Word Limit in Posts: Keep it or Dump it?

[Opal]

It's a little quiet 'round these parts lately, abnormally quiet for a RedVenture contest (where is all the craziness, yo? Three Word Story it up!) and I'm wondering if perhaps that's due to the word limit in posts. It was a fairly radical idea, I know, but now I'm starting to think it's scared people off.

I guess the real question is, if you are someone on the fence about applying, would dumping the word count make you more likely to apply? I just want everyone who wants to apply be able to without being afraid of incurring my wrath, so yeah! Let me know and I'll try to stop being so scary and mean. :P

(The application word limit will stand regardless of the outcome of this vote, but that's pretty much tradition.)

[Jarrtail]

I say that we keep the word limit. I don't want to have to read a bunch of 1000+ word apps before voting. Besides, the word limit is kind of your first test as a writer: it's much easier to say something in many words, but compressing it down to what's essential, and knowing what's essential, is something that takes a bit of skill to do in and of itself.

[Opal]

Well, you definitely don't have to worry about reading long apps. I'm keeping the 600 word limit for apps no matter what. This is mainly for the word cap I was planning to put on actual contest posts, the one that would be less than 3500 words a post. I would prefer to keep it, as I do not particularly enjoy reading 7000+ word posts, but if it is going to be something that just plain gets in the way of people applying, well, I'd rather that everyone apply that wants to than scare anyone off.

[Opal]

Could people please post a response with their votes? I'd really appreciate it.

[Balmafula]

I don't think it should be a set in stone forever type limit.  I think just a recommendation would work.  Just know that if you write a really long post, it'll throw some readers off. 

[carelesswhisper]

I like the word limit, but that's because I know I will never write a post that long.  *I* would die writing it.  And I usually don't read long posts unless they are BRILLIANTLY written and hold my attention every paragraph of the way.  The second I get bored, I will scroll down, see how much I have left, and give up if I'm going down... and down... and down... IT NEVER ENDS...

[Airan]

I don't really see it as too big of a deal either way. It would probably keep the story moving, however. It doesn't matter to me whether its kept or not.

[Kenner]

I say keep it.  I know I'm guilty of writing very very long posts myself, however, I'm also guilty of not reading my fellow contestants posts if they go on, and on, and on.  (that is horrible, never do it, I'm a bad person.)  I think the word count will challenge us appropriately, and force us to make our posts more relevant. 

I will also say though... if someone is a few words over, not majorly or anything, I wouldn't raise a big fuss about it.

[Kenru]

Keep it.

[Ulrick Hammerpaw]

In case anyone is worried about getting penalised for writing a really long post, I really don't think it's going to happen very much. The way the story is organised will probably mean that really, really long posts will actually not occur very often anyway.