I am so excited to post that I wrote 4652 words this week. I nailed down a lot of my ending, but I still have a little ways to go.
The problem is, this book isn't exactly as long as my other books. I've been mulling over a few ideas, like adding a secondary plot, adding a character, you know, the usual, but then I've also been thinking about making this a novella.
So today I have two questions for you. First, what do you think about novellas? Do you always want more, want it to be longer? Or do you like them?
Second, how did you do on your word count this week?
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
8 comments:
I like my books long. :) I feel like in novellas and short stories, I don't really grow to love the characters, and therefore I'm not as invested in the story. In novels there's a lot more character development that takes place.
I love novellas! I love reading them and I love writing them too.
I have a really hard time with novellas, unless they are companion pieces. A novella between book one and two, or as a prequel, or as a character exposition is fine. But stand alone novellas? There's usually just not enough for me to care about. This is part of why I don't enjoy middle grade fiction (for me personally, my kids love it), it's just not enough for me.
I'm trying to decide whether to make my work in progress a novella or a novel. I started off thinking novella because I wanted to get a jump on the success of the first book in the series, but as the story grows I think I may need more of an investment. I haven't decided, yet
I like novellas fine. The ones Stephen King does, where there's 4 in a book - perfect.
I just don't know how you'd go about marketing them, unless you happen to have 3 more ready to go.
I'm around 1100 words for the week, most of them last night. It's been a hectic week (and it's only Wednesday!)
Last night's scene was a re-write of my favorite one that I had written so far. I still feel like I could improve it. Is it better to have a TV-style fight scene where there are several ineffective blows traded back and forth, or to have it be more realistic where trained combatants can finish a fight in seconds? I can't decide. I'm sure as it stands, it needs to be a little bit longer, but on the other hand, it is taking place on an un-piloted aircraft with an open cabin door....
One of my favorite vampire stories,Carmilla, is a novella. And a couple of Poe's greats -- Pit and Pendulum, Ligeia, Fall of the House of Usher--might qualify by today's attention span trend.
I didn't get any writing done this week. And I like novellas. My very first story was a 101 page Pirate novella.
I had a class given by David Eaton this past weekend at the ANWA writers conference. He taught us everything we needed to know about a 14 Day Kindle Book Launch. He's a marketing genius. It's basically an Amazon exclusive for 90 days where they will promote your book (I'm not sure about novellas or if they're is a word-count limit). He showed us what sites to follow and suggested to join Facebook pages in the genre that our book is in. Just so many ideas that my hand started to cramp before our 50 minutes was over.
Why not a Thriller Novella? As long as you market it clearly as such, then there wouldn't be any expectations of a 300 page book. Especially ebooks where you don't see the thickness. You may have hit on something, Julie. Or . . . you could get your book group to write a novella each to add to yours. That might reach across more readers, and be more fun. Funner?
Thanks so much for your input everyone. It was so helpful! You guys are the best.
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