do you worry about lenght?

Write. Try not to get into the habit of worrying as you go - esp about something like word count. Word count is a simple fix. Something to address in the editing stage.

As for the lines, it's more important to get the right fit with your story than with your word count. A perfect book for one line with the word count for another will NOT sell to the wrong line on word count.

annie jones (The Sisterhood of the Queen Mamas - Dec 06 - "Laugh Out Loud Funny" - Pw)

Luanne Jones (Heathen Girls - out now)

Kharisma said:

I am currently at almost 20,000 words I think I am aiming for 60,000. I have just sat down and did a detailed layout of the rest of the book. There is approx. 7 scenes still to come. I have just tried to break down how many words I should aim for per section.

I think I am coming up short. Should I worry about that at this stage?

thanks

Click to expand...

Okay, I know you're aiming for Harlequin, and they're now using computer word count, but just to give us some BALLPARK ideas, let's do some math using the good, old-fashioned 250 words per page method.

60K at 250 wpp method is 240 pages.

You say you have approximately 40K left to write. That's 160 pages. If we divide 160 pages by the 7 scenes you say you have left to write, that makes each scene 23 pages long.

Uhhhhhh....yeah, that's too long for a scene. You're definitely coming up short. 23 pages is more like a chapter than a scene.

So, either you don't have enough going on in your story, or you just need to come up with more scene ideas that advance the story along its course.

But yeah, you've got a length problem. Even if you were aiming for a 50K length story, you'd still have 30K left to write, which would be 120 pages, divided by 7, which would be 17 page scenes.


Susan G.

I am currently aiming my writing at SSE and discovered a dilemma, in that on their USA site they declared a required word count of 60-65000 words, where the British (MIlls & Boon site) states clearly the SSE requires 80 - 85000 words.

I wrote to the editor of SSE highlighting this discrepancy and she told me not to worry, and that if I over-ran the word count an editor will help me cut it back.

Needless to say I'm hanging on to that email so I can use it in my favour if I get that far!!!

JackieA said:

I am currently aiming my writing at SSE and discovered a dilemma, in that on their USA site they declared a required word count of 60-65000 words, where the British (MIlls & Boon site) states clearly the SSE requires 80 - 85000 words.

I wrote to the editor of SSE highlighting this discrepancy and she told me not to worry, and that if I over-ran the word count an editor will help me cut it back.

Needless to say I'm hanging on to that email so I can use it in my favour if I get that far!!!

Click to expand...

Word counts have recently changed. If I were you, I would go by the lower ones listed at the US site. Since you already know that this is the line you're targeting, why make a lot of work for yourself on the end? Try to come in at the new, lower count. Shows you're on the ball. (And I know what the editor said, and they WOULD do that, but seriously, why make unnecessary work? )

Susan G.

Thanks for your advice Susan, I admit I was tempted to go somewhere in between if I 'over-ran'. I'll take your advice and go for the lower Stateside requirement. As the ms is progressing that should work OK without too much finnessing. I appreciate your advice