Novel Dysmorphia

[Paul Whybrow]

This article in Literary Hub (well worth subscribing to their free newsletter) made me smile, as I recognised many of the feelings that the author Sloane Crosley experienced about the size of her novel.

http://lithub.com/sloane-crosley-on-self-diagnosing-novel-dysmorphia/

(I love the illustration for the article - lost in a book - now there's a bookmark)

My first novel The Perfect Murderer was imperfect largely because it was double the length of what a debut work by an unknown author should be, at some 175,000 words. I still have faith in it, and know that attempting to cut it down to 100,000 words would be as successful as cutting the neck off a giraffe to make an antelope.

Instead, I'm viewing it as a learning experience, and possibly it will find a place as a second or third novel in a series. I'm currently writing a prequel to TPM, called Who Kills A Nudist? as this title received approval from Colonists in another thread. I am keeping a much closer eye on the word count, regularly scampering back through the 12,500 words that I've written so far to edit with the fervour of a hyperactive ninja with a razor sharp katana.

I had another feeling of recognition for the plight of author Joshua Ferris, who is interviewed by his editor in the linked article from Sloane Crosley's.

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/...ook_editor_reagan_arthur_of_little_brown.html

He had similar problems with the size of his book, having to lose a vast chunk of it. Reagan Arthur, his editor, also called him to task about using the word 'Jew' to describe a character in one of his novels. I'm having similar problems in my new story, as it features nudists, the gay community and BDSM, all of which have politically correct connotations that are formally given respect in the media, even if they're poked fun at colloquially. It's a tricky tightrope to walk, without appearing that I'm being judgmental in any way. My characters might say things that I would never even think. It might help if I were a member of any of these groups, but I'm not (honest!). Just doing the research for these aspects of the story is making my eyes water...

Some subjects are hot potatoes, which makes them hard to handle, but potentially satisfying for a hungry reader in search of something a bit spicy.

 

[James Marinero]

Reagan Arthur, his editor, also called him to task about using the word 'Jew' to describe a character in one of his novels. I'm having similar problems in my new story, as it features nudists, the gay community and BDSM, all of which have politically correct connotations that are formally given respect in the media, even if they're poked fun at colloquially. It's a tricky tightrope to walk, without appearing that I'm being judgmental in any way. My characters might say things that I would never even think. It might help if I were a member of any of these groups, but I'm not (honest!). Just doing the research for these aspects of the story is making my eyes water...

Some subjects are hot potatoes, which makes them hard to handle, but potentially satisfying for a hungry reader in search of something a bit spicy.

I understand. One of my projects was a biography and the subject (when a child) had a soft toy which was in those days (1950s) known as a 'golliwog' in the UK. This toy was a central part of the child's life. I took the decision to use a teddy bear instead. Easier all round.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Say one was writing a novel set during the Crusades. Would one skirt the word 'infidel.' It was a word meant to be derogatory. The word Jew is not necessarily derogatory any more than the word Christian though either might be. The Muslim fighters used it to denigrate the Christians, and vice versa. But if one can avoid the hot potatoes without compromising credibility, it's probably wise. If one can't, one might just have to grasp the nettle and expect to have some agents and editors pass.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

Interesting, in my last novel, although 99% set in Wales and the 16th century, one chapter was in Jerusalem and I used the word 'infidel' as it seemed perfect

 

[James Marinero]

After many years I just got around to reading 'On the Road' (Kerouac). I wonder how a novel written today would fare with the language, attitudes and mores of that time?

 

[Graham H Miller]

I tend to have quite the opposite problem - I think faster than I write and my books (until now) have tended to be brutally short. Before this one, the first draft was 30,000. Then I went back through and added in description and weather but it still struggled up to just shy of 70,000.

Now I've started plotting out and planning properly I've actually got a novel that is 100,000 words (well, about 350 short of that!) but I don't think it could take much pruning!

Graham

 

[Nicole Wilson]

I tend to have quite the opposite problem - I think faster than I write and my books (until now) have tended to be brutally short. Before this one, the first draft was 30,000. Then I went back through and added in description and weather but it still struggled up to just shy of 70,000.

Now I've started plotting out and planning properly I've actually got a novel that is 100,000 words (well, about 350 short of that!) but I don't think it could take much pruning!

Graham

I'm with ya. My first two books are 75K words, and that was after adding description and setting -- things I struggle with on the first draft. The book I'm writing now is shaping up to be longer, but I, too, struggle with getting my word count up. Even with plotting.

 

[Graham H Miller]

Woah! I hardly ever meet writers who struggle to get up to word-count. What worked for me was breaking the story down into scenes and writing one sentence about each scene. When I've got between 45-60 scenes then I write each one and be strict about keeping the average per scene to around 2,000 words.

Graham

 

[Nicole Wilson]

Woah! I hardly ever meet writers who struggle to get up to word-count. What worked for me was breaking the story down into scenes and writing one sentence about each scene. When I've got between 45-60 scenes then I write each one and be strict about keeping the average per scene to around 2,000 words.

Graham

I know, right! Every other writer who struggles with word count that I know has the opposite. Too many words. I already plan every scene out. I use index cards, one scene per card, and sketch out who the POV character is, what time/day, location, and then a description of what's happening in the scene.

But my scenes are usually much shorter than 2000 words. They tend to be between 500 and 1000. Short clips. I don't want to over-do it just for the sake of word count. I've actually been told a couple times my writing is too tight (ha! Go figure), so that's something I've had to work on.