Epiphany! Novel length
So... I've been hung up for a while on The Century. Should I delve back into and commit more time to Part Two? Or should I go back and sort of edit Part One and reaquaint myself with the story before beginning Part Two again? Dr. Mathews always suggested that I forge ahead, because you can't really determine what value your beginning has until you know the end, and vice versa, of course. Which means editing is really rather impossible unless the book is complete.
However, I have just discovered that The Century may not be one book at all. The Century may be two books... or even three, since I originally planned three parts. (However I'm not convinced that Part Two will even be close to the length of One.)
Part One is 63 thousand words. And I ask, how long is a novel, Watson? Several pages I see on Google suggest that it is about 70,000 - 100,000 words long. Orson Scott Card says they're difficult to publish under 75,000 and normal ones are around that length to 100,000 or so. Of course, if you look at the actual publishers, a few actually tell you how many words they prefer. Baen wants 100,000 - 130,000. Ace & Roc on the other hand would prefer 75,000 to 125,000.
So what this means is... if I edit Part One, it may grow to be fully qualified as a novel itself.
But not a standalone.
It would have to be a series. Why? Well because all the main characters die at the end of Part One. And that just does not work in a standalone novel. *grin*
So... to be or not to be. To edit Part One and get it started on its way? Or to start writing Part Two before considering Part One?
Scary, either way. I always wondered why I felt so drained after finishing Part One, so tired and reluctant to start Part Two. Now I know. I'd just finished a novel. O.o Part One, not of a book, but of a series. I was exhausted!
However, I have just discovered that The Century may not be one book at all. The Century may be two books... or even three, since I originally planned three parts. (However I'm not convinced that Part Two will even be close to the length of One.)
Part One is 63 thousand words. And I ask, how long is a novel, Watson? Several pages I see on Google suggest that it is about 70,000 - 100,000 words long. Orson Scott Card says they're difficult to publish under 75,000 and normal ones are around that length to 100,000 or so. Of course, if you look at the actual publishers, a few actually tell you how many words they prefer. Baen wants 100,000 - 130,000. Ace & Roc on the other hand would prefer 75,000 to 125,000.
So what this means is... if I edit Part One, it may grow to be fully qualified as a novel itself.
But not a standalone.
It would have to be a series. Why? Well because all the main characters die at the end of Part One. And that just does not work in a standalone novel. *grin*
So... to be or not to be. To edit Part One and get it started on its way? Or to start writing Part Two before considering Part One?
Scary, either way. I always wondered why I felt so drained after finishing Part One, so tired and reluctant to start Part Two. Now I know. I'd just finished a novel. O.o Part One, not of a book, but of a series. I was exhausted!