tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post4794541655014166233..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: What to Do When Your Novel's Too ShortJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12790922651159346462021-03-08T11:02:44.501-05:002021-03-08T11:02:44.501-05:00Most welcome! With YA, fleshing out the internaliz...Most welcome! With YA, fleshing out the internalization and emotional layer is something to look at. YA has a lot more of that than an adult novel.:) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81797852686203412132021-03-05T10:30:24.804-05:002021-03-05T10:30:24.804-05:00I was super pleased to find this article. It's...I was super pleased to find this article. It's really helpful to think through what you could do to lengthen a book. I've already written two adult novels which were around 80,000 but I'm currently writing my first YA and I'm enjoying the faster pace. I've hit 46,000 and I've not got much more to go, but really want to edge beyond 50,000 so this'll give me some things to consider! Thank you.Katherine Blessanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03089638639482326483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43629380564605234722020-11-24T13:57:50.914-05:002020-11-24T13:57:50.914-05:00That's not uncommon, especially if you're ...That's not uncommon, especially if you're more of a plot-writer than a character-writer. I'm like that as well. I'll even leave myself notes, like, [reaction] to add in later. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49713937691489880482020-11-19T17:55:27.286-05:002020-11-19T17:55:27.286-05:00I'm exactly the same. I just finished my first...I'm exactly the same. I just finished my first novel at 40k. I got all the action and dialogue, but it lacks descriptions, introspection, and I failed to develop the secondary characters. My goal is 80k. I find it hard to write without knowing how it ends. Now that the plot is clear, it's easier for me to dive back in and add more stuff.Seagullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13033542732521064778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-3090005437030023302020-01-18T09:49:33.530-05:002020-01-18T09:49:33.530-05:00Oh good! Glad I was able to help. Good luck with y...Oh good! Glad I was able to help. Good luck with your revision :) <br />Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52000642179576385892020-01-14T14:31:00.516-05:002020-01-14T14:31:00.516-05:00Thank you for this post! I frequently struggle wit...Thank you for this post! I frequently struggle with my manuscripts being too short(normally just over 50k), and with this round of editing I'm trying to do my research so I know how to lengthen it without seeming to 'delay the story', as you say.<br /><br />Again, thanks so much for your help! I have so many notes now on how to add to my story!Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01788203634782912320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-9683792958569537112019-01-08T11:17:14.957-05:002019-01-08T11:17:14.957-05:00Keep working then :) Dreams are good, and worst ca...Keep working then :) Dreams are good, and worst case, you can always aim for a different market with this story and develop a larger one next book.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28981525238121444302019-01-07T18:54:29.817-05:002019-01-07T18:54:29.817-05:00Thanks for the response :) I still have all the ma...Thanks for the response :) I still have all the major events ahead of me, I just wouldn't want to have to add a bunch of stuff after I'd already written the final scene. So far, I've managed to add 2k here and there, especially in the love interest scene I've mentioned, which, I'll admit, works far better now, and I try to be more detailed as I continue to write (also, thought of an arc for a secondary character that nicely bides some of the story together). It's YA sci-fi, and I'd like to be able to sell it (I know, a girl can dream) so I'm trying to aim for the minimal word count at least!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14425819934997981421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56648631097588928272019-01-07T13:12:19.476-05:002019-01-07T13:12:19.476-05:00It's possible you have a novella and not a nov...It's possible you have a novella and not a novel, which run a lot shorter. 30K words would fit that format.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60600791771329226962019-01-07T13:10:44.805-05:002019-01-07T13:10:44.805-05:00Glad I could help.Glad I could help.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37158690132809569242019-01-06T15:32:13.392-05:002019-01-06T15:32:13.392-05:00Thanks for the post, I enjoyed reading the comment...Thanks for the post, I enjoyed reading the comments as well. Since most writers seem to have the opposite problem (of writing too many words) it might seem like mine is one to envy, but don't be fooled - like someone here already said, it's still a lot easier to subtract than to add. Funny thing is, I've never had a problem with writing long essays and I think I can, in general, babble on for ages, but I've read so many writing advice along the lines of "omit needless words, avoid unnecessary adjectives" that it's hard to shake it off. Also, I don't particularly enjoy overly long descriptions in books (unless truly masterful). Anyway, only 13k words into my novel, I started to feel like I'm heading towards the climax way too fast. I went back and discovered things like that a very crucial scene - my protagonist meeting her love interest for the first time - and in very special circumstances, too - only took three pages! I'm fixing things like that and trying to build up the tension way more. I hope I can get to at least 80k when I'm finished with the whole thing. Whew!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14425819934997981421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26201350673846050092019-01-05T09:24:13.281-05:002019-01-05T09:24:13.281-05:00Very useful since I have a novel lacking length. T...Very useful since I have a novel lacking length. Thanks.Dwane Knotthttp://dwaneknott.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42410895270975090122019-01-04T15:34:08.492-05:002019-01-04T15:34:08.492-05:00Thanks! I write short as well. I think that's ...Thanks! I write short as well. I think that's actually easier than having to cut. "This needs more" is less work than "What can I get rid of?"Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71244281781254135642019-01-04T10:07:16.353-05:002019-01-04T10:07:16.353-05:00I loved this post. I always write short and find t...I loved this post. I always write short and find that reviswion is where I add more. Janice, you are so right that when this happens a writer needs to go back and look at description, subplots, etc. I write YA and try to make 70000+ my ultimate goal.Susan Thumm Paxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16110923445348017869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49339383146936331332018-07-26T09:08:56.873-04:002018-07-26T09:08:56.873-04:00For an adult novel, probably. They're usually ...For an adult novel, probably. They're usually between 80-100K. But there are shorter novels in the genre. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66220803225528630202018-07-26T09:07:47.727-04:002018-07-26T09:07:47.727-04:00The one nice thing about being a writer is that yo...The one nice thing about being a writer is that you can set your own hours and work when you want. So you can write when you have time and focus on school when you need to.<br /><br />You can get punished at 13 (some have), though it's very difficult. I actually wrote a post about it, so look there for more details:<br /><br />http://blog.janicehardy.com/2010/04/youre-never-too-young-or-too-old.html<br /><br />For a guide on how to write a novel, you might start with my at-home planning workshop. It should get you started. <br /><br />http://blog.janicehardy.com/2017/09/get-ready-for-nano-at-home-workshop.html<br /><br />The revision workshop can also be useful:<br /><br />http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/02/at-home-workshop-revise-your-novel-in.html<br />Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7722430070514714182018-07-22T15:59:08.300-04:002018-07-22T15:59:08.300-04:00hi,
wondering is 55k too short for a novel? Ficti...hi, <br />wondering is 55k too short for a novel? Fiction, sci-fi novel? Thanks so much.<br />Macy RMacy Reelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77548009098944589722018-07-22T15:57:56.338-04:002018-07-22T15:57:56.338-04:00Hello everyone.
This was an amazing article. Writi...Hello everyone.<br />This was an amazing article. Writing a novel, and based on my calculations, it will come out to be around 55 -60k words, as it is now around 35k. This is a futuristic fantasy book. But the length isn't my main problem, i just need some guidance here please!<br /><br />Ok... I am 13 years old, already a dedicated writer. I have written other books but haven't been as passionate and never considered publication. But i really like my current book. What about my age, though? Also, wondering how much of your life publishing a book sucks up. As a kid in school, would i even have time? how much stress would be put on my parents?<br />THANK YOU SO MUCH! I will appreciate any help!<br />-a young writerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26268196473694278472017-12-08T00:57:12.045-05:002017-12-08T00:57:12.045-05:00Really good stuff. I feel like the ideas I got fro...Really good stuff. I feel like the ideas I got from reading this article are going to solve my problem. Thank you! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85984168063333181192017-10-30T15:55:35.384-04:002017-10-30T15:55:35.384-04:00You have a few options. You can go back and add mo...You have a few options. You can go back and add more to the story to reach your 15,000 word goal, or you can keep writing and see how the first draft turns out. It's not uncommon for stories to change as we write. <br /><br />You can also look to see why you came up short. Are you fleshing out your scenes enough? Are you telling instead of showing? Do you have enough plot? Are there enough obstacles and challenges in the way of your protagonist's goals?<br /><br />Sometimes I think it's going to take a few chapters to have a piece of the story unfold, and it only takes one, so it's possible you just underestimated how long some of your plot points would take. Odds are other points will take longer, and it might balance out in the end.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-35499225335098493102017-10-30T12:45:25.142-04:002017-10-30T12:45:25.142-04:00Thanks! By the way, love your site.Thanks! By the way, love your site.Mahlon Bouldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661681720035167686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56915829616320536202017-10-30T11:33:35.420-04:002017-10-30T11:33:35.420-04:00This article really helped though, thanks!This article really helped though, thanks!Izzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76775772312374657702017-10-30T11:32:19.364-04:002017-10-30T11:32:19.364-04:00I am 12 and I am writing a fantasy novel. My aim i...I am 12 and I am writing a fantasy novel. My aim is at least 75,000 words because I think that the plot needs that. However, I am only on 4,500 (after 2 months) and, with where I am in the story line, I should be on at least 15,000. <br /><br />Any help? I would really appreciate it :)Izzynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21857988566371287022017-10-29T07:53:46.793-04:002017-10-29T07:53:46.793-04:00Questions and comments are always welcome :)
Manu...Questions and comments are always welcome :)<br /><br />Manuscript pages (Such as Word), with standard manuscript format (12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins). It will vary a little naturally, but it's a good benchmark. <br /><br />Since printed book vary with sizes and fonts, you'll see both higher and lower than 250 depending on the book. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88017145708503071862017-10-28T22:00:08.146-04:002017-10-28T22:00:08.146-04:00Sorry for being late to the party, but I just read...Sorry for being late to the party, but I just read this blog post. One question: When you say the standard 250 words per page, are you referring to a typewritten double spaced page? My experience with almost every printed book I’ve read has been around 300 to 330 words per page. 250, yes, for a monotype font manuscript page, but printed books tend to be upwards of that. I’m talking about trade paperbacks and hardbacks mostly, not the more compact mass market paperbacks — so I guess that makes a difference, too.<br /><br />Thanks. Just curious because I’ve seen the 250 words per page before, and it never quite fit with what I read in print.Mahlon Bouldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661681720035167686noreply@blogger.com