How long is too long

[Dannymh]

I finished writing a guest blog post earlier today, my original intention was for it to be a fairly short post, but it ended up being several pages long, once it is published you will see. however I feel all the information in it was relevant and once you start reading it you tend to read it all rather than just skim.

But it got me to thinking, is there a length of a blog post at which point you should either sum it up and close it off, or turn it into a blog series?

In other words is there a point in reading, no matter how enticing and relevant the text is, that you just give up and either skip to the conclusion or just flake out and move elsewhere?

Dan

[zensense]

I bet, it depends on how attractive your blog title is.... what do you think ?

[Dannymh]

I bet, it depends on how attractive your blog title is.... what do you think ?

Was that an answer? Seriously, seems like you are trying to build post count?

[narendra.s.v]

well it all depends on your article! if the article is real smashing then the readers will read no matter how lengthy it is! if its related to development or something better go for series. or if the article is just to update which you cant explain more then better make it short n simple :D

[navjotjsingh]

It also depends on the writer's ability. I mean, how many bloggers get bored after writing atleast 3 paras. Sometimes it happens with me too. After writing for a bit, I get bored and try to end it abruptly. Moreover its also about our ability to express ourself. Some people need 100 words to say "I love you" And some will use only these 3 words! :D

[narendra.s.v]

yeah its strange but true :D

[EmmaB]

I also think it depends on the article itself as well as your writing style. The length shouldn't be a problem if the content is good and you have catchy title to pull readers in. Another good solution is dividing it into two post pages. (Same Post, but it has a Page 1 and 2)

[wahmsuzanne]

Hmmm ... I've wondered the same thing! I can be wordy LOL

Sometimes I will start to write a post and as I'm explaining one thing ... it brings up another thing that I want to explain and so on and so on ... If I feel it's getting totally out of hand then I will go back to the drawing board and literally do an outline and see if it can be done with one post or if it needs to be a series or just broken into more then one post. This will sometimes change even the title ... and that's OK too.

I would think in your case where you are guest blogging you wouldn't have as many options as we do on our own blogs. If it could be easily broken into two parts ... part one and part two the next day ... you could always ask the blog owner if that would be acceptable or not. I haven't heard of page one and page two for the same post ... that sounds cool too.

How many words are we talking?

I do know that I've read that on the net (as opposed to formal writing) you want to break your paragraphs down to 2-3 sentences so the reader can fly through it. Seems silly ... but when I click on a post and it's all run together with very few breaks ... it seems daunting and it wouldn't matter what the subject matter ... just a huge *sigh* would come to mind.

Let us know how it turns out! *huGs* Suzanne

[Indyan]

I have written posts which are about 100 words. Most of my posts are around 400-500 words. I have been cutting down on length of late.

[narendra.s.v]

well you even these day am making more laptop review which comes around 700 - 1000 words but people still reading :D

[sarahG]

Sometimes posts need to be a reasonable length, especially if it's a technical based post. You can't skimp on the facts. A long post can be readable if it's structured well, however, don't expect a surge of initial feedback as you'll find more people bookmark it and save it for later to read.

If you can split it up easily into a short series then, as already suggested, ask the blog owner if you can put it in as a series. If they say no then perhaps see if you can offer the post to another blog that will allow the series instead, however, I'm sure a reasonable blog owner would say yes, even if each post is put out just once a week.

I wouldn't cut a post short just for the sake of it. Your writing will be less flowing and most likely come to what seems like an abrupt end, as if to say you started well but got fed up and ended it.

[wahmsuzanne]

I wouldn't cut a post short just for the sake of it. Your writing will be less flowing and most likely come to what seems like an abrupt end, as if to say you started well but got fed up and ended it.


@sarahG ~ I swear I know what you mean and it's soooo annoying! I know this is "family friendly" so how do I say it feels like a ... "MAJOR INTERRUPTUS!!!!!" What? Hello? Is that it? You've got to be kidding me? You're going to leave me hanging? LOL *SmiLes* Suzanne

P.S. There's a new blog post for me ... it can go right along side my "comment pussy" post ... No Major Interruptus!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[ap4a]

Mine generally tend to be long, with in depth explanations and code examples, more often than short. I agree with Sarah, technical posts are pretty difficult to abridge without adversely affecting them.

[sarahG]

@sarahG ~ I swear I know what you mean and it's soooo annoying!

I have a problem finishing/concluding my posts and it often seems too abrupt an ending! When I had to write an article and was given a word count for the opening before I got into the technical part, I wrote the intro and then was about 200 words over. Trying to remove parts of it just lost the flow of text and ruined it. I find that if you just write as it comes it's much better and reads/sounds better.

[Indyan]

Just finished writing a mammoth post. Gonna publish it tommorow.

[narendra.s.v]

oh cool! now its my time :D going to write a review on Everex Zonbu Notebook :)

[Dannymh]

The post in question is now on the front page of Blogging tips

http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/10/16/keeping-your-work-area-clean-spring-cleaning-online-any-season/

Enjoy and look forward to your feedback now that you have something to work with regarding length

[narendra.s.v]

my host is a whole LOT of mess you will get lost easily there :D btw article to clean up ;) all it takes is some free time which i don't have now :D

[Rarst]

As long as post is focused and well structured length doesn't matter. Problem is when posts tries to cover multiply topics or going offtopic. It's better to split such in series.

@Dannymh

I've read through [most of] it. It's fine but could reeeaaally use some sub-headings. :)

[fatherblogger]

I am using around 400~500 words per blog post, but I try to maximize the sentence. This is to avoid my readers get bored while reading them. I also use sub-titles per paragraph to provide the readers an idea on what he will be reading next.

So far, no reader has complain that he find my posts very long and dull to read.