Novels Are Hard

[rynling]

Based on my previous experiences, I think that, in order to complete a significant writing project, I need:

- the project to be of a manageable length
- the project to occupy a manageable timeframe
- the project to receive a manageable level of feedback
- the project to have distinct and manageable milestones
- the project to have room for me to step away between milestones

Instead of writing a giant epic novel, maybe it would make sense if:

- it were divided into a series of novellas
- of roughly 30k words each
- with roughly ten chapters each
- and roughly 2,500 words per chapter

I know this isn’t the traditional publishing model, but Tor recently started to put out novellas of approximately this length. Many of the ones I’ve read during the past year are quite good, and I’m given to understand (based on professional reviews and sales rankings) that a number of these novellas are doing quite well in both digital and physical editions. What I’m envisioning might be possible, then.

In any case, I think it might be worth talking to an agent, but like………… I’m totally broke, I’m very shy, I only have a tiny following on social media, and I don’t have any useful connections in real life. I would need a lot of help, and I don’t even know where to begin.

Maybe it’s still a bit early for all of that, though. It would probably be best to start with an outline and then go from there.

Comments

[renegadefolkhero]

fwiw I relate muchly to your ADD post and I recently began doing something similar. Dividing novel concepts into novella series, (4/5) chapters each, and really committing to an outline method. I am a pantser at heart but it is clear I need a lot more structure to get anything done. The published ADD/ADHD novelists I know talk about using detailed outlines to stay on target.

Tor's novella revival convinced me that there is a market for my preferred length and I should go for it. So [x]yes to all this.