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Yes most publishers look for a first novel of 60-100K and there have also been debut novels published which were much longer than this. So what. A novel that fits publisher guidelines is going to be much more publishable. No one ever counts the myriads of first novels that were in the desired length range. Also, some of the overlength ones may have been refused simply because the publisher didn't want a writer who couldn't follow their submission guidelines.
If you're looking to get money from someone, it's a good thing to pay attention to what they ask for.
If you're looking to get money from someone, it's a good thing to pay attention to what they ask for.
That being said, the full edition of Hunger's Brides was truly a wonder. Really, one of the finest books I've read. Though it did require a substantial investment, time-wise (thankfully, I was reviewing it, but it did pull my $/hour ratio all out of whack) and sensibility-wise. A dazzling book.
And the publisher took a bath on it.
But I have to wonder, if you'd read the shorter version after the longer version, if you would have preferred it or not.
And this is a moot point, really, because it COULD BE a 1,400 page work of art and that's fine and probably true, and it still doesn't necessarily stand up as a case for ignoring publisher guidelines.
If someone has a 400,000 word epic that they feel they HAVE to sell and that they've made their best...then you've gotta do what you need to do. It won't be easy, it may never sell. Who knows?
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Perhaps if the publishers were more judicious and did not publish many as many 60,000--100,000 worders that also tank, the longer worthy novels might earn them more $$$ if they are better.
but the key there is if they are better. Too many times, a long book is just a book that hasn't been edited mercilessly enough.
I like Umberto Eco as much as the next guy. Well, probably slightly more, but still, to try and kick off my career by writing something as long? It seems silly to me.
Like any other job you start off conforming, on the bottom rung, and doing what you have to. Once you get clout, you wield it.
What's so odd about that? What makes artists think that, unlike every other profession, they don't have to earn their chops?
Like any other job you start off conforming, on the bottom rung, and doing what you have to. Once you get clout, you wield it.
What's so odd about that? What makes artists think that, unlike every other profession, they don't have to earn their chops?
Amen.
Personally, I think it's plenty of fun being at the bottom and scrabbling in the beanfield, just like everyone else. You get to learn, you get to play, you get to push yourself. Later, when pushing yourself equates to writing a 400,000 page book...well, if it works, if it's good.
Personally, I think it's plenty of fun being at the bottom and scrabbling in the beanfield, just like everyone else. You get to learn, you get to play, you get to push yourself. Later, when pushing yourself equates to writing a 400,000 page book...well, if it works, if it's good.
They are having pity on people like me. I'm pushin pushin pushin for that 60K! lol...who knows, I may be able to turn mine into one of those 100K's...who knows. WHO KNOWS?
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Assuming the ms is tightly edited, I doubt if anyone decides to write a 400,00 or even a 140,000 worder -- each novel becomes what it is.
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Why should I? I'm trying to give a little bit of hope here, not get everyone depressed!
My point remains the same: It's NOT impossible to get where these authors got... Hard, sure... Very hard, even. Close to impossible... yeah, why not? But the point is, if after countless re-writes and getting rid of actual fodder and whatnot, your story remains on the long side, well, so be it... Maybe you WILL be the exception. And you don't even have to be incredibly 'brilliant' to do it. Maybe you'll catch the right agent/publisher when s/he is saying to her/himself, 'If I see another scrawny little 75,000-word manuscript, I swear..."
Elizabeth Kostova, Arthur Golden, et-al got lucky. They're not geniuses. Their books are not even, in my personal opinion, that good as a whole. They're not bad... Just not outstanding... These gusy just happened to have the right story and style for the right agent/publisher at the right time.
There's no harm in harbouring that same hope -- especially if you know you can't possibly cut your work of art any more without seriously damaging the story.
And if you are among the many people (thousands, is it?) who don't get their LUCKY break... Then maybe you can write a shorter book to get started, and then, when your agent gets you a two-book deal with a major publisher, you can bring back your magnum opus and finally wow them all.
Probably. Or not. But the point wasn't whether or not some published works could benefit from a good edit... The point was, well, they got published. And they were debut novels.
Not at all. The point was, simply: IT GOT PUBLISHED.
Well, yes and no. It got published in one market, and was drastically edited down for its American publication.
And all genres aren't created equal, after all. It had a hard enough time being published, from all acounts. What if that book had been sci-fi? More trouble? I think so. What about if it had been a romance novel? I wouldn't bet on it.
And yet, and still, there's always the exceptions...I just wouldn't swear by them unless I had no other choice.
And yet, and still, there's always the exceptions...I just wouldn't swear by them unless I had no other choice.
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