so many questions

WordLover · Sep 16, 2009

I am writing a novel, a fictionalized memoir.
I had an original outline of 50 chapters but didn't have enough material so added nine more.

My problem is...
1. What should be the length since there are only 5 main characters?
2. If I can not get 80,000 words with nearly 60 chapters, what should I do?
3. How do I decide what to leave out if it includes minor characters but they relate to the main ones?

and... 4. What company should I publish with?

kct webber · Sep 16, 2009

WordLover said:
My problem is...
1. What should be the length since there are only 5 main characters?

Whatever the length needs to be to tell the story.

WordLover said:
2. If I can not get 80,000 words with nearly 60 chapters, what should I do?

Explore subplots, but only ones that drive the story forward in some way. Just don't pad the thing with fluff just for the sake of word count.

WordLover said:
3. How do I decide what to leave out if it includes minor characters but they relate to the main ones?

If you need more words, why are you looking for stuff to leave out? Use anything that drives the story forward. Don't use it if it doesn't drive the story forward.

WordLover said:
and... 4. What company should I publish with?

Heh. That's a funny question--in a cocky sort of way.

You don't choose the publishing company. The publishing company chooses you. I mean, you can choose who to query, but it's not as quick and clean as that question makes it sound.

Start with big companies and work your way down. Make sure they're legit. Remember one very important rule--money flows toward the author. You should not be paying a publisher for anything. Check Writers Beware, Predators and Editors, and the Bewares and Background check here at AW. Stay the hell away from Publish America. Just look in the Bewares forum here and find the massive thread on that company. You'll see why.

WordLover · Sep 16, 2009

kct webber said:
Heh. That's a funny question--in a cocky sort of way. You don't choose the publishing company. The publishing company chooses you. I mean, you can choose who to query, but it's not as quick and clean as that question makes it sound.

not cocky, I AM that talented. I have already chosen a company but I have to polish the whole story.

kct webber · Sep 16, 2009

Okay then.

But if you've already chosen the company, why are you asking who you should publish with?

WordLover · Sep 16, 2009

Just thought people could give me their choices.

Some background on my story- it is set in a small town and includes characters based on real people. I gave serious thought to changing all the names to not be too obvious but I no longer live in that town. I doubt the people would care seeing as how my story includes events and people that are (mostly) fictional.

Wordwrestler · Sep 16, 2009

WordLover said:
not cocky, I AM that talented. I have already chosen a company but I have to polish the whole story.

Please research how the publishing industry really works. Unless you are a celebrity, talent alone is not enough, and even if it were, even if your story were hands-down, absolutely the best work ever, you must face the fact that you are not in the position to decide whether it gets published with a particular house. You get to ask them if they'd like to take a look at it, and they get to decide whether they care to or not. An agent helps with this process.

No matter how good you are, your dream publisher might say no, for all sorts of reasons. I'll be right back with a link for you.

HERE'S THE LINK:

http://www.howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com

kct webber · Sep 16, 2009

WordLover said:
Just thought people could give me their choices.

Some background on my story- it is set in a small town and includes characters based on real people. I gave serious thought to changing all the names to not be too obvious but I no longer live in that town. I doubt the people would care seeing as how my story includes events and people that are (mostly) fictional.

There are thousand of companies out there. No one here is going to--or even can--list all the ones that fit your story. Even if we knew what your story was. And we don't. "Fiction" is not a genre, and "five people in a small town with their names changed" is not a description that any publisher is going to be interested in.

It sounds like you need to do A LOT more research, my friend. Like Wrestler said, you don't get to just choose a publisher and tell them they're going to publish your story. Prepare for rejection. You're not that talented--the questions you're asking tells me that much--and even if you are, you're still going to get rejections. Publishing is not about talent, though it helps. It's about marketability. It's a business. Talent is only a small part of the equation.

TheIT · Sep 16, 2009

You need to write the novel before you can get anything published. Until you have a manuscript to shop around, the decision of what publisher is completely theoretical.

Neurotic · Sep 16, 2009

WordLover said:
not cocky, I AM that talented. I have already chosen a company but I have to polish the whole story.

Logic: Fail.

bettielee · Sep 17, 2009

I would strongly suggest you stop by the "Learn Writing with Uncle Jim thread." I am sure he (or reading his thread) will answer all your questions.

All of them.

version 1: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6710

version 2: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154203

A real live write who pulls no punches.

Cassiopeia · Sep 17, 2009

Now, now....let's not all jump on Wordlover because of his/her confidence in their ability to write the story and to find an agent and then a publisher. We all know just how easy it is and all the threads that say otherwise on AW are just intended to throw off the competition.

McMich · Sep 17, 2009

Cassiopeia said:
Now, now....let's not all jump on Wordlover because of his/her confidence in their ability to write the story and to find an agent and then a publisher. We all know just how easy it is and all the threads that say otherwise on AW are just intended to throw off the competition.

Agreed

dpaterso · Sep 17, 2009

Find out which companies publish the type of book you're writing by looking at similar recently published books, and check out their websites for submission guidelines.

-Derek

kaitie · Sep 17, 2009

Don't worry about word count or the number of chapters or anything. Write it the way it needs to be written. If you have a story, put it on paper. IMHO word count should be seen as nothing but a measure of progress.

If you've got a great story and a great memoir tell it. If you get to the end and need to mess with word count, do it then.

As for publishing...who knows. Maybe you are talented. Maybe you do have a great story. I agree that even if a publisher loves your work they might still turn it down. Maybe similar things have been published recently, maybe they don't have an opening for your type of story, etc. The chances of anyone hitting their first choice on the first try is very slim. It just makes more sense to play the odds and send to a large number. If your first choice takes you, then fine, but if not, you already have something waiting in the wings.

