posted
OK, the impression that I'm getting for first-time writers is that our target window for book size is about 100,000 words. or somewhere between 80,000 and 120,000 for a novel. (I'm talking sci-fi and fantasy here.)
But, despite several edits, my WIP is sitting complete at 129,000 words. Is this a problem? I am inclined to think it might be, but then I look at examples like, say, Brandon Snaderson whose first novel "Elantris" is 190,000 words. How the heck did that monster get published? I mean it's a great story and all... but 190,000 words. That is a pill many agents and publishers won't swallow. Will they?
posted
Well, there's one easy way to find out - send it out!
For a 6% premium over an arbitrary word count limit, any agent would take a project if the writing is good enough and the story is strong. Don't get hung up on artifical barriers. If your agent-to-be thought that some changes or reductions would be worked in, they'd likely work with you to make those changes.
posted
I don't think a few thousand words one way or the other is a big deal, or that's the impression I have. Someone over on Baen's Bar asked that same question because their novel was a few thousand under the 100,000 that Baen says on their guidelines they'll look at and Toni said not to get hung up on the exact number, that they're happy with something in that ballpark.
Posts: 1588 | Registered: Jul 2007
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Sorry, I just get irritated at the concept that the race of the characters is what makes a plot original or not. In fact, I would debate that "originality" in plotting is of any great significance. But that's a debate for another thread. I'm being difficult again. *grins*
[This message has been edited by JeanneT (edited July 03, 2008).]
posted
Back in my era, the ideal size for a novel was supposed to be seventy thousand words...the ideal length seems to have stretched some. So far, I've had just two works reach the magic number of one hundred thousand...one is unfinished, the other went down below it when I cut.
Do any markets actually sit down and count the words before they buy or reject? Seems to me if a novel misses by, oh, five to ten thousand words either way, it could be dealt with in editing---padded up, or cut down---that is, if the word length needs to be exact. (I gather the abovementioned "seventy thousand words" was to fit a specific number of book pages when they went to press. It may be easier today.)
posted
Thanks everyone. Now my biggest problem is writing a compelling query... My story hinges around a phenomenal plot twist (a major spoiler) and I'm not sure whether I should include that in the teaser or not. It would definitely not be on the blurb. But without knowing it, I could imagine someone thinking the premise is a bit dry. Grr....
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