[KRX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

No, it's not.
Filler isn't needed in the slightest. Filler is used to pad out the length of the work to make it seem longer than it actually is. Filler is used by TV shows to fit a 35 episode story into the run time of 49 episodes.

Using it as a "Breather" is a nebulous point. It's still a story. The breather is the space between chapter 9 and chapter 10. You ruin pacing and flow if you go from having Character X kill Character Y, but then decide "Well, that was too intense. We need to have a quick break." Then dedicate the next chapter to a inconsequential side character that has no bearing on the events just to give the audience a break is meaningless. Once again, you're trying to treat it as if it's a TV show and chapters need "Breather episodes" every once and a while.

Using filler as verisimilitude might work, but then it runs the risk of being excessive. You set yourself up for readers asking "What's the point of this?" when you describe a character's morning routine, then travel to work, then their work day in full, just to pad out the story length.

Filler's necessity varies depending on the kind of story. Some stories, such as a frequently updated fanfiction, do need something that allows the audience to take a break. Other stories, like a children's storybook, don't need something to make it longer, as the story is too short. Filler is a tricky device that only works when used properly, just like any other literary device.