tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post284572921681735545..comments2024-03-24T13:49:53.099-04:00Comments on Romance Books '4' Us: Guest Blog: Francesca Hawley: The Long and Short of ItUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-83558728632377880712011-02-20T21:37:02.189-05:002011-02-20T21:37:02.189-05:00Deanne - KISS is a great thing to keep in mind whe...Deanne - KISS is a great thing to keep in mind when you're writing novellas. It's all about the H/H so the simpler the better. Keep writing!<br /><br />Birdie - give it a try. You might find it's a great vehicle for your writing. Good Luck!<br /><br />JL - I sure hope it gets easier to write short the more you do it. Otherwise, I won't have any hair left cause I tend to pull it all out as I approach the upper limit word count.<br /><br />Sandy - congrats on the April 1 anthology. The story must be pretty darn good or it wouldn't have been included in the anthology. Good luck! I hope you get great reviews and readers love it!Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-79200926559544427622011-02-20T21:32:37.021-05:002011-02-20T21:32:37.021-05:00Marianne - I can't imagine writing something 5...Marianne - I can't imagine writing something 5-6K. I take my hat off to you. :-)<br /><br />Cindy - what a great idea. Use the shorts as kind of a "palate cleanser". Keeps you in practice, but lets you feel like you've gotten a lot accomplished. <br /><br />Maggie - if you can add meaningful scenes to make a story longer, then that's great. But shorter stories sell well too. <br /><br />Jordyn - sounds like you have a strong ability to create a short, fast paced story. What a great strength to have!Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-52559945792790309712011-02-20T21:19:29.073-05:002011-02-20T21:19:29.073-05:00A very interesting post, Francesca. I have trouble...A very interesting post, Francesca. I have trouble writing short, too. I can't write humor either, but I'm trying to do both. lol <br /><br />I'm wrote a short story that will be placed with some others for a April 1st anthology. I just finished my first round edits. It's not funny, but it's short. lol I hated it the whole time I wrote ite, so I'm really anxious to see how it's received. <br /><br />I think the premise of your story sounds great.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843816981385732033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-31440030758554575902011-02-20T18:16:40.033-05:002011-02-20T18:16:40.033-05:00Great post. It takes me almost as long to write a ...Great post. It takes me almost as long to write a novella as it does to write a 60.000 novel. Like you writing short is hard. Good luck. Maybe it gets easier the more you writeJanet Lane Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15488093917556546485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-64819248530535789422011-02-20T18:15:04.971-05:002011-02-20T18:15:04.971-05:00Francesca - Thanks for the wonderful information. ...Francesca - Thanks for the wonderful information. Thanks for giving me the whereforal to persue a novella. BirdieBirdie Hawkshttp://aj@ajdefoe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-66677176261359935202011-02-20T17:59:35.444-05:002011-02-20T17:59:35.444-05:00Francesca, I have printed out KISS on a post it a...Francesca, I have printed out KISS on a post it and stuck it in front of my face. Great post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the subject.Deanne Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00333224536025266245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-27136454185822808562011-02-20T17:54:41.171-05:002011-02-20T17:54:41.171-05:00Thanks Francesca. I write short, and was finding ...Thanks Francesca. I write short, and was finding I was adding scenes that were not moving my story forward, just to up the word count. I want to focus on Novellas. I want to write a good story, not just a long one. You have inspired me. Thank You.Jordyn Merylnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-88777605184088039532011-02-20T17:25:42.319-05:002011-02-20T17:25:42.319-05:00Francesca, as usual, you have very good advice. I...Francesca, as usual, you have very good advice. I usually write around 50-60,000 words although some of my stories have been shorter. For me, I guess it depends on the story in my mind. However, I find myself trying to stretch it out more if it falls into the shorter category. Maybe I should just leave those shorter stories short! Thanks for the information.Maggie Rivershttp://www.maggierivers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-59466906043653904292011-02-20T16:59:08.910-05:002011-02-20T16:59:08.910-05:00I do write everything from 7K-100K, but yeah, each...I do write everything from 7K-100K, but yeah, each length takes a different focus. I actually find writing a short or three between the longer novels helps keep me fresh.<br /><br />Great post!Cindy Spencer Papehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01583236494759465431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-49038261995118340022011-02-20T16:57:15.472-05:002011-02-20T16:57:15.472-05:00Cara - I really believe people should go with thei...Cara - I really believe people should go with their strengths. If you're happier writing short, then go for it! Congrats on all the sales.