Does Size Matter? - Writers Forum

John Quixote · 01-23-2006, 08:34 PM

I hoped that'd get your attention. The size in question is the size of the novel I've written: it's 'only' 35,000 words, which is as long as it needs to be in my estimation. Any longer and it'd dilute the clarity of what's already there. I've sent out a few preliminary e-mails to agents and publishers here in the UK, trying to get a sense of whether I need to pad it out another 20,000 words or so (the thought of doing so is peculiarly deflating), but I wonder if anyone on this forum might have any certain knowledge.

Camus' L'Etranger is only 30,000 words; Patrick Suskind's The Pigeon is of a similar length; I can think of many great, successful short novels. Admittedly I am not them - and a first-time writer's short novel is probably the most oxymoronic of phrases, but still. I'm so self-critical it isn't funny, but I actually think my novel is good and could be published as it is!

davidray · 01-23-2006, 08:43 PM

You might be right about your novel being publishable as it is, John Quixote, and if you feel that lengthening it might diminish it, then leave it as it is. Just be realistic about your prospects of publishing it. It's going to be hard. Most agents and editors are so pressed for time that they are looking for reasons to reject our work. Right or wrong, many agents are going to find the reason they're looking for in the shortness of this piece.

That said, if you really love writing, your short novel won't be the last book you write. The first novel an author completes is rarely the first novel they publish! Keep writing and pitching your work. If you've got talent and perseverance, you'll get your break eventually. And when you do, you'll have a gem in your pocket to follow up your first published book with!

Stacy · 01-23-2006, 08:47 PM

Well, it IS more difficult to publish a short novel (or a very long one, for that matter) but you already know that as you've started this thread.

If you think that your novel is exactly the length it needs to be for what you're attempting to accomplish, then try to beat the odds and get it published as is. However, if you think you could lengthen/expand your novel without compromising your original intent, that might be worthwhile as well.

That probably sounds completely unhelpful, and I'm sorry, but as the creator, you know better than anyone what your novel needs to be.

John Quixote · 01-23-2006, 09:08 PM

Thanks for the replies. Davidray, you're right, and Stacy, you do not sound completely unhelpful. If I believe in the book I should stand by it and see what happens. If push comes to shove I could add another 5000 words to raise the word-count to the 'official' novel-length without compromising my, um, vision, if I can call it that.

What;s made me a little jumpy right now is a couple of things: it being 3 a.m. and my vodka starting to kick in; the memory of writing a similarly short novel two years ago that several literary agents laughed out of (the proverbial) court; and the fact that my current novel, the one I'm so agitated about right now, is actually a) original, and b) well-executed. In my mind I'm excitedly hopping from one foot to the other when I think about its originality. And this signifies to me that it may actually be good, because I wasn't being flippant above when I said I'm very self-critical. In 15-odd years of writing this is the first thing I've written that has made me feel like this.

Anyway. Back to the lists of agents and publishers. Why haven't they caught up with the world yet? Very few accept proposals and samples by e-mail.

maggie · 01-24-2006, 01:40 PM

I think you should try to leave it as is if that's what you feel is the right length. Lengthen it if you absolutely have to, but otherwise, leave it alone. If push comes to shove you might consider releasing it as an ebook as they are often shorter than print books. Additionally, think about Jonothan Livingston Seagull...it wasn't very long but it surely was successful!

mammamaia · 01-24-2006, 07:20 PM

a lot depends on what market you're targeting with this book... will enough book-buyers want to buy it?... that's what will swing a publisher's decision to take it on or reject it...

btw, camus was a philosopher and writer of some repute, not to mention of a bygone age, so you can't equate his work with yours, in re length...

Mike C · 01-25-2006, 12:18 AM

Maia is right - if you've got a 35,000 word epic fantasy, start padding furiously! But look at other, similar, published books. What's the norm?

Publishers do, unfortunately, prefer conformity - it's easier to predict results.