[dsacco]

I should clarify: I don't mind "unfocused" writing like this. I can definitely appreciate a creative take on exposition. But I think the introduction of an article is not the most appropriate place to do it. An upfront paragraph - even a few sentences - explaining what is happening would basically resolve this for me.

[modzu]

would you expect the same of a novel? why not similarly temper your expectation given the source; some pieces are simply more literary. (nb. im only speaking generally because i havent read the article). and hey at least we have the comments of hn to scan for the tldr :)

[imh]

It still applies to creative writing. IIRC, I heard it called a promise in a creative writing course. E.g. if you open with an action scene and the rest of the story has no action, that's a broken promise to the reader. It's useful to give the reader an indication of what they're starting in any piece.

[Retra]

Most novels come with a back cover blurb that tells you what the book is about. And I don't know many people who read novels without first reading the cover.