience and observations, I do know that that is not always the case. Just as readers and consumers come and go, interest in any produce rises and wanes. Enthusiasm for your story will not always remain the same. So following that logic stories do come to end. Stories have to come to an end. As all things do.
But the questions remains. How long does a story needs to be to remain engaging? And simply, how long does a story need to be?
Because I mean, I have seen them. Stories that are way too long, some three thousand chapters long and counting, not to speak of those reaching six thousand chapters in length. I cannot speak for anyone else, but as for myself, it is no longer remains a hobby per se, it becomes a chore. I mean three thousand chapters, six thousand chapters is really hard already and it's just one person's journey at that.
Not to mention the really short ones, although I can give them some leeway. Afterall, that is why they are called short stories. But for some of the really good ones, it does leave you wanting more.
So what I do think is would be the most appropriate situation in terms of a story's length or breadth? Well frankly, I do not know. Because when I said at the beginning that I torn about this topic, it is because I truly am. I mean it is not like I do not understand from the point of view of them online authors and with the climate around writing and publishing stories online, from what I can see, and that from the stand point of a consumer it is mostly a very good deal. But in all this back and forth of interest, when the dust settles, it is ultimately the story and quality of the story that becomes the victim here. And I think I would most definitely fault the author for that.
So to conclude this, I think all this now is all about balancing out the satisfactions and the expectations of your audience and yourself as an author, because you know were you want to end it, but you also know that if it is a good one they will want more and then you will be expected to have to prolong more. And ultimately, it is having the courage to say to them and to yourself, this is where the story goes from here, this is the logical conclusion it must follow, this is how much breadth is allotted to it. And that it will not stray away from that.
So what do you think? I would like to know your thought in the comments. Until then peace.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
wd003
wd003 To be honest I have never even thought that I would reach more than 1000 views for thus thing whatever you call it. Thank you so much those of you who has taken time out of your busy schedules to read my stuff.
And from the looks of it I might surpass 2000. I am truly moved beyond words.
Again I thank you so much.
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