Is there a market for novellas?

Southern_girl29 · Aug 22, 2006

I have a 20,000 word novella that I would love to see published. It won a local award and was also a winner in my former writing groups' writing contest. I'm having a hard time finding anyone who accepts works at this length, except for electronic publishers and I don't think I want to go this route.

I hate that it's just sitting on my computer, though. Does anyone have any advice?

Mark Lazer · Aug 23, 2006

I had the same idea, but lots of people told me it was a sheer impossible way to walk. Even "famous" authors with a few novels under the belt have troubles publishing novellas. But, I hope, one day... *sighs*

Good luck with it, anyway.

Flapdoodle · Aug 23, 2006

Southern_girl29 said:
I have a 20,000 word novella that I would love to see published. It won a local award and was also a winner in my former writing groups' writing contest. I'm having a hard time finding anyone who accepts works at this length, except for electronic publishers and I don't think I want to go this route.

I hate that it's just sitting on my computer, though. Does anyone have any advice?

If it's SF/Fantasy, some of the magazines look at work of this size.

DVGuru · Aug 23, 2006

Although he's an established author, Alex Garland's third novel The Coma comes in at 20,761 words. It sells for the price of a full novel.

Cathy C · Aug 23, 2006

What's your genre, Southern_girl? If it's romance or women's fiction, try looking through the "Where to Sell Your Romance Novel/Story" sticky in romance. I've got a whole list of publishers there, many of whom accept novellas without an agent!

jchines · Aug 23, 2006

I've got a friend who did a beautiful chapbook of her novella through a pretty well-respected small SF/F press. There are far fewer markets, but there are a few...

Mark Lazer · Aug 23, 2006

DVGuru said:
Although he's an established author, Alex Garland's third novel The Coma comes in at 20,761 words. It sells for the price of a full novel.

But then, The Coma is quite good, and comes with illustrations.

Southern_girl29 · Aug 23, 2006

My novella would be considered women's fiction and Christian Inspirational. It doesn't have any romance in it, but I'm still going to look at the link Cathy provided. It also isn't science fiction.

It started out as a short story, and someone in my writing group told me I should lengthen it, and I did. With help from the group, I've polished it up quite a bit, but like anything, I know it can still use some work. I posted chapter 1 of it in Romance/Woman's Fiction.

DVGuru · Aug 23, 2006

Originally Posted by Mark Lazer
But then, The Coma is quite good, and comes with illustrations.

I haven't read it yet. I finished The Beach and started reading The Tesseract yesterday. I don't doubt The Coma will also be good.

Wesley Smith · Aug 23, 2006

Just want to plug one of my favorite recently found writing resource websites, Duotrope's Digest, an ongoing database of all kinds of periodicals both in print and online. It's very easy to search for what story lengths any given periodical is willing to accept.

Now, a lot of these markets either don't pay, or only pay in copies, so I wouldn't normally recommend writing a novella. But since you've already written yours, you might be able to find a market that fits your story.

John61480 · Aug 23, 2006

To make it enticing for a buyer, write a few more novella's of the same length and include them all in one hard cover. I think Stephen King did that for Different Seasons with Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil and some other story. He has pretty long stories that he just smashes together to form a big book that sells for the price of a novel. In my opinion, you could possibly gather more interest because of the more bang for the buck thought.

veinglory · Aug 23, 2006

Small presses work at this length. Perhaps try searches including 'chapbook'? Or have a look around projectpulp.com?

Vincent · Aug 23, 2006

To throw a question in, does anyone think trying your hand at novella writing is a worthwhile stepping stone from short stories, if you're unsure of going straight to full length novels? Just for the experience, say, with the possibility of one day expanding the novellas.

Flapdoodle · Aug 23, 2006

beezle said:
To throw a question in, does anyone think trying your hand at novella writing is a worthwhile stepping stone from short stories, if you're unsure of going straight to full length novels? Just for the experience, say, with the possibility of one day expanding the novellas.

Start with "once upon a time" and see where you end up.

CaroGirl · Aug 23, 2006

Your novella won awards, you say? I wonder if it’s possible to write another novella (or two, or several shorts), perhaps that explores a similar theme, and try to sell it as a collection. I know short story collections are hard to sell unless you’re an established writer. Anyone have any experience with collected novellas? I know Brokeback Mountain began a novella within a collection.

Southern_girl29 · Aug 23, 2006

CaroGirl said:
Your novella won awards, you say? I wonder if it’s possible to write another novella (or two, or several shorts), perhaps that explores a similar theme, and try to sell it as a collection. I know short story collections are hard to sell unless you’re an established writer. Anyone have any experience with collected novellas? I know BrokebackMountain began a novella within a collection.

Yes, but they were local awards. I don't even know if they are really worth mentioning or not. It was also on the Amazing Author's Showcase, but I don't know if that's something I should be ashamed of or not. That was at least four years ago.

I've thought about trying to pad it out to see if I could make it a little longer, but I'm afraid I would ruin it if I did that.

kristin724 · Aug 23, 2006

I've got a few pieces in the novella or novellette range. It is a tough sell, but if you do your research something is bound to happen. You've won an award already!

Is there a market for novellas?

Southern_girl29

Mark Lazer

Flapdoodle

DVGuru

Plays too many video games

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

Mark Lazer

Southern_girl29

DVGuru

Plays too many video games

Wesley Smith

John61480

The Elements of Style

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Vincent

Cheers

Flapdoodle

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Southern_girl29

kristin724