Happy Monday everybody. I hope you all had a great weekend. It’s time once again as we start a new week to celebrate ourselves. Tell us about something good that happened to you. Something that made you happy. Something that you did that made you feel good.
It doesn’t have to be big news or anything earth shattering. Small is good, too.
I’m about one scene from completing a 35,000 word novella. I thought about trying to work it up to 80-85,000 words and novel status, but I think I kind of like it just the way it is.
I’m not very familiar with the novella as a form. I know some of my favorite books are novellas, but beyond that, nada. My questions to you are:
Are any of you familiar with or have written novellas? Is there a market for them? Is the submission process the same as for novels? Anything anyone has to offer will be greatly appreciated.
Enough about me. What about you? What’s making you happy and/or going well in your life? Share it with us and celebrate yourselves.
I wrote a novella: Nebula's Music which is an ebook right now with Lyrical Press. Ebook publishers accept novellas, but I'm not sure that agents look at them.
ReplyDeleteI loved writing it. Good luck with yours.
I took a picture of a sail boat running before the wind, "wing to wing" (meaning two fun sails on opposite sides of the boat, as it crossed the path of glimmering sunlight on the water...that's what made me happy this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI prefer full length novels, so I have no advice for you on that topic. I don't even know what the correct word count range is.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost ready to start my new wip. I've just got a few more things to figure out (I'm big on pre-planning). I'm not sure when I'll get to start though. My last beta reader is finishing off with my current wip, and I have some more editing to do before I can start querying.
Good luck with the writing. :D
From what I understand, novellas are a little harder to sell. On the other hand, with more small and internet based publishers popping up, presumably there is someone out there who will be looking for exactly that.
ReplyDeleteI got a request for a full from a partial, so that made me very happy.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on almost being done with your novella. I don't know if I've read any. I'd read yours.
ReplyDeleteLast night, watching the fireworks from the Charles River on the Boston side with my husband and daughter made me happy. We got there early, took a walk, and had a picnic. The weather was lovely and the skyline was gorgeous as the sun set. I may blog about it soon.
CONGRATS on 200!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say I really like your blog!!
Steve
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
Um...
ReplyDeleteIt's STILL warm and sunny! A proper summer for the first time on years!
I've almost completed one of my current WIPs. I wrote it just for the sake of telling the story. Only have two chapters to go.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I don't know a thing about novellas, except that I read them on my Kindle a lot. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm getting very close to finishing my WIP! And I'm actually starting to look forward to revisions...
I don't know much about novellas, except that people say they're making a come back :) My good news is that, like Summer, I'm very close to finishing my WIP. Hopefully this month :)
ReplyDeleteI'm about another 3-4 chapter from finish my first draft. This storyline has been complicated and taken me far longer than I wish, so that's definately good news.
ReplyDeleteSorry I can't help on the novella front. (Hugs)Indigo
I can't offer an insight into the novella question either. But I say, if it is working for you well done. Keep at it. A good read is a good read whether it be a short story, a novella or a novel. Wait, was Hemingway’s "Old Man of the Sea" a novella? Or am I showing my ignorance here!
ReplyDeleteGetting my car going again...made me very happy!
yay for progress!
ReplyDeleteI'm about 1/4 of the way through of first line edits on my WIP. EXCITEMENT!
My last piece is a 35kw novella. It is absolutely the most personal book or story I have written, and may remain such. I'm not sure I want to get that deep again.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people are against novellas. I think it has something to do with binding costs for shorter pieces.
I would love for that novella to be published.
Something good that happened lately... last Monday, we found out our baby is a BOY, and mighty healthy at that.
- Eric
Congrats Eric: that is happy news, especially the "healthy" part.
ReplyDeleteI know nada about novella's too. A little more indepth than a short story, less involved than a novel. If all your elements are there for a complete story, then its finished.
How cool that Eric commented on this. My sage advice after reading your post was to contact Eric C Trant and Simon C Larter. I think the C in their names stands for CONCISE. Both are talented in the art of writing indepth plot and character developments with an economy of words and concepts. For my own reading pleasure, it is a thrill to avail myself of their shorts. (lol)
Seriously though; I doubt you'll find better advice or role models for what works best in Novella writing than picking those two's brains. But don't sell your own research or talents short either; to know you have written in that category couldn't have happened on a whim. Good job on meeting one of your goals :)
As for something good . . . well, I gave useful feedback on a beta read. You don't know how good that response made me feel. And I visited my Mom. Really patting myself on the back for that one.
.........dhole
Add me to the list of people who gave you a Versatile Blogger Award. (Is it possible to win it that many times?) If I'd known, I would've tried to beat the others to it, but 4th of July planning has kept me out of the blogosphere this past week.
ReplyDelete