I will say to be careful, however. It's one thing to be self-confident, but agents and editors don't want to work with someone who might be difficult, and you don't want to come off the wrong way.

tjwriter · Sep 17, 2009

WordLover said:
Just thought people could give me their choices.

Some background on my story- it is set in a small town and includes characters based on real people. I gave serious thought to changing all the names to not be too obvious but I no longer live in that town. I doubt the people would care seeing as how my story includes events and people that are (mostly) fictional.

If this is a work of fiction, I'd be leary of using the real names of people, even if you no longer live there and especially if your story portrays anyone in an unfavorable light. It might be more trouble than it's worth.

Other than that, look around AW, there are lots of good resources. Write the story with as many words as it needs to be told. No more, no less. (Reps to anyone who knows what kids' show that's from.)

Learn from people here who have successfully completed the writing and publishing process. Publishing is more daunting than it seems. Scam publishers make it look easy. You don't buy your own books or pay to publish. Publishers pay you because they believe they can sell your book to the masses.

AceTachyon · Sep 17, 2009

Write the story, WordLover. Write, write, write. Get it as good as you can.

Then make it even better.

AW has tons of resources that will aid your writing. Use it. Dig into it. Soak it in. Touch it. Love it. Caress it. Rub it all over yourself whilst playing Vivaldi on the iPod--

oops. TMI.

R.G. Alexander · Sep 17, 2009

AceTachyon said:
Write the story, WordLover. Write, write, write. Get it as good as you can.

Then make it even better.

AW has tons of resources that will aid your writing. Use it. Dig into it. Soak it in. Touch it. Love it. Caress it. Rub it all over yourself whilst playing Vivaldi on the iPod--

oops. TMI.

That scared me a little.

Really though WordLover, besides the disturbing part, the advice is great.
I am just starting out writing myself, and these guys really DO know what they are talking about. I would really take their advice. The Uncle Jim thread is IMHO the best resource you will be able to find. It may take awhile to get through, but the information you get out of it is priceless.

Ellefire · Sep 17, 2009

WordLover said:
not cocky, I AM that talented. I have already chosen a company but I have to polish the whole story.

All writers are talented... in the same way that all prison inmates are all innocent...

CaroGirl · Sep 17, 2009

If you live (and want to publish) in the U.S. of America you'll need an agent. No large publisher will accept an unsolicited manuscript from an unknown author. They just won't look at it and your talent will be filed under G without prejudice.

So, who you'll be querying when you finish your ms are agents. There are lots of resources for locating reputable U.S. agents. As someone else said, start with the top and work down. Good luck.

maestrowork · Sep 17, 2009

WordLover said:
1. What should be the length since there are only 5 main characters?

Some novels have only two -- love stories, for example, with a bunch of side/minor characters.

You can have a story with only ONE character if it reads well.

2. If I can not get 80,000 words with nearly 60 chapters, what should I do?

Anything above 40K is a novel (adult novel anyway). Mine is 70K. Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook is 58K. Perfectly fine.

It's not about "adding materials" to reach some kind of quota. It's about telling the BEST story you can.

As for chapters.. there really are no rules. James Patterson tends to have high numbers of chapters, sometimes above 100. Some books have a few long chapters.

3. How do I decide what to leave out if it includes minor characters but they relate to the main ones?

Why do you need to leave anything out. Again, it's about telling the BEST story you can. Remember that.

and... 4. What company should I publish with?

Finish the book first. Then you can think about publication. One step at a time.

not cocky, I AM that talented. I have already chosen a company but I have to polish the whole story.

How do you choose a company to publish your work? And I sure hope you don't mean PublishAmerica. Oh lord, run away.

WordLover · Sep 17, 2009

tjwriter said:
If this is a work of fiction, I'd be leary of using the real names of people, even if you no longer live there and especially if your story portrays anyone in an unfavorable light. It might be more trouble than it's worth.

Other than that, look around AW, there are lots of good resources. Write the story with as many words as it needs to be told. No more, no less. (Reps to anyone who knows what kids' show that's from.)

Learn from people here who have successfully completed the writing and publishing process. Publishing is more daunting than it seems. Scam publishers make it look easy. You don't buy your own books or pay to publish. Publishers pay you because they believe they can sell your book to the masses.

thanks for the advice.

and to my trolls, it must piss you off to know I just might be more talented than you could dream of being.
Looks like this place has its share of trouble.

Bufty · Sep 17, 2009

Wow! You certainly know how to win friends. Farewell and good luck.

WordLover said:
thanks for the advice.

and to my trolls, it must piss you off to know I just might be more talented than you could dream of being.
Looks like this place has its share of trouble.

Ellefire · Sep 17, 2009

WordLover said:
thanks for the advice.

and to my trolls, it must piss you off to know I just might be more talented than you could dream of being.
Looks like this place has its share of trouble.

That's okay, I'm better looking than you can ever dream of being.

yours, face like like a bag of broken biscuits.

Mr Flibble · Sep 17, 2009

WordLover said:
and to my trolls, it must piss you off to know I just might be more talented than you could dream of being.
Looks like this place has its share of trouble.

And you were doing so well up till then....

And you might just be a mere mortal too, which is more likely IMO. Dude, you've had some good advice here. I'd recommend you take it. And tone down the ego when you talk to agents / publishers. Because, well,.... actually never mind. Say that to some agents. Tell us how that worked out for you.

WordLover · Sep 17, 2009

Bufty said:
Wow! You certainly know how to win friends. Farewell and good luck.

its not why I am here, but thanks for your concern.

IRUS, editors like confidence, lol

so many questions

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