Comments on: How do you know how long it’ll be?

By: faithhunter

faithhunter — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:54:07 +0000

Eliza,
The book chains are now making demands on publishers for books no longer than 120,000 words and preferably 100,000 words, for new writers. Even some of us older writers are seeing publishers make changes. I’ll blog a bit on book store chains and the power structure of the publishing industry tomorrow.
Faith

By: Eliza

Eliza — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:28:18 +0000

I thought that sci-fi/fantasy was typically longer. Other genres say to aim for about 80k, but it seemed too short to me. Thanks!

By: DavidBCoe

DavidBCoe — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:28:02 +0000

My first five books were all within 5,000 words of 210,000. The next three were all around 165,000. The last two were 140,000, which is where this new one I’m writing will wind up. I shortened the books in response to my publisher’s changing expectations, which were largely market driven. But you’re both right, Faith and Catie: I adjust my pacing to fit the length, but it’s not an adjustment of which I’m completely aware. It just sort of happens and over time I realize, “Oh, now I write books of X length, where I used to write Y length.”