I knew that I had this somewhere---in the Feb 2001 issue of Writer's Digest Magazine they ran an artical on doing a second draft---I applied this theory to my current novel--but then could not remember the suggested word length for a marketable first novel---<drum roll><shawn jumps out of chair shouting> 70,000 words!
The artical talks of most first time authors making the mistake of writing novels that are 120,000 words in length when the optimal length is half that.
So according to them---70,000 words or 300 pages.
Which means once I write my single wrap up chapter--I am done.
Shawn
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 747) on :
Hey, congratulations!! I wish I was done with a novel...*pouts* But I'm getting there...slowly but surely...
Posted by JK (Member # 654) on :
Hey, if 70,000 words is the limit, then I've already got enough stuff for two novels. That's lifted my spirits! Whether those words are any good or not remains to be seen... JK
Posted by Xenocide (Member # 885) on :
Really?
I get Writer's Digest, and it seems to me they said optimal lenght for a book was 180,000...
*wanders off in search of all his lost magazines* –=Xeno=–
Posted by Xenocide (Member # 885) on :
No, no, you were right. Say's right there, first time novel length should be 70,000.
Good job srhowen, I'm nearly half way then myself! –=Xeno=–
Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :
Wel, I sent out 10 query letters on Friday. I managed a one page synop---a record for me--so now the wait begins.
Shawn
Posted by Locke (Member # 991) on :
i'm about a tenth of the way done, but I started last week and I'm really slow but thoughtful.
Posted by SiliGurl (Member # 922) on :
I thought 100,000 was the optimal length... hmmm, if 70k is it, then I am just that much closer with my measly 8k done.
Posted by Tangent (Member # 1191) on :
What I find scary is that the second draft of a log-style story I'm writing... the first four chapters (including prologue) is almost half the length of the original draft of 17 chapters (including prologue and epilogue). And this is something I doubt would ever get published at that, it's just a writing exercise for me.
Posted by SiliGurl (Member # 922) on :
I know there are no hard and fast rules, but I'm concerned... I'm writing what I hope will be a very engaging, in-depth novel... THere's about 3 main plot lines, and a few subplots that all interconnect.
I'm writing chapter 5 now, and have roughly 20,000 words under my belt so far. Undoubtedly when I come back to revise/edit a 2nd draft that might get pared down some... but by the above discussion, I should be like 1/5 of the way done and I am woefully far from that.
Will a larger manuscript be a burden?? Even if (hopefully) it is well written? Thanks,
Posted by Phanto (Member # 1619) on :
srhowen:
Do you still agree with the 70,000 number? I recall you saying 100k.
[This message has been edited by Phanto (edited January 16, 2004).]
quote:Having said that, I must point out that the original advice you were given -- that a book feels like a normal novel somewhere around 100,000 words and is hard to publish at less than 75,000 -- is true.
Althought there is a lot more to his answer than that so I'd read it if you really want to know.
Posted by JBShearer (Member # 9434) on :
Tor suggests 100-130k....
Some other publishers between 70-110k
Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :
I think I'd revise that to 90,000. Medicine Man, now being pitched to the publishers by my agent, ended up being 118,000 words by the time we were done with editing.
It seems that when agents or editors look at a work they would rather suggest you add things than subtract things. Think about that for yourself--the majority of people I have worked with hate cutting words. (Don't we all--those words are our babies) The hardest part of the agent rewrites I did were the cut this chapter and get rid of this character--etc. While the you need to add this and this, was much easier.
Also, it has to do with shelf space. If your book is huge and fat then it takes up more space on the shelf so a book store might only stock one or two copies of it. When those sell the store manager will say ugh that book only sold one copy. Where as if three or four book stake up the same space they will order the three or four. More sales equal more book orders etc. And yes they do look at shelf space when ordering books.
All I can say is that I followed the formula suggested in that article. (with the exception of first agent draft length) I did not try to make a prior novel fit into it--I wrote one geared toward that formula.
After several years of trying to get previous novels published (one was 325,000 words, the other 195,000 words) I landed an agent.
So IMHO the formula works.
Shawn
[This message has been edited by srhowen (edited January 16, 2004).]
