Plotting out Lost & Found has really come in handy. In a week I’ve written nearly 8,000 words. The story is humming along. I’m about half-way through, so it should end up in the 30,000 – 40,000 range, like the rest.
I have been amazed how changes in the market, or new information I have come across during the learning process, has altered my approach. These novellas exist because of a podcast I heard a few months ago. The more I learn, the more I want to set myself up for success. Sometimes, that requires changing my path.
There is one option out there that I have not yet decided on.
Bookbub is “a free service that helps millions of readers discover great deals on acclaimed ebooks while providing publishers and authors with a way to drive sales and find new fans.” This has been used extensively, and often with great success, by many independent authors. Just because you want to use Bookbub doesn’t mean you can. They are selective about who they promote and you have to meet their criteria. One of those criteria is that the book has to be at least 50,000 words.
They don’t promote novellas.
Now they also want your book to have great reviews on Amazon and, preferably, critical acclaim from sources other than readers. So, the word count isn’t the only hurdle, but one of the basic ones.
So, as I write, I wonder, “Should these novellas be short novels instead, 50,000 words, so promotional opportunities could be made available to me?”
I don’t know the answer to that question yet. I don’t want to add words for the sake of word count. I want to add words because they make the story better. As mentioned in a previous blog, Skyway will probably leap over the 50,000 word limit by the time it is done. But, when I look at the rest of the novellas, I’m not sure almost doubling The Homecoming Incident will make it any better. And, at this point, Lost & Found doesn’t feel like a 50,000 word short novel.
What does all of this mean? It means I haven’t made up my mind.
I won’t know for sure until all of the novellas are written. Because, when that is done, I want to look at them as a whole, as one large character arc, and see what has to be altered to maximize their overall effect. Maybe that process will require additional words.
But will that turn into five 50,000 word short novels?
Only time will tell.