How many novels have I written?

Prawn · Jan 24, 2009

I wrote four novels in a series, each between 90 and 100K. I have since spent three months combining books 1 and 2, trimming about 80K in the process. Combining books 1 and 2 was as much effort as writing a whole other book, so it feels like I've written 5, but I only ended up with three. Have I written 4? Math isn't my strong point.

Kathleen42 · Jan 24, 2009

It depends. Think of The Lord of the Rings. In your opinion, did Tolkien write one book or three.

semilargeintestine · Jan 24, 2009

It depends on how many pats on the back you want.

Kidding.

dwellerofthedeep · Jan 24, 2009

This sort of looks like a quality and quantity thing. I think every word legitimately edited/cut could count for a wordcount. That's how I justify not writing when I'm editing with myself.

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 24, 2009

How many books do you want to have written?

SmallThing · Jan 24, 2009

The necessary equation requires a number of unmentioned variables (actual paper used, for example) and the use a very large computer or a group of individuals with unnaturally high IQs. And in the end, the answer will be four. Or three. It depends.

How much pleasure was derived in the writing?

Prawn · Jan 24, 2009

GirlWithPoisonPen said:
How many books do you want to have written?

A better question is of course how many books do I want to have sold. And the answer is of course four.

Million!

scarletpeaches · Jan 24, 2009

I say three, if that's how many end up published.

Let's split the difference and call it eleventeen.

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 24, 2009

Prawn said:
A better question is of course how many books do I want to have sold. And the answer is of course four.

Million!

So when you become rich and famous, will you still talk to us?

Prawn · Jan 24, 2009

GirlWithPoisonPen said:
So when you become rich and famous, will you still talk to us?

Please bring this request to the attention of my people. I don't handle this sort of thing anymore.

C.H. Valentino · Jan 24, 2009

I know the answer to this one.....

42.

Right?

Am I right?

Prawn · Jan 24, 2009

That is the answer to everything.

Charlie Horse · Jan 24, 2009

I say two simply because I'm probably worse at math than you are and also because I'm a really mean person.

Nateskate · Jan 24, 2009

Lol. I love your math. I'll give you credit for seven books. It just seems fair given all the trouble you had to go through.

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 25, 2009

Prawn said:
Please bring this request to the attention of my people. I don't handle this sort of thing anymore.

Right. I'll have my people call your people.

zornhau · Jan 25, 2009

Prawn said:
I wrote four novels in a series, each between 90 and 100K. I have since spent three months combining books 1 and 2, trimming about 80K in the process. Combining books 1 and 2 was as much effort as writing a whole other book, so it feels like I've written 5, but I only ended up with three. Have I written 4? Math isn't my strong point.

Divide the author copies you receive by 3-5, depending on the publisher.

It's the tip of the iceberg that counts!

MetalDog · Jan 25, 2009

I'll put you down for four and a half. =)

Prawn · Jan 25, 2009

GirlWithPoisonPen said:
Right. I'll have my people call your people.

Your people are going to make the call? My people have people for that sort of thing.

Just kidding! Right now I have one guy, an agent, my book isn't even ready for him to send out yet!

If I have written four books that were 9OK, maybe I should say I wrote eight novellas!

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 25, 2009

Prawn said:
Your people are going to make the call? My people have people for that sort of thing.

Just kidding! Right now I have one guy, an agent, my book isn't even ready for him to send out yet!

You have just failed "I'm an IMPORTANT Author 101."

As penance, you must spend three hours interviewing 13 year old girls about why "Twilight" is the awesomest book evah.

Prawn · Jan 25, 2009

Instead of three hours with thirteen year old girls, couldn't I spend one hour with an interesting 39 year old? She might be impressed that I have written a number of books, even if I can't tell her exactly how many that is.

scarletpeaches · Jan 25, 2009

I would now like to join the Prawn fanclub. He amuses me.

Yes, Prawn. You may live.

GirlWithPoisonPen · Jan 25, 2009

Prawn said:
Instead of three hours with thirteen year old girls, couldn't I spend one hour with an interesting 39 year old? She might be impressed that I have written a number of books, even if I can't tell her exactly how many that is.

An hour with a 39 year old who would find you fabulous and delightful is not penance.

But you are to be commended for finding women in their thirties desirable.

LeeFlower · Jan 25, 2009

I think you should be assessing quality over quantity. Yeah, four great manuscripts are better than three, but three greats beat out four so-sos in the same way that three quarters beat four dimes. A strong first book that's going to get your series sold is worth a million not-so-strong books that wouldn't quite have made the cut.

Congratulations on finishing the book merge, by the way. That's quite a feat, and you totally deserve back-pats for it.

How many novels have I written?

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