Mulling It Over...

[DonnaDuck]

So I'm slowly brewing this plot in my head based off of, of all things, a fanfiction character that I wrote. Before you jump, it's a completely original character and I have written "normal" stuff. I just write fanfiction as a procrastination tool.

Anyway, the more I think about this character, her personality, her attitude, her situation, her location, the more I'm liking to giving her her own story, her own plot, her own circumstances. Granted the character is completely separated from any and all canon in the fanfiction realm so it's completely original to begin with but just that little blurb I wrote, my brain just can't get over it.

Here's how it's working out--it's going to be humor and I know humor + novel = iffy since maintaining the same level of humor throughout is very difficult without losing the reader. The way it's working out in my head, it's starting to serialize which is where I'm starting to mull. The stories that I'm forming, I don't think, would sustain your average 300 page novel but they're certainly longer than a novella. The best length I can match is something from the young adult genre but it's certainly not going to be a young adult book. I really don't think I can meld all of the plots into one book without it beign absolutely ridiculous so now I'm stuck.

Just what is the market for something that isn't a novel, isn't novella but it's not yong adult literature? I've definately seen shorter "novels" but, of course, the majority are rather thick. And just for a frame of reference, the idea is this--

Think Marisa Tomei a la My Cousin Vinny who owns a psychic reading store type place on Coney Island that's had run-ins with things like vampires, ghouls and the like, sort of like Buffy but without the slaying, high school, odd lesbian relationships and it's, you know, good. It has a bit of camp by the way of Pushing Daisies with the main character being in her 30s and possibly married.

I want a departure from the standard monster/horror books with an "Oh, yeah, you blend" spin to it. I already have the voice in my head since I have a plethora of Italian, female, Long Island cousins that could fit the role. So...help? I'm rolling with the idea and I don't want a lot of filler in the book. Read: I don't want to make it 300 pages when 150 are just overwriting and pointless. Could the length be a sell or am I going to have issues with it?

[Marlys]

As long as you can come up with a plot to hang these elements on, I don't see why it couldn't end up novel-length humorous urban fantasy. There's a fair market out there for stuff like that. Why don't you write it and see how it turns out? It's sometimes hard to judge what the finished length will be in advance, and if it does come in short, beta readers and/or your agent might have suggestions for places that could be strengthened.

Best of luck with it--sounds like a fun project.

[Toothpaste]

I'll say what is always said, just start writing and see what happens. You may find you have a story that can last for close to 300 pages. You may find that you want to introduce more depth, and not make it solely about "being funny" (and I want to qualify this by saying I write humour myself, though my books aren't categorised as such it is still often mentioned in reviews, and managed to maintain the tone for 80 000 words, so I can empathise). You may write sub plots that aren't just filler, but necessary to the story. You just don't know where it will take you until you get through it.

Remember every comedy has pathos in it, even My Cousin Vinny (love that movie!).

I'm not saying you need to write a doorstopper, but you may just find you've written something of "typical" novel length.

That said, if the story is shorter than usual, and also really good, just like those really huge novels that on a rare occasion get picked up because they are brilliant, so too may yours.

But write it first. See what happens. You may surprise yourself!

And good luck!

[a_sharp]

Sounds like a woo-hoo idea, but I got issues. Your examples (Buffy, Vinny, Daisies) are film and video. Your idea came from a fan-fic piece. Can you go the distance with a funny novel? It's probably the toughest fiction type you could tackle. That's what I was told at the Maui Writers Conference when a local gave us a first chapter read that was honestly hilarious. The workshop leader complimented him but told him going beyond a chapter or two and keeping the laughs flowing at a cadence is trick-y stuff.

That said, I would encourage you to go for it. I mean, who knows what you'll come up with on the journey? You've got friends here, so try out some of it in SYM when you're ready.

[Garpy]

Several thoughts leap to mind....are you sure your story idea is really going to leave you short 150 pages? I think every novel I've outlined has had me sweating that it's not enough to hit 100k, and then when I get to the end, without fail I'm 10-20k over....and I'm really not a florid writer.

Okay...assuming you're right, and your story ideas really do only payout about half a novel's worth, there's no reason why two stories can't overlap - especially if you are thinking of this as a series. Take a look at TV series like Lost, BSG, Casualty, CSI, Holby City....each episode will have a major story that revolves around the main characters, a minor story around the secondary characters and a series of vignettes based around the guest characters. A typical episode will cut between these quite happily. You might want to have a try at borrowing that structure...expecially as it seems your idea is more character driven than plot-critical.

[Danthia]

Sounds like you have a fun character that grabs you, a cool premise and now you're looking for a plot. Perhaps start thinking about situations this character can find herself in. Is there another idea you have that this character would fit nicely into?

If that doesn't spark a plot idea, try thinking who this person's nemesis is and how that might affect her. Or what's the worst thing that could happen to her? What's the best? How might you mix them so she needs to overcome the worst to get to the best?

What issues might she encounter in her psychic reading shop? Maybe someone needs help. Maybe she sees something bigger than she expects and feels compelled to act. Your possibilities are vast, so explore away :)

[Shadow_Ferret]

All this mulling and brewing is making me thirsty.

[DonnaDuck]

Thanks everyone! I definately have a tendency to think ahead, obviously but yeah, usually when I actually start writing, it doesn't stop so here's hoping!

[Gillhoughly]

Just write the book, however long or short it is.

Let your agent & publisher--when you get one--worry about selling/marketing.

Good luck!

[ACEnders]

Okay I'm kinda new to all this, and I'm learning a lot. What is fanfiction?

[Danger Jane]

Fiction written by fans of a book/movie/show/game/whatever that takes place in that universe and may or may not involve the characters from that universe..

[Shadow_Ferret]

humor + novel = iffy

Or try this equation.

humour + novel = necessary

A novel is like life.

Is life serious all the time? No.

Is life humorous all the time? No.

Life is somewhere in the middle, if you're lucky, some humor, some drama, and a novel should reflect that. (Life can also be boring, tedius, dull, but we'll edit that stuff out.)

[Wraith]

Jumping on the bandwagon to say: go for it. Don't worry about that at the first draft stage. When you get to the rewrites you'll know whether it's too short (and can be lengthened by adding subplots etc), too long (wordy) or just how long it needs to be (and there is a market for any size, just more difficult to get into). But if you like the idea and character, they won't let you sleep anyway. :D

About the humor, imo it's okay if it pops up every now and then, it doesn't need to be the same throughout the book. It has to have its pace just like the plot, but like Ferret said, a novel needs both things to be complete (and the greatest humor I've found to be the one that has drama behind).

Good luck. :)

[JoniBGoode]

The question is really "Can enough interesting stuff happen to her for it to be novel length." Based on your description, and enthusiasm, I would have to say "yes." In fact, I think this might be a series.

I concur that the best novels are serious in some places and funny in others.

[DonnaDuck]

Thanks again, everyone! I'm actually considering starting a character blog for the main character in order to help flesh her out. I've already drawn a prototype for her which is saying something because I'm not much of a drawer. I can actually draw pretty good if I'm drawing from another drawing or even real life but trying to put an image from my head onto paper is something else. It's a close drawing by closer to a caricature than what I have in mind for her to look like. It's a start nonetheless!