How can you give feedback on a story that is too long or too short?

Are you going to give feedback on a story? So you need to understand the purpose of the story. And identify the main context of the story. First, understand what message the storyteller is trying to convey. What problem is addressed in the story and which solution is provided? For whom the story is written and what are their pain points? Now you can write better comment on the story.

To determine whether a story is too long or too short, I think it's important to analyze the text: - What type of text is it? Is it a blog article, an advertisement, a newsletter, etc.? - Is it clear what the aim of the story is or what its specific purpose is? - Has the target group been extensively researched? Does the author know the target group he is writing for? Does he know their wishes, their problems, what keeps them awake at night etc.? - Does the author speak the language of the target group? Does he use terms that the target group uses? For example: a doctor does not call his customers customers, but patients. By analyzing the text for these points, I can get a feel for whether the length of the text is appropriate.

After 30+ years of writing news stories, I still find myself relying on the INVERTED PYRAMID to keep my story structure focused and on point. Pun intended. ?? But I also find it to be a good tool for assessing my story length. Ask yourself these??questions after writing your first draft. 1.) THE LEAD: Is it clear off the top? What is the story about? 2.) THE BODY: Did I give the essential information and details of the story and answer the questions of who, what, when, where, why and how? 3.) THE TAIL: Pertinent extra info here helps give the story context and puts it all into perspective. Story length is often dependent on the medium. Stick to story structure. It will keep you on task. I remind myself to ?? KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid.

You must first read through the story to justify the length of the story and also to have a thorough understanding of the story before making any judgements. The length of the story might be necessary to fully bring home the intended message or meaning or even arguments that needed to be driven home conclusively. Then again it is important to know the type of story and who is reading.

When I taught writing, the students would ask how long their essay needed to be. I referred to Abraham Lincoln's supposed answer to "How long should a man's legs be?": Long enough to reach the ground. I would check to see why the piece is too long. Is there a whole section that doesn't belong? Is the writing too wordy and repetitive? I can take five pages out of a 15-page paper sometimes by word-editing, sometimes by removing two passages that don't belong, often because they don't address the intended audience. . There are no hard and fast rules.

Why are we ignoring the role of the editor in making the assignment? When I was a magazine editor and assigning articles, I'd provide clear guidelines on article length--such as 2,300-2,600 words. I used my knowledge and experience to know whether the article could address the subject in 1,900 words or in 3,000 words. I'd also provide an outline of major points I thought should be addressed and even people the writer should interview. That way, the writer knew not only the length but also the desired content. Once in a while, the writer would tell me he/she needed to write a longer article and that usually was okay. But it was my responsibility to provide initial guidance as to length and content.

Length is not the issue; writing quality is! A story's length is irrelevant if the writing is engaging and informative. Stories that feel too long often lack a compelling narrative or are bogged down by unnecessary details. Readers disengage when writers include irrelevant information or fail to capture their interest. Stories that feel too short often leave readers unsatisfied or confused. Abrupt endings can leave readers without a clear understanding of characters, motivations, or plot events. Provide specific feedback to help writers improve their work. Instead of vague comments, pinpoint areas where the story drags or lacks the necessary information.

We live in a fast-paced world. Someone aptly describes it as a drive-through generation. When you drive through, you have no time for frivolities, you make your order, you are thanked and you move on to the pick-up point. Except you are a very compelling story teller or writing an academic paper or book, the universal principle is still - K - Keep I - It S - Short, and S - Simple. Our world is so full of distractions that precis-writing is key. If its too long, you lose the interest of your audience. LinkedIn helps us by telling us how many minutes it takes to read a piece of writing.

Think Goldilocks for storytelling – not too long, not too short, but just right. Compare to similar content in style and genre to guide storytellers, ensuring engagement aligns with the sweet spot for optimal impact.

Por ejemplo, la experiencia me dice que si la historia es para un podcast, la duración ideal es de unas 900 palabras o 5000 caracteres con espacios. Eso da como resultado unos 6 minutos de podcast. Si es un artículo sobre un tema interesante podemos extendernos un poco más, pero será necesario utilizar frases más cortas y certeras a fin de mantener la atención. No divagar. Ir al grano.

A written story is neither too short nor too long. It's just badly written. If a written story feels too long, that usually means the story lacks interest, is weighed down by irrelevant details, or you don't care about the characters. If it feels too short, that usually means the audience hasn't been told something they need to know. Provide feedback with this level of specificity when editing.

A good copy is neither too long or short. If you capture the interest of the reader the copy will always be the optimal size. A copy only feels too long or short when it lacks interest and a good story which means the reader gets bored with the words quickly. Always write with your target audience in mind and tweak a few changes after rereading the copy.

