feedback on word counts

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wordranger
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Re: feedback on word counts

Post by wordranger » September 21st, 2010, 9:23 pm

Let us know how you do! I am very interested in what she tells you... I would not change a thing until you get feedback. Who knows? Maybe she'll love it!

I have written a doorstopper novel, too... I was just writing my story and not looking at how long it was getting and ended up with over 300,000 words. I painstakingly cut it into separate novels when I started reading about word counts, each that has "an ending" but not "the ending". I am also, now, worried that the first book might be too short. It is 67,000 words for a Sci-Fi young adult novel. If I thought I could get away with gluing it all back together again, believe me, I would.

Good Luck!

Has anyone read any good info about novels being "too short"?
Words are your friend.
Don't be afraid to lose yourself in them.

Jennifer Eaton, WordRanger
My Novelette LAST WINTER RED will be published by J. Taylor Publishing in December, 2012

Take a Step into My World and Learn From My Mistakes http://www.jennifermeaton.com/

DMM87
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Joined: September 21st, 2010, 1:37 pm
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Re: feedback on word counts

Post by DMM87 » September 22nd, 2010, 12:37 am

wordranger wrote:Let us know how you do! I am very interested in what she tells you... I would not change a thing until you get feedback. Who knows? Maybe she'll love it!

I have written a doorstopper novel, too... I was just writing my story and not looking at how long it was getting and ended up with over 300,000 words. I painstakingly cut it into separate novels when I started reading about word counts, each that has "an ending" but not "the ending". I am also, now, worried that the first book might be too short. It is 67,000 words for a Sci-Fi young adult novel. If I thought I could get away with gluing it all back together again, believe me, I would.

Good Luck!

Has anyone read any good info about novels being "too short"?
I am writing a YA novel as well, and most sources (Wild Ink, TCIG to Writing for Young Adults, Writing Great Young Adult Books) indicate that word count should be about 40,000/50,000 to 80,000/100,000 (100,000 is really pushing it btw). Based on that information, I would say that your novel would probably be appealing to prospective agents or editors due to its length. A smaller book is less expensive to publish, so publishers are more willing to take a chance on it. Also, if your first novel is a success and you are given the go for sequels, you have just earned yourself more money by dividing the book up into separate novels. Good luck! I hope my advice helps.

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