Over - description of unimportant details. If a writer spends too much time on describing things that don't matter much to the overall story, it becomes long and boring. Say a story about a party, but the writer goes on and on about the pattern of the wallpaper in the party hall instead of focusing on the interactions between the guests.
One reason could be lack of a clear plot. If a story just meanders around without a definite direction or purpose, it tends to be boring. For example, if it's just a list of random events that don't lead to anything, like someone talking about all the things they saw on the street that day without any connection between those things.
Some people might be trying to fill an awkward silence or gain attention. They think that by telling a long story, they can hold the spotlight and make others interested in them. Another possibility is that they lack self - awareness and don't understand how their long - windedness affects others.
One reason could be lack of a clear plot. If the story just meanders without a definite direction, it can get boring. Another reason is too much description that doesn't serve a purpose. For example, if a story spends pages just describing the scenery in a very dull way without it being relevant to the characters or the plot. Also, uninteresting characters can make a story long and boring. If the characters are flat and have no development, the story drags on.
Well, you could add some unexpected twists. For example, if it's a story about a daily routine that's dull, suddenly introduce a strange character or an out - of - the - blue event. Like in a story about someone going to work every day in a boring way, suddenly a UFO lands near their workplace. It can immediately grab the listener's attention.
Sometimes, people tell pointless stories because they are nervous. For example, in a new social situation, they may start blabbing on about unimportant things just to fill the silence. Also, it could be a habit formed from growing up in an environment where such story - telling was common.
A story can be long and pointless if it has no clear plot or purpose. Maybe it just rambles on without any direction or conclusion.
A boy started collecting pebbles. He had thousands of them in his room. He didn't make any art with them, he didn't use them for any games. He just kept piling them up. His room was full of pebbles, and his parents were constantly asking him to get rid of them, but he wouldn't listen. It was a long and pointless story of his pebble - collecting obsession.
Long pointless stories usually have excessive details that don't contribute to the overall meaning. They could involve a lot of unnecessary descriptions of things like the color of every flower in the park when it has no bearing on the so - called 'point' of the story. It's like the storyteller is just rambling without a proper narrative structure.
You could use it as an exercise in creative editing. Cut it down to make it more concise and meaningful.
Well, there was this cat. It liked to sit in a corner and stare at a wall. All day long it would just sit there. It didn't chase mice, it didn't play with toys. It just stared. And every day was the same. It was a long, pointless story of a cat that seemed to have no purpose other than staring at that wall. It made people wonder what was going on in its little cat brain, but it never showed any sign of changing its behavior.
If you don't want to be too direct, you can start giving short, non - encouraging responses. Like just nodding or saying 'hmm' in a less enthusiastic way. Eventually, the person might get the hint that you're not really interested in their long - winded story.