Hopefully, I don't waste my readers time either. I seldom write stories that are less than 8 minutes, and I think that they generally are about 9 to 12 minutes.

Firstly, my title is very clear, and it tells the reader exactly what they're going to get. The short explanation below increases that data. So, if they don't want to read it, right there and then, they can decide not to.

Next, I sub-title heavily. I seldom write more than three paragraphs without using a new subtitle. In effect, because my essays are always built logically, the reader can scan down immediately and see where the story leads. If they don't want to read any further, they don't have to.

This way I don't waste my reader's time. Nevertheless, despite my stories being longer than average on Medium, I have a steady readership.

Here's what I find wastes my time, and it has nothing to do with the length of the story.

1. The title isn't clear, or it doesn't relate to what the writer writes about.

2. There are no sub-titles, so it's extremely difficult to know where the story is going to go.

3. The writer went off topic or it was satire or something. It is highly irritating.

:)