GurusGhouls Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I was just wondering if there might be plans to put a word count in the section that looks like this: Author -:- Rated [] -:- Chapters [] -:- Published [] -:- Updated [] -:- Edited [] -:- Hits [] -:- Reviews [] -:- Average / Total Vote [ - /] I know that I open many stories that are short drabbles (sometime just above 100 words) and it gets really tiresome when you want to read a long fic. I think it would be wonderful if you did have a word counter so many people would know how much time they will spend on reading the particular story before they open it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DarkAvenger Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 It's not on the "to do" list or the "wish list". At this point you're the only one who has asked for this. If we receive more requests, it will be considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Samurai Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 If I might offer my opinion, I like the fact that AFF lacks a word count for its stories, since I've noticed that word counts tend to encourage pissing contests. No word count, no pissing. DA's right, though; if more people ask for it, it can be taken under consideration, but, for now, no word count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EveKnight75 Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 If length is a consideration factor when it comes to my reading mood, I just look at the number of chapters. More chapters means a lengthier fic. One chapter plus a completed tag means it's a one-shot. I don't really need more than that. If I click on a fic and the first 3-5 chapters are short, I know that the rest of the chapters will be like that. On FF, the word-count can also be quite misleading. There are times when a 20-chapter fic can have the same count as a one-shot because the one-shot is tedious and the multi-chaptered fic only has one paragraph per chapter. Extreme example but true. So I guess I'm fine without the word-count feature too. I also agree with Sam about the pissing contest issue that occurs way too often on the site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkCabaret Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Only issue I've seen with word count is people tend to (on one-shots) to put a bunch of stuff in the beginning to set up and explain the scene and all this other crap that doesn't really need to be there. I know an author here on AFF did TONS of one-shots and it's mostly a bunch of disclaimer stuff and a bunch of crap. Then again when I want a word count I use my Word Processor and get the count that way lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsliver Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 I have no interest in word counts, if I'm looking for a quick read I check for low chapter counts, if I want something bigger than usually its been recommended to me anyways. I have my fic posted on a couple of other sites (which combined give me half the traffic as here) and none of their word counts match anyways. Personally chapter count is more than enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanaea Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 It's not on the "to do" list or the "wish list". At this point you're the only one who has asked for this. If we receive more requests, it will be considered. Actually, it has been requested - by me. Of course, 'Trae ignored me. Personally, I'd like to see a word count. I think it's an easier way to gauge how time consuming a particular fic is going to be to read. That said, it really isn't vital. I always put a word count at the beginning of every chapter, just out of courtesy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Quinn hyenaholic Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Word count is all very well, but it's not vital. And a word count turns some people into real gits. Eother way, word count certainly doesn't improve quality - it just means some people pad their work with songfics, or add more to their intros. I think if we were to have one, something general like "<100" (it means less than 100) or something would be better than exact words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest m Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 I think a word count would be an excellent idea. I often like to read lengthy stories and it gets really annoying when I'm trying to find such a story and I have to go around sorting through stories...another thing I like about the word count is if I search for an incomplete story with, for example, more than 60,000 words, then at least the story could possibly be near finished or at least the story has a less chance of it being abandoned. I've also noticed that sometimes stories are completed but are not actually labeled as "Complete." If I'm in the mood of reading shorter stories, then I can search for it. Some shorter stories are completed but not labeled as so and most are actually incomplete stories that do not label as "WIP" (work in progress). It's most frustrating!! Please, please at a word count or something similar or at least have a function for "Complete," "Incomplete," and "Abandoned." It'll make reading so much more enjoyable and easier (especially on the eyes!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Quinn hyenaholic Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I think a word count might come in handy, provided it was in the search functions too. A "less than" word count like "Less than 100 words" and "From 100 to 200" and "from 200 to 300" sort of thing, rather than an exact word count would keep the most pathetic of the pissing contests under control. Of course, you might then end up with losers padding their intros and their stories with 'Therefores' and 'alsos' just to keep then from sinking below 100. It's just that lately, people have been posting fanfics that are one chapter long and a single solid paragraph of pornographic crap, and that sort of thing gives AFF a bad name. Bugger, I forgot I already said this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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