Good point, John. And that is what makes writing short pieces here so seductive. You feel like you're doing some creative writing, and indeed you are, but you don't really have anything to lose it it sinks without trace. It's so tempting not to take the risk.

Excerpts are a good idea, as you say. But I think that to be sure the feedback you get is extensive and varied enough to justify continuing with the project, you first need a large enough readership, and the 'guarantee' that the algorithm will keep helping you extend your reach. I'm not sure when (if ever) I will feel that has happened here.

But I am thinking of starting a series of pieces explaining the process of refining the idea and doing a little research and brainstorming for a longer work, because at least that way I'm just going through thought processes I need to do anyway - nothing's lost if no one reads it, or those that do say 'that sounds like a crap idea'.

We shall see...