To each their own, and the good thing about SOL is there is something for everyone. If you like stories about dinosaurs getting it on, or magic goats, short stories, medium stories, long stories, REALLY long stories, etc.
This site really amazes me sometimes. I find myself increasingly addicted to checking the updates to see what's new. I know there is a whole fantastic archive larger than the scholars of the great library of Alexandria could have fathomed dating back for decades of filth and perversion I could read.
Yet, I am constantly looking for the latest greatest. Mostly because I've identified a few authors like Vulgus, MaryS,Vanessa Evans, Tail Weaver, Mike McGifford etc that turn my screws so I want to see if there is new stuff from them.
Lately, it's been a bit of a drought for old Eddie. No one's fault really - authors write what they want.
I did want to express an opinion on short stories, and It's not intended as a rant or to demean anyone who loves them - just my opinion.
I recently came up with an analogy about short stories
It's like sex with my wife.
She likes how I begin.
However, it ends before she gets anything out of it.
I can't bring myself to write short stories. If I care enough about the characters to write about them - I've got to see it through at least 6 or 7 chapters of about 9-11 pages typed each.
That's probably about 40,000 words, which does sound like a lot but to get a proper start, middle and end I need at least that much to give it a go.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. I've found a single picture on the Internet sometimes that tells an entire short story inside of the photo.
I've thought about trying my hand at it. Just pick some photo and then start writing and try to keep it under 1,000 words. I just can't seem to do it.
Every time I sit down and do it, I begin to viscerally live the character's experience and I just don't want to stop, or else they were never interesting or real enough to write about.
I've had people recently tell me they don't have the attention span for long stories. I told them I don't write or read a long story in one sit. I just take it in bite size steps - do a little and come back.
it's not much different than 10 episodes on Netflix of your favorite tv show. I watch 1 episode, maybe 2 and then come back and see what happens. Some people binge watch all 10 and that may be what people think they have to do with the long stories.
Just try a chapter, see what happens, maybe you love it, maybe you don't. My goal is to make you want to come back and find out what happens.
I can't do that with a short story.
Anyway, read and write on whatever you like. Please don't take this blog post as a condemnation of your tastes. I am just saying mine which means all of shit.