Do Short Stories Deserve the Same Negative Label as Fast Food?

What do books have in common with food?

You can’t enjoy them during sleep by putting them under your pillow.

Eating and reading have more in common than most think. Size, taste and value are the qualities both share. We consume a good story with as much enjoyment as a delicious cake.

Yet, if you brought to me an encyclopedia-sized cake and told me to eat it all by myself, I would be full just by hearing your suggestion. No, thank you! One slice is enough.

When it comes to reading, I prefer shorter pieces. But when I write, I feel a necessity to write longer stories. I have the same relationship with food. I rarely cook fast food myself, but when I order, it’s unusual to go for a fancy meal.

The Conflict Between Consuming and Producing

I unconsciously made a rule to myself not to publish articles that are shorter than 3 minutes. There’s something in my mind that says, a story is not worthy to be called an article if it doesn’t reach a certain length.

On the other hand, I don’t feel guilty when I read a short story. I get excited when I see my favorite author published a one-minute read. I know it’s going to be a delicious candy.

I find that there’s a conflict in me as a writer. I pass longer stories but prefer to write them. It’s like I’m cheating by writing shortforms. Feels like short stories are as good as fast food and I hear advisors preach all the negative effects of it.

Is a Short Article “Junk Content”?

Junk food doesn’t have a nutritious value. It mostly gives emotional satisfaction, good taste and a handful of calories. It fills you up for a moment and then suddenly turns into unpleasant gasses.

The good news is that reading doesn’t cause any brain farts. Studies confirm that

…immediate benefits of reading include an increased tolerance for uncertainty. Psychologists at the University of Toronto, for example, had participants read either a short story or a non-fiction article, then tested their tolerance for uncertainty. Participants who read the short stories were less likely to need cognitive closure, “a need to reach a quick conclusion in decision-making and an aversion to ambiguity and confusion.”

Reading short stories will benefit you. Especially if you hate being indecisive, lost in your thoughts and uncertain. Unlike fast food, short stories are not falling out of the range of being beneficial.

Do Short Articles Have Lack of Intellectual Value?

The less you talk, the more you’re listened to. — Pauline Phillips

Wise people don’t need to speak much to explain their point of view. It’s because they know what and how they need to express it. The depth of thought allows them to speak less but say more.

It applies in a written piece as well. I’ve been reading two-minute stories. They are all short and engaging. When I trust the writer and know him to be an expert in his field, it would be a big loss to skip a short piece.

The value is promised in the title and empowered by the reputation of the author. It communicates to me that after two minutes I will walk away with whatever is promised in the title. It’s a guarantee that I will get help because of who gives a piece of advice, not how detailed the information is.

It’s safe to say that with the decreasing length of an article informational value goes down as well. But a kilogram of feathers weighs as much as a kilogram of rice. The size doesn’t communicate the intellectual value because great advice can be concise.

Take Away for Readers and Writers

It is impossible to go in-depth using a short story. Long articles do their job by providing a broad view of a topic. They can guide a reader with a step by step plan, detailed descriptions and deep research.

Short stories might not be worthy to be called “articles”. Yet, they are as valuable as having a snack for your lunch break. They might not fill you as a three-part meal but provide you a needed boost of wisdom when you don’t have much time.

We cannot give them the same tag as we mark “ junk food” with. It’s not about the burger stories. It’s all about those nutritious nuts!

Which one to choose? It’s up to everyone’s choice.