tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post2963522463655967321..comments2024-02-22T10:58:09.776-05:00Comments on Author Expressions: The Sweet Spot for Book Length, by Susan OleksiwJoyce Elson Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08761334760088495024noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-86373191581524955122017-09-15T22:44:20.701-04:002017-09-15T22:44:20.701-04:00Perhaps this is the result of publishers thinking ...Perhaps this is the result of publishers thinking readers by books by the pound. Good luck with your next project, the novella.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://reviewmovie2017blog.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">หนังออนไลน์</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16241817112636794365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-9278087616542609312017-07-09T09:22:21.792-04:002017-07-09T09:22:21.792-04:00Carole, I too began with Golden Age books, and I s...Carole, I too began with Golden Age books, and I still think of them as the "gold" standard. Barnard is a favorite also, and he stuck with the shorter length through a long and varied career. I hadn't thought about Sue Grafton's series as an example of how the mystery books have expanded, but that's a great visual, seeing them all lined up and growing thicker. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-13418496759785318492017-07-08T23:11:07.795-04:002017-07-08T23:11:07.795-04:00When I started reading mystery novels, they were G...When I started reading mystery novels, they were Golden Age books that seldom went longer than 200-250 pages. To me, mysteries much longer than that just feel too long. It's instructive to look at my bookshelves and see a long-lasting series like Grafton's sitting there in order A to X: the books at the beginning of the alphabet are so slim, and they grow thicker and thicker as the years go on, but don't necessarily get better. I love the books of Robert Barnard and still admire how much story he got into 200 pages.Carole Shmurakhttp://carole-books.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-85291765777300374832017-07-08T18:10:33.988-04:002017-07-08T18:10:33.988-04:00TEE, I'm pretty sure I couldn't write 800 ...TEE, I'm pretty sure I couldn't write 800 or 900 pages on anything, let alone a novel. But if her stories are compelling, more power to her. She's right up there with Dickens and Stephen King. I'm not sure I'd be able to keep all the characters straight. I'm not surprised you're turning to shorter cozies. Thanks for adding to the discussion and mentioning her.<br /><br />Judy, I liked Anna Karenina and didn't mind the length. I don't mind the length of Stephen King, but I don't think every book has to be 80K words or more. I like variety. Thanks for commenting. Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-65541223613049479382017-07-08T15:18:19.313-04:002017-07-08T15:18:19.313-04:00Arrrgh! I can't seem to write a book in less ...Arrrgh! I can't seem to write a book in less than 99,000 words and that's with lots of paring and editing and more editing. I do have plenty of sub-plots and my one novel without subplots came in at 86,000. (World of Mirrors). I don't mind a longer book (350-400 pages) if it is compelling. Anything more than 500 pages and that's too much. That's why I haven't read the latest Donna Tartt book, The Nightingale. Everyone said it was too long. War and Peace was compelling, although I only finished it on my 3rd or 4th attempt. Same for Moby Dick. Everyone said The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was too long, but I liked the parts about Swedish culture and current life and politics in Sweden. You will note my comment is longer, too. Damn! JudyinBostonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01194047119136913804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-45667390093110118222017-07-08T14:51:01.834-04:002017-07-08T14:51:01.834-04:00One of my favorite authors is Diana Gabaldon of Ou...One of my favorite authors is Diana Gabaldon of Outlander fame. I've been reading her work since she started 20 + years ago. Her books are mammoth size, 800, 900 pages, which, considering what she writes is not surprising. However, lately, I can't finish her work. I don't have the patience anymore. I really don't. <br />The cozier I've been reading, like the Candy Holiday mysteries, are about 300 pages & perfect for me. <br />As we get older, perhaps we decide that shorter is better. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272062839189899832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-55014568951094478662017-07-08T08:40:24.634-04:002017-07-08T08:40:24.634-04:00Earl and John, I wish more editors (and writers) h...Earl and John, I wish more editors (and writers) had your attitude. If they did, we'd have a lot more variety in story length, and probably more interesting stories because they wouldn't be weighed down with padding. Thanks for adding that comment.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-37578013149546272132017-07-08T08:14:15.222-04:002017-07-08T08:14:15.222-04:00I've read some lengthy novels that were worth ...I've read some lengthy novels that were worth the time--and many more that weren't. I've also read some short novels that didn't make the cut either. I'm in agreement with Earl--length depends on how many words are needed to tell the story well.jrlindermuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-63313843560876581882017-07-08T05:42:54.856-04:002017-07-08T05:42:54.856-04:00Susan, I suspect many writers will see these new p...<br />Susan, I suspect many writers will see these new preferred lengths and add padding to meet them. That's a shame. I still believe in an old thing I learned many years ago: How long should a story be? As long as it takes to tell it well.Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-62184694262482737352017-07-07T17:44:01.442-04:002017-07-07T17:44:01.442-04:00Interesting to know!
Thanks for sharing
Good luck ...Interesting to know!<br />Thanks for sharing<br />Good luck and God's blessings<br />PamTPamela S Thibodeauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12951038997223264816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-43608151990994523222017-07-07T13:33:07.403-04:002017-07-07T13:33:07.403-04:00I agree, Maris. And after I researched the length ...I agree, Maris. And after I researched the length of some of the classics I felt even more strongly about keeping the length of the story appropriate to the topic. Thanks for commenting.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-25657048677183553392017-07-07T11:35:57.973-04:002017-07-07T11:35:57.973-04:00Thanks for the information on word length. I think...Thanks for the information on word length. I think anything over 70,000 needs a strong subplot, otherwise it seems like the author is simply padding. I know I've read several longer-length novels where I felt there was too much repetition and/or unnecessary material.Marishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714052867941990380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-71369417179627592022017-07-07T11:26:11.963-04:002017-07-07T11:26:11.963-04:00I was surprised by the gradual lengthening of the ...I was surprised by the gradual lengthening of the mystery novel, and I hope editors will consider shorter works (and also that writers will writer them). I too find myself reading a mystery and feel it's just too long. Perhaps this is the result of publishers thinking readers by books by the pound. Good luck with your next project, the novella.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105320592980752653.post-71349401449665776022017-07-07T08:56:29.819-04:002017-07-07T08:56:29.819-04:00As a reader, I found War and Peace intimidating by...As a reader, I found War and Peace intimidating by length. As an English major, I had to read some of Dickens longer works. I thought some judicious editing might have been of benefit. However, Dickens was paid by the word. Some of the current romances and mysteries seem redundant and would also benefit from pruning. Still, readers do like to get their money's worth. My next published work will be a novella, not a novel. I think it's a special work--although literary, not a mystery. Hopefully, there is room for many different lengths and readers will look for quality not merely quantity.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com