I’m interested in getting your thoughts about stuff I see and hear, quotes I read, stuff that passes as knowledge – and starting an authorey conversation.
this gives you permission to be lengthy
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DAN ALATORRE 
14 replies on “What Do YOU Think?”
I’m finding too many books, conventionally published and self published, overwritten. 400-450 pages fine if the writing very good, for 500-550 pages the writing needs to be brilliant. 300-350 pages it seems to me would be the perfect length for many stories, yet so many needlessly stretched out. I guess this is the 80 to 100 k syndrome that so many author seem to suffer from … a good story can be 40 to 60 k – or even less – says he coming in at 35k for his debut – when it’s done it’s done!
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Use only as many words are as necessary to tell the story; no more, no less.
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wow, great one today. For a moment my mind just went duh??? However, I wonder if she means that a well written book is too short because she has been imersed in the story and doesn’t want it to end?
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That’s my take on it. You’re having a good time and don’t want it to stop.
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I can relate – when I’ve been totally engrossed in a story and then it ends. I have to stare at the wall for a few minutes to adjust to reality again.
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Lots of books are that way if you’re enjoying them.
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I like to finish a good book as quickly as possible so that I can start rereading it!
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Ha!
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I find that a good book is hard to put down. I read a book this summer that had me so captivated I forgot to eat and had to convince myself at 3AM that I could finish the remaining 80 pages later. On top of that, a good book can leave me feeling lost when finished. It is almost like being ripped away from home. So in the end, it is like the book(s) was too short.
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Which one of my books was it?
KIDDING!
But seriously – was it one of mine?
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I don’t think the quote is meant to give you permission to write longer books. I think it’s speaking to the adage of leaving your audience wanting more.
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I definitely agree with you. It’s not the length of the book in question, it’s how good the story is.
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Jane Austen was not one to suffer fools or shallowness. She is definitely praising quality over quantity.
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I hope so.
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