Hi everyone, I'm the head mod here and I'm posting this from my actual account instead of the fmfmod account because its an issue that I inadvertently brought around
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I'm answering in comments because it isn't a simple yes/no for me.
I'm a consistent offender of breaking the 1k rule. I have been since I started, but the funny thing is, I like having the limit there. It means I know I need to come in somewhere damned close to 1k in order for it to suit. And it keeps me from running off (I write 10k fics by accident, and my 5k fics often bloom to be 30k when I'm not looking).
On the other hand, I don't have time to really craft a proper under 1k fic. Sometimes they come out that way, but if it comes in at 1084 words, I don't have the time (or inclination) to sit there and figure out exactly what I can take out to get it to 1k even. I suck at that kind of editing, I don't find it fun, and I'd probably stop posting if the rule were enforced (or I'd write it and then just post it to AO3 rather than here).
For me, this comm is fun. It's been a brilliant outlet and a reminder to write short things over the last year. I'd like to see it stay focused on the ficlet size (200-1000 words) but with a little leeway. Personally, I try to stay under 1100 when I go over, and I will try to fight with it to get it under that, or will remind myself to stop letting it run away, or if it goes over, I give up and let it go, then post to AO3.
I've always felt a little guilty when I go a little over, and wish I had time to craft it down to the limit (sometimes I'm literally writing and posting within the same half hour). I'm amazed by people who can do that, honestly. I spent one December writing double-drabbles every day and they took me longer than just spewing a few thousand words each evening!
So I guess what I'm saying is I'd like it to be the way it is... the focus on 200-1000 words, and not really being angry if we go less than 100 words over? But not raising the limit because raising the limit means someone will go 100 words over THAT (I'd be encouraged too, I'm sure). I've loved how I've had to learn to create small stories for this.
100 words actually doesn't take me much time to cut, if it helps. 5 or 10 minutes, tops for a 1k fic. I know a lot of people think they have to remove content, but you don't. It's just a word here and a word there, in most cases words you don't need anyway.
It takes me a lot longer than 5-10 minutes, which I suspect has to do with base writing style. I don't tend to use a lot of extraneous words--I clean as I go, so when I'm done, I'm really done. It's a habit developed after writing for thirty-some years. For me, cutting 100 words can be a half hour's worth of work at least, trying to fidget things out and rework sentences to be said a slightly different way and not losing things that need to be said. Often I'll have to cut entire sentences, or rework the path between paragraphs to get there a different way. I honestly hate editing, because I've developed the habit of writing a pretty clean draft. Plus... if anything... when I edit I usually end up needing to add words because I forgot one. *wry smile* Trust me... loads of practice in this, I know the timeframes that it takes for me to edit words out.
Oh, bugger lol I'm a word vomiter at heart, though my first drafts are a lot less full of lose-able words than they used to be. I remember the week I wrote 1400 words and got it down to 1k - though that *was* hard and took me a bit longer and about six edit passes *headdesk*
I definitely take more care with flash because it is relatively quick and easy to edit. I hate editing longer works, it's the not-fun part of writing. Thank god for flash, the editing is a lot less daunting and reminds me that I *can* do it (or I'd have a lot more complete-but-unedited fic on my hard drive (there's still an awful lot there).
I'm a consistent offender of breaking the 1k rule. I have been since I started, but the funny thing is, I like having the limit there. It means I know I need to come in somewhere damned close to 1k in order for it to suit. And it keeps me from running off (I write 10k fics by accident, and my 5k fics often bloom to be 30k when I'm not looking).
On the other hand, I don't have time to really craft a proper under 1k fic. Sometimes they come out that way, but if it comes in at 1084 words, I don't have the time (or inclination) to sit there and figure out exactly what I can take out to get it to 1k even. I suck at that kind of editing, I don't find it fun, and I'd probably stop posting if the rule were enforced (or I'd write it and then just post it to AO3 rather than here).
For me, this comm is fun. It's been a brilliant outlet and a reminder to write short things over the last year. I'd like to see it stay focused on the ficlet size (200-1000 words) but with a little leeway. Personally, I try to stay under 1100 when I go over, and I will try to fight with it to get it under that, or will remind myself to stop letting it run away, or if it goes over, I give up and let it go, then post to AO3.
I've always felt a little guilty when I go a little over, and wish I had time to craft it down to the limit (sometimes I'm literally writing and posting within the same half hour). I'm amazed by people who can do that, honestly. I spent one December writing double-drabbles every day and they took me longer than just spewing a few thousand words each evening!
So I guess what I'm saying is I'd like it to be the way it is... the focus on 200-1000 words, and not really being angry if we go less than 100 words over? But not raising the limit because raising the limit means someone will go 100 words over THAT (I'd be encouraged too, I'm sure). I've loved how I've had to learn to create small stories for this.
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I definitely take more care with flash because it is relatively quick and easy to edit. I hate editing longer works, it's the not-fun part of writing. Thank god for flash, the editing is a lot less daunting and reminds me that I *can* do it (or I'd have a lot more complete-but-unedited fic on my hard drive (there's still an awful lot there).
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