Is there a market for novellas?

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

Now that I am at the querying stage of my WIP I hit a wall. It is not long enough, according to some. According to others length doesn't really matter. I edited the thing enough to know that I can't padded it to "proper" novel length so the question is:

Do novellas (40K-60K) sell?

James D. Macdonald · Jul 16, 2009

Yes, there is a market. Check publishers' guidelines.

bsolah · Jul 16, 2009

It depends in what genre. I know a few horror writers who have had novellas or novelettes published with some niche horror small presses.

MsGneiss · Jul 16, 2009

55-60K is good enough for a novel, if it's literary/contemporary/humor. My first book was about that, and my agent is pitching it as a novel. I think the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genres tend to go into the 80-100K lengths, but don't let that discourage you.

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

Contemporary/Commercial Fiction. Question is, should I (at 50K+ words) try to market it as a stand alone novella or simply call it a "compact novel" or some such thing but stick with "novel" and avoid the "novella" for now.

MsGneiss · Jul 16, 2009

Without knowing the details, I would pitch it to agents as a novel if it's 50K. Not sure what you mean by stand alone. Is this part of a series?

James D. Macdonald · Jul 16, 2009

Are they the perfect 50K words? If so, yes.

Check publishers' guidelines.

bsolah · Jul 16, 2009

I think that's close enough to a novel to be marketable anyway.

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

To quote from the query letter I'm working at the moment "not perfect but good enough". I really believe in this story, which is strange because a lot of people talk about all the stories they dump. I think it is worth publishing so sure, I'll give it a go.

James D. Macdonald said:
Are they the perfect 50K words? If so, yes.

Check publishers' guidelines.

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

sleepsheep said:
Without knowing the details, I would pitch it to agents as a novel if it's 50K. Not sure what you mean by stand alone. Is this part of a series?

Meant to say that it is NOT part of a series, ergo the "stand alone". Superfluous now that I think about it.

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

To quote from the query letter I'm working at the moment "not perfect but good enough". I really believe in this story, which is strange because a lot of people talk about all the stories they dump. I think it is worth publishing so sure, I'll give it a go.

James D. Macdonald said:
Are they the perfect 50K words? If so, yes.

Check publishers' guidelines.

MsGneiss · Jul 16, 2009

Ralph Pines said:
To quote from the query letter I'm working at the moment "not perfect but good enough". I really believe in this story, which is strange because a lot of people talk about all the stories they dump. I think it is worth publishing so sure, I'll give it a go.

I think most of us here think a story is good enough to publish until countless agents and editors convince us otherwise.

You should definitely pitch it to agents as a novel, and make sure it's as perfect as you can get it before you do.

Ralph Pines · Jul 16, 2009

Oh, that makes me feel loads better! :tongue

Arkie · Jul 17, 2009

I don't know where the market would be for the Novella, certainly not in my local Barnes and Noble. I just came from there and searched diligently, not a novella in sight on any of the display tables or front shelves or windows. The service manager ventured an opinion that she didn't think our locals would buy novellas. They wanted more book for their buck.

ChristineR · Jul 17, 2009

Novellas are published, they are just rarely published in volumes of their own. They are published in anthologies, magazines, and e-books.

allenparker · Jul 17, 2009

Was in BN the other day...

... and bought several Novellas. Ask the clerk for a novella and she might not know where to look. Ask for a short book and they will gladly trapse you around the store for hours.

I enjoy the shorter reads. I like to be in and out quickly. I like the art involved in creating a story, full and detailed with a brevity in their writing.

Just me.

willietheshakes · Jul 17, 2009

Apparently there is...

Is there a market for novellas?

Ralph Pines

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

MsGneiss

Ralph Pines

MsGneiss

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

Ralph Pines

Ralph Pines

Ralph Pines

MsGneiss

Ralph Pines

Arkie

a reader's ear and a writer's heart

ChristineR

What happened?

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.