I am a slow reader, which is a huge disadvantage since I enjoy reading, and would love to be able to assimilate all the apocryphal fiction put out by the wonderful base of writers we have in EVE.
However unpopular I may be for saying so, when it comes to EVE fiction in particular, I am much more drawn to works that contribute to the 'world building' aspect of personal fiction. I love to see when a writer takes a deep understanding of prime fiction, gives it their own twist through the lens of their character(s), and extends or extrapolates scenarios based on that.
Unfortunately (for me) this means that I end up missing a lot of good fiction, such as character blogs, IGS threads, etc. which appear to deal solely with character plotlines within the established PF but do not offer significant contribution to the base material.
All this to say that I wish there was an easier way to categorize between the two types of fiction, but the problem is likely too steeped in my own biases to allow simple classification. This is because, for example, I find in some cases I can form a better understanding of life and culture in Amarr is based on one cleric's poem, than some lengthier stories which exhibit deep character development but devote little attention to the broader society, the intricate workings of the surroundings, or the imagined history of a people/place.