Comments on: Short vs long online articles: which are better?

By: Bev

Bev — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:04:48 +0000

Very funny! Kate’s piece is indeed short, so little risk to a new reader, and anyway, so wonderfully written, (and in a style I think most would find funny) that it should be only a rare reader who would regret stopping by to read.

I have a dry sense of humor. I also don’t find many types of humor funny at all. Whether the two go together, I don’t know (does anyone else know?) but it’s really no fun to sit at some movie or another where everyone else is just dying with laughter, and I’m rolling my eyes, wondering (honestly) what in the world everyone’s finding so funny? Oh how I’d love to be one of those with tears of laughter falling! So it’s nice to see I really love this wonderfully written and funny play with words! Thanks for introducing Kate Gilderdale to us! Has she written any books, Carolyn?

(Oh how lucky I am to be doing so well that I even think of my lack of appreciation for slapstick humor as a problem!)

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By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:23:53 +0000

Hi Bev – what do I prefer? I think it depends on who is doing the writing. For example, I always read Tara Parker-Pope, who writes the health blog Well for the New York Times. Her pieces are very long compared to most, yet each is so well-researched, beautifully structured and worth the read. Yet I also love Kate Gilderdale‘s witty and quirky little posts on The Jaundiced View, rarely more than a few paragraphs about her life in Stouffville with hubby Mr. Wallethead. Here’s an example from Sunday.

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By: Bev

Bev — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:47:08 +0000

I’m with you regarding book clubs and book discussion groups. I don’t want to have to read what the group chooses when I only allot so much time to reading. Too bad I don’t get to choose the books!

Again wandering from your topic, I wanted to comment that our library’s book discussion group only spends 2 hours reviewing each book! How much can really be addressed in such a short length of time? I’ve never been part of such a group, but isn’t there more to say about a thoughtful book – as in addressing one or more issues in some depth – than what can be said, much less discussed, in a book review or discussion group?

(I have the luxury of having a stunning library system! I feel SO lucky!)

Say, Carolyn, what do YOU prefer on this issue of short vs long online articles?

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By: cave76

cave76 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:39:51 +0000

***refers to different writers (and topics!)***

Yeah, that was me just being snarky. Or sarcastic. Or—— ??🙂

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By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:06:18 +0000

Hi Cave,
“…consumers crave both: fast and short, plus in-depth…” refers to different writers (and topics!) The Forbes piece quotes stock market blogger Eric Savitz, for example, who writes 10 posts a day but says he keeps them “short and punchy”. That is SO not me . . . 😉

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By: cave76

cave76 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:51:46 +0000

***I generally approach writing for The Nag much like I did when I was writing magazine pieces. Start with the main theme, some solid background, some pithy quotable quotes from appropriate sources, reactions from The Culprits being examined, and finally my own two cents worth on the subject. (I can do that. Because it’s my blog).***

I like this blog just the way it is, thank you very much.🙂

Make entries shorter?
Fuhgeddaboudit.

***consumers crave both: fast and short, plus in-depth.***

What? In the same entry??? How? Use Text Language? Gack!

#idk I think deets r imp 4 peeps BR

Now for my deathless prose—– pretty much “the jury is out” in my mind.

I don’t usually waffle—- but I think it’s going to take a while for a trend to show up.

Right now, I’m betting on the lowest denominator winning but I hope I’m wrong.

So I’ll stick with Edwin Newman and let the world pass me up.

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By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:29:26 +0000

Very interesting (long) answer, Bev – thanks for this! Retirement has opened up many new doors for you which helps to explain your drop in reading time, or maybe you’re simply being far more selective in reading what you love now. Personally, that’s why book clubs have never held any interest for me – don’t want to spend five nanoseconds reading what others have picked for me to read when there are so many books on MY list!
cheers,
C.

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By: Bev

Bev — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:26:06 +0000

I have to join Cave in my appreciation of white space. When I write an email to a friend with an especially long paragraph, I think, “Oh my gosh! She’ll die trying to get through that sea of words!” It pains me to begin a new paragraph where none belongs. It can even confuse my reader, what with a new paragraph signaling a new topic or at least a new perspective or the like. Usually the new paragraph solution wins out, though. So yes, a big thank you to your gift of white space. (“White space” – A new term for me – thanks!)

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By: Bev

Bev — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:20:09 +0000

Neither, I’d have to answer. I want an article that is long enough to say what needs to be said. I hate to read something even mildly interesting and find myself left with unanswered questions that are conspicuously missing. That is so frustrating! However, like anyone, I do not like to read repetitive or unnecessary reporting or discussion of a topic. If there is much written in an article which doesn’t really add any important information or perspectives it only irritates me and drives me away. (I don’t ever see that here, by the way.)

I also only read what interests me. That may seem a given but I used to read almost everything in front of me. No more. I can only read so much within the time I generally allot to reading, so I am picky. I skip a lot altogether or perhaps read a subheading, if there is one. I am always so behind – trying in vain to read everything of any interest that comes my way, that I’ve long given up saving it all for “later.” “Later” only brings more interesting things to read! When I’m truly intrigued, though, or the topic is one of great interest, I save it to read when I can move something else aside or just forgo something else I’d planned on. With my problem finding time to read, you’d think I’d prefer shorter articles but I really don’t. If I’m interested enough to read something, I want the whole banana.

I’ll share an interesting peripheral note: I have been very surprised to find that since I retired and have far more discretionary time, I read less of everything! I have a lot more time to spend however I want – more than I’ve ever had in my adult life. It wasn’t long after I retired before I discovered activities that were new to me and which I enjoyed tremendously. There were so many things going on in my community, such as a Socrates Cafe philosophical discussion group (!), which I never even knew existed, as well as personal interests and talents I never knew I had. The real frosting on this delicious cake was that I could indulge myself in all of it! Well, up to a point. And therein lies the rub. Sadly, a day still only has 24 hours. So now, after being an avid reader my whole life, I read much less than I used to back when my life was so hectic and lacking in free time. Given extra time, I’ve discovered things which are even more rewarding than reading.

So there you are, Carolyn. My long answer to your short question!

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By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:10:41 +0000

Thanks Cave – I look forward to more deathless prose…

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By: cave76

cave76 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:29:27 +0000

First—– I’m dichotomous about your post. — There IS such a word and here I was so proud that I’d made up a new word!😦

I have many thoughts about it.

But first (!)—– I love your habit of giving lots of white space. For the many people with neurologic defects (me), densely packed text is like looking at Sanskrit. And I’m sure that many people without neurologic defects are the same. Although you do that for your own reasons, I thank you. It saves me from having to copy/paste into Word and then entering my own white space.

Back later with some of my own deathless prose —- with nothing concluded, merely my point of view.

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