Long and Boring
Jun 18, 2024When something we've written is described as “long and boring”, the immediate temptation is to cut it down.
The prevailing wisdom whispers in our ear:
- "Shorten it.”
- “It’s too long”
- “No one will read all that.”
We’ve equated long with boring. But that’s not always the case.
There are countless TikTok videos—mere seconds long—that people skip because they’re boring.
Consider 'The Shawshank Redemption'. A film that runs for 2 hours and 22 minutes, with a rating of 9.3/10 on IMDb from 2.8 million reviews. People sit through the entire movie, even though it’s long, because it’s engaging, well-crafted, and captivating.
If you receive criticism that you’ve created something that’s “long and boring”, focus on the boring bit.
Length isn’t the enemy. Disengagement is.
Instead of trimming the fat, enhance the substance.
The length is secondary.
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