I'm giving away a copy of Pretty When She Dies today. Please respond to this post if you'd like to enter your name. I'll be drawing a random name this evening. Good Luck!
Dear Rhiannon - this has to do with another of your bogs - which I actually discovered by running a search for books over 300,000 words. I see that in January, you were in the midst of "revision hell".This is where I'm at now. I have a sort of monster, epic political intrigue/romance novel, the plot coming from my observations over there, and some of the people I met while covering the war in Lebanon in 1987. I get on these writer's sites, and take lots of hits for the length of the book (although they rarely actually read it). I have an affinity in my reading habits for longer-length, more weighty plots. Any insights on this? I'm working to edit and make it as tight as possible, but the plot is multi-character and very complex. This book went to Bantam in 1996, but I had to bow out of the final revisions due to a serious health issue. At the time, they seemed to have no problem with the length, and like your experience - actually made me add more detail. ***Guess I'm just looking for assurances, being in the midst right now of "revision hell" myself : ) My email is Rhonda9080@yahoo.com. Drop me a line of you get a chance (don't worry! I'm not pestering for a read - just some words of wisdom).
It can be harder to sell a book with a huge word count. That is how how As The World Dies became three different books. They are cumbersome for one thing and cost quite a bit to print. A lot of times agents don't try to sell a book that large until you're a bigger name.
That being said, if you end up with an agent that is passionate about your work, he/she might be able to sell it anyway if she finds an editor to share her passion.
Right now with all the changes going on in publishing it is a whole other ballgame. All the rules are being rewritten (or just plain broken).
Now, word count doesn't always mean "plot development" or "characterization." Sometimes you end up with redundant scenes, tons of extra words, and parts of the story that could be trimmed down. I would recommend using a very critical eye on your manuscript then finding someone who can really rip into it. Get it down to the real meat and bones and get rid of any fat.
Revision is ALWAYS hell.
One last thing, I can't tell you if your book will or will not sell. This is a very rough business and success does not always come as quickly or as easily as we hope. But I can wish you the very best of luck.
Hey! Thanks so much for your quick response, and you're helpful advise. Yep - I am in cut and trim mode, but it's painful work! Good luck with your book! Now I have a new author to check out at the bookstore! I was in love with the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, but its kind of getting bogged down for me now. I'm give yours a try! I love the idea of Texans battling vamps and zombies!
I would like to throw my name into the drawing :)
ReplyDeleteDear Rhiannon - this has to do with another of your bogs - which I actually discovered by running a search for books over 300,000 words. I see that in January, you were in the midst of "revision hell".This is where I'm at now. I have a sort of monster, epic political intrigue/romance novel, the plot coming from my observations over there, and some of the people I met while covering the war in Lebanon in 1987. I get on these writer's sites, and take lots of hits for the length of the book (although they rarely actually read it). I have an affinity in my reading habits for longer-length, more weighty plots. Any insights on this? I'm working to edit and make it as tight as possible, but the plot is multi-character and very complex. This book went to Bantam in 1996, but I had to bow out of the final revisions due to a serious health issue. At the time, they seemed to have no problem with the length, and like your experience - actually made me add more detail.
ReplyDelete***Guess I'm just looking for assurances, being in the midst right now of "revision hell" myself : )
My email is Rhonda9080@yahoo.com. Drop me a line of you get a chance (don't worry! I'm not pestering for a read - just some words of wisdom).
I'm adding you to the list forming on my facebook page as well. :)
ReplyDeleteRhonda,
ReplyDeleteIt can be harder to sell a book with a huge word count. That is how how As The World Dies became three different books. They are cumbersome for one thing and cost quite a bit to print. A lot of times agents don't try to sell a book that large until you're a bigger name.
That being said, if you end up with an agent that is passionate about your work, he/she might be able to sell it anyway if she finds an editor to share her passion.
Right now with all the changes going on in publishing it is a whole other ballgame. All the rules are being rewritten (or just plain broken).
Now, word count doesn't always mean "plot development" or "characterization." Sometimes you end up with redundant scenes, tons of extra words, and parts of the story that could be trimmed down. I would recommend using a very critical eye on your manuscript then finding someone who can really rip into it. Get it down to the real meat and bones and get rid of any fat.
Revision is ALWAYS hell.
One last thing, I can't tell you if your book will or will not sell. This is a very rough business and success does not always come as quickly or as easily as we hope. But I can wish you the very best of luck.
Hey! Thanks so much for your quick response, and you're helpful advise. Yep - I am in cut and trim mode, but it's painful work! Good luck with your book! Now I have a new author to check out at the bookstore! I was in love with the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, but its kind of getting bogged down for me now. I'm give yours a try! I love the idea of Texans battling vamps and zombies!
ReplyDelete