No, the problem is that even if a story deserves the lengthy treatment, it might not deserve this lengthy treatment. Maybe it deserves a different style, or nar

No, the problem is that even if a story deserves the lengthy treatment, it might not deserve this lengthy treatment. Maybe it deserves a different style, or narration. It's not that the only way to tell a long story is to start it in medias res, then digress to the summer of a few years before, then introduce a side character, then jump back to a mystery, then expand a side story a bit, then proceed a little forward on the main thread of the narration... it's just like randomly pouring salt and spices on a food to make it tastier. It would ruin the best of dishes.