Comments on: Manuscript Length

By: David Justiss

David Justiss — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:03:11 +0000

Sorry, to follow that 2nd link, you’ll have to copy & paste it without the final parenthesis. clicking on it doesn’t work.

By: David Justiss

David Justiss — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:00:38 +0000

My response to this issue is here:
https://lightingliramor.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/too-long/
I looked up a bunch of my favorite middle grade books and only two out of thirteen were within the 25K to 45K range.
(I got the 25K to 45K range here: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Word+Count+For+Novels+And+Childrens+Books+The+Definitive+Post.aspx)

By: Angie Azur

Angie Azur — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:23:09 +0000

Big Sur was amazing – Thank you for your query critique. I have found my scissors. I am cutting, carving and slashing my babies to pieces. Loving it more with every slice.

Thank you!!

By: Isla Watson

Isla Watson — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:29:35 +0000

i like to hear paranormal stuffs because it stirs my excitement and imagination-:,

By: James Garcia

James Garcia — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:23:02 +0000

paranormal stuffs are usually for those persons who are very very supersitious.~:.

By: Johanan Raatz

Johanan Raatz — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:52:42 +0000

Well I was thinking of sort of forcing stuff out as well. However it seems unusually long. I might be able to squeeze off 15k words or so, but beyond that it would probably start seriously shredding the plot itself up. I don’t know I’ll see what I can do.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:19:32 +0000

Jonathan — A lot of people convince themselves that they have this “peculiar” problem of a really long manuscript that just CAN’T be edited down. You’re free, of course, to query it around. If it happens to be rejected (I’m guessing the length will play into that decision), you have two choices: finally cut it down, or write a new book. Lots of people, like your beta readers, read and like lots of things. But 99% of what comes into my inbox isn’t ready for publication. Publishing professionals know a little more about what’s publishable and what isn’t than the average reader. If the professionals say it isn’t ready, you have to decide what you can do to GET it ready.

By: Johanan Raatz

Johanan Raatz — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:11:01 +0000

Mary, I have a peculiar problem, and I was wondering if you had any advice on this. I have a first book which is 167,000 words long and unfortunately for many people is WAY over the auto-reject limit.

Some people have suggested I cut it down a bit, but due to the nature of the book that isn’t feasible. Despite being long, the plot is tightly wound together and there aren’t very many “down spots” to edit out. To get an idea, some of my friends have told me that the book has a “24ish” style atmosphere. (though it’s scifi/fantasy rather than normal action adventure)
If I start to edit out stuff the plot quickly becomes unraveled and the story line is essentially ruined.

Many people who have read it tell me that they think it’s definitely good enough to publish, but with the length it’s hard to get anyone to look at it. (though fortunately some agents don’t ask for word count right away) So I’m in a bit of a bind here. What do I do?

By: Erin Turner

Erin Turner — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:38:31 +0000

i was just wondering if any of you guys have a first hand experience about Paranormal in real life.,*;

By: Superhero Nation: how to write superhero novels and comic books » Length Guidelines For Children/YA

Tue, 11 May 2010 16:50:55 +0000

[...] I already have a post about how long adult novels should be, but what if you’re writing for children or young adults? Mary Cole, a literary agent that also writes YA and middle grade books of her own, suggests the following guidelines: [...]