Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

I will be going to a cabin in the woods Mon/Tues so if I'm not around don't worry. I wish I wasn't dreading this. It should be fun. Not surprisingly the depression is awful and also today it's been raining for 14 hours straight so it'll be a fun muddy hike. Eye roll.

So today's talk is about novel length. I think we can agree no one is going to fully agree about this. There's the old chestnut of 'a story is as long as it needs to be.' I think we've all found a book that is far too long, that if it had been trimmed it might have been better.

I have noticed a couple of things a) the older I get the less patience I have with really long stories b) fantasy especially are getting long.

Now I do know some of the reason for that from some of the publishing cons I've been at and author's I've spoken to. Back in the day a series might be 5-8 books long. Publishers decided a) maybe fans won't stay that long (must be fantasy related because mysteries this is nothing unusual) b) it's cheaper to put out one big ass book than to put out two smaller ones.

Personally I'd rather read the 5 smaller ones than two large ones. I can see the publisher's side but on the flip side, I'm not likely to buy your 700 page skullcracker.

I find it even harder to handle in a mystery novel because those always seem either overly complicated or dragging. Fantasy or SF at least has the world building it needs to do and I can see that being longer.

So what are your thoughts on book length? Does it matter to you? Does it not? I'm curious.


OPEN CALLS

Hiding Under the Leaves Folk-horror short stories

Dark Hearts Speculative stories and poems about women who are anti-heroes

Spirit of the Wolf Well-constructed speculative fiction stories where wolves play a major role. The only thing we do not want to see is Wolves as evil.

The Cafe Irreal Winter 2025 Issue

Astrolabe December 2024 Window Stories about how we seek out, discover, and grasp onto connection in all genres with a particular fondness for anything that moves beyond realism in form or content or spirit


Book Worms Horror Zine Issue #7 Space and Science Fiction Horror (must have horror elements, not just sci-fi.)

Nine Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in November 2024

Cypress Review: Now Seeking Submissions

31 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for November 2024




From Around the Web

Screening Critique Partners for a Good Fit this is crucial but at this point I'm struggling to find any

Why ISBNs Matter for Indie Authors: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Anna Featherstone

How to Maximize Goodreads Giveaways for Better Engagement Honestly I had piss poor results with it and now they charge so much I'm not sure it's worth it

High-Stakes Horror: How Risk and Uncertainty Drive Fear

What I Wish I Knew Before I Signed My First Book Deal

How to Get a Business Book Published

How to Plan a Book Tour on Your Own

Your First Draft is Beautiful — Even if it is a Beautiful Mess


From Betty

Should You Cut Your Novel Into a Series? Ha, this one fits my theme

Twelve Signs a Storyteller Is Building Romantic & Sexual Chemistry

Constructing a Compelling Romance

Are Your Readers Frustrated? You Can Fix That

5 Ways to Strengthen Weak Writing

Writing to a Theme: Questions to Find Your Story's Heart

Screening Critique Partners for a Good Fit

6 Powerful Techniques to Escape Tedious Descriptions

Greatest Hits from the 2024 Flathead River Writers Conference Part 2

What Writers Can Learn From Now, Voyager

How to Avoid Author Intrusion in First Person

Writing a Novel, Scene by Scene

Character Secret Thesaurus: Choosing Cowardice Over Bravery

10 Reasons for Writers to Be Grateful

How to Practice Being a Writer of Hope I need to contemplate this one

Make the Story You Write Read Like A Film With First Person Cinematic POV

3 Ways to Encourage a Writer



nano tidbit - More screams behind him drew Dan’s attention from the Shadow Gatherer. Three hell hounds were closing in on his friends, Bernie, and his girls. Half of Summer’s gamers had scattered. Bernie held his girlfriend like a human shield.

Piece of shit. Sighing, Dan threw himself between them and the dogs. His arm jarred as his blade bit into the hell hound’s neck wrong, sinking deep into a vertebra instead of passing between them.

14421 / 50000 words. 29% done!

Comments

[under_the_silk_tree]

I have hated the rise of the gigantic sequel books. I don't understand why very rarely does it improve the story the only thing it really does is make me think twice about reading it.

I hopefully you have lots of fun and relaxation on your vacation.

[aien_hime]

Totally agree with you. Mysteries should never be over 400 pages, especially not when in they are part of a series. Sequels should never be more than 100 pages longer than the first book in a series anyway, they often get too bloated with too much filler/ descriptions that take too long/ unnecessary 'side quests'.

I am more lenient when it comes to standalone books, especially Fantasy, as you know at least it's just that (unless the author comes up with a completely unneeded prequel or something -_-), but I also know I usually don't buy them especially when they are over 500 pages. Ain't nobody got time for that.

[spikedluv]

I have picked up a book in B&N (within the last month, even), realized how thick it was, and put it back. It's not even the time it would take to read or worrying about how much filler is in it, but how difficult it would be to HOLD to read! Could be the best book in the world and I'll give it a pass because it hurts my wrists.

[justphoenix]

I always feel intimidated by really long books, but I've read some good ones! Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis was probably about 300 pages longer than it needed to be, but I did enjoy reading it.

ETA: part of my intimidation is I do most of my reading on my phone, via eBooks borrowed from the library. My library has a 14 day checkout period for ebooks, no renewals. So I get anxious over the page count, thinking I have to finish X pages per day to finish the book on time.

Great work on NaNo. I've written *cough* 1100 words so far, not including the outline.