So, how long a fic hurts your eyes to read in LJ? 5000 words? 1500 words? Do you think a fic can be longer than an essay before it starts to be uncomfortable?

I think I've read things up to about 3500 words that were fine. It's not that different from reading them on an author's website, really.

I seem to be a person who needs rules and guidelines. Once I know them, then I break them, but I need to know they're there.