Crafting effective feedback on story length means more than just "too long" or "too short." Dive into specifics—trim redundancies or fill gaps, offering clear suggestions that enhance the narrative's resonance and align with its purpose and context.

If it's too long, you might suggest trimming word count yet communicating other important elements through other means like photo essays and video.

How can we improve something if we don't know what it is that we ACTUALLY need to change? If the story is too long, identify parts of the story that maybe don't fit, don't work, or feel redundant. If the story is too short, give them advice on what you believe is missing. Provide ACTIONABLE feedback. Provide a purpose: why is it that these changes will make the story better?

My tip: Take a close look at the stories of experts in your field and analyze the structure and layout behind their stories. If you understand the structure behind it, it will be easy for you to write your own stories according to this pattern. You will also develop a feeling for how long or short the text should be.

When I trained as a journalist, I was shown two different treatments of the same story: One of the stories I was shown was long-winded and more words and phrases were employed by the writer than were strictly necessary to make the point they were seeking to make. The other was short. I got the point.

Sometimes what we have asked for in an article is not what the copywriter has understood.With out clarity on the quality and format of output the copywriter cannot write an article in line with the brief. In my experience it’s best to give examples similar to desired output BEFORE copywriter starts writing.

I often refer to model stories when working with clients on shaping their narratives. Seeing strong examples helps illustrate what optimal length looks like for different mediums and purposes. However, I would add a note of caution about merely providing resources without additional coaching. Not everyone intuitively understands how to apply general storytelling principles to their specific tale. Some hand holding is usually needed to walk through how the examples relate.

I just find that my clients respond well to examples of ways they can expand or distill their stories. Providing samples of successful types of content as a model gives them a reference point. However, the goal is never to emulate other content. It's just a launching point for conversation on producing their own posts based on their voice, style and goals...

One effective strategy is to emphasize collaboration rather than critique. Offering assistance and inviting questions or thoughts from the storyteller not only demonstrates a commitment to their success but also transforms the feedback process into a collaborative journey.

When I give feedback, it is important to me that it is expressed positively and constructively; after all, the author has put time and effort into writing his text. It is therefore important for me to appreciate and acknowledge his work. If there is room for improvement, I think it's nice to give a tip. For example: "You've done quite well, next time you can also try X." Give feedback the way you would like to receive it yourself.

Especially if your feedback has a lot of negative elements, you have to be respectful. Just because someone has made a small mistake or hasn't written something the way you've expected to, doesn't mean you can go negative about it. Explain thoroughly, show the positive side, say that you appreciate all the effort they put in... Making people feel positive even about their worst mistakes (by simply turning those into a learning opportunity) is probably the most effective way to go around this.

As a first step before giving other copywriters feedback, I return to the brief to see if I was unclear. Did I specify character limit? Then I would highlight what I liked about the copy and suggest to enhance that by trimming away superfluous parts. If too short, I would ask them to elaborate on the parts that need more depth. Encouragement and clarity, actionable steps always.

Always remember the platinum rule: Treat others the way THEY want to be treated. All writers write for a reason; whether that is to sell, share information, teach, or look for help. Leading with empathy in your responses rather than leading with what you think is best for you could be the difference between having feedback be well received or completely rejected.

In these days of six-word stories, and 280-character messages, brevity is more than the soul of wit – it’s essential if you want your target audience to spend their limited time with YOUR copy rather than the myriad alternatives vying for their attention. This doesn’t just mean telling your story in as few pages or paragraphs as possible – it means examining each and every word to hunt for the unnecessary, redundant or cliched.

Feedback on a story's length should also consider the balance of key story elements - character development, plot progression, and thematic depth. A story that feels too long may have excessive detail or tangential subplots, while a story that's too short might lack sufficient character exploration or narrative richness. Advising on adjusting these elements can effectively address length issues. It's about finding the sweet spot that serves the story's purpose without compromising its essence.

In my experience it helps to be very clear in the brief on what exactly is expected. This is the foundation upon which the story will be created. During editing, I focus on comprehensible communication delivered with empathy and respect. As an editor I am open to feedback from the writer and willing to adapt. Ultimately, the work should showcase the unique skills and abilities of the writer while fulfilling the requirements of the publication.

Though I pride myself on "writing tight," I know I always have room to improve. For the past couple of years I've taken part in 100- and 250-word microfiction competitions. Nothing has improved my word choice and helped me be more evocative than these exercises. I'm generally not a fiction writer, but the personal growth I've realized through these competitions has been invaluable to ALL my writing. Shortening pieces has become less of an issue than ever.

In my journey with journalism and storytelling, I’ve learned that depth and impact have nothing to do with the long or short of a story. My feedback will be to not confuse length with depth.