<br /><br />Renee - I can totally relate to trying for a shorter word count and then going over. Happens to me all the time. :-) Congrats on the upcoming new release!Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-57778570461758463452011-02-20T16:56:53.277-05:002011-02-20T16:56:53.277-05:00I always seem to end up around 50,000 words. I str...I always seem to end up around 50,000 words. I stretched one book to over 60,000, but nothing came under 46,000.<br />I can't find enough to say over what apparently is my "creative" limit.<br />On the other hand, I found writing a short story or 4,500 - 5,000 words easy to do...and I enjoyed it!<br />Everyone has to write what they feel most comfortable doing.Marianne Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277593485137508765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-56902293478657200902011-02-20T16:45:20.392-05:002011-02-20T16:45:20.392-05:00Loved this: Number one—follow the KISS method of w...Loved this: <i>Number one—follow the KISS method of writing. Keep It Simple, Sister!</i> <br /><br />And I'm like you....I have a difficult time writing short. My upcoming April contemporary release was only supposed to be a novella ebook, but i wrote enough words to make it also available in print. Wasn't my intention, but I'm still glad for it cause I love the cover and premise of this book!<br /><br />Good luck to you in writing both long and short stories that readers will love regardless of the word count!Renee Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01911632561277496224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-11778337800733086412011-02-20T16:39:23.679-05:002011-02-20T16:39:23.679-05:00Hi, Francesca,
You give some very good advice on ...Hi, Francesca,<br /><br />You give some very good advice on writing short. An interesting blog. I have a hard time writing long stories. I love writing short stories and novellas. I've sold over 10 short stories to the confession magazines-True Love, True Romance, etc-in the past year. I tried my hand at writing a novella about a year ago and sold that story to The Wild Rose Press. I've just finished another novella and I'm working on another short story. I've got novels out there, but it was torture writing so many words. I think I'm going to give up novel writing altogether and concentrate on short stories and novellas. I get more instant gratification from the shorter stories and I'm fine just focusing on the h/h and not having a lot of secondary characters or subplots. Thanks for the question.Cara Marsihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384839120633419382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-17116340997678767172011-02-20T15:32:41.565-05:002011-02-20T15:32:41.565-05:00Katalina - Novella writing is a definite challenge...Katalina - Novella writing is a definite challenge. It's been humbling to work on novellas, but really good for me as a writer.<br /><br />Paris - I've learned a lot from you about how to write novellas. Thanks!<br /><br />Molly - I think writing at a length you're comfortable with is a very good thing. Your shorter works sound great and good luck with your "Epic Novel."<br /><br />Rebecca - hope your computer screen is still operational. ;-) But yes, Controlling Interest is definitely a HOT story.Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-28860023953886549142011-02-20T13:52:12.733-05:002011-02-20T13:52:12.733-05:00Mmm, I think my computer screen got a little melty...Mmm, I think my computer screen got a little melty around the edges from that blurb! Great blog!Rebecca Gillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01341836304924085727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-23997143582705024222011-02-20T13:04:32.663-05:002011-02-20T13:04:32.663-05:00I've discovered I'm comfortable writing st...I've discovered I'm comfortable writing stories in the 30-40K count. I tried to write a 15K, but the plot seemed rushed. Added another thousand words and it was accepted.<br /><br />To date, the only longer thing I've written seems to be taking on the 'Epic Novel' status, and I don't know when I'll be finished with it. Once I am, I predict a lot of cutting is in the works:)<br /><br />I did NaNo in 2007 and completed it just over the 50K mark, but whittled it back down to just over 40K. The thing tried to end itself three times before I made it to the word count, and even my editor agrees.Molly Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01488325587798390008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-83374073686558398432011-02-20T10:03:59.363-05:002011-02-20T10:03:59.363-05:00Francesca, thanks for the lovely nod:) I love writ...Francesca, thanks for the lovely nod:) I love writing novellas because of the challenge. The back story has to be evident by showing it in the way your characters behave in any given situation so that their character growth is believable. I do love writing them but I also love reading them. Like Kat said, they can be little jewels you'll remember.Parishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18430750954598484156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742415355016995707.post-57477591494029924572011-02-20T00:20:27.545-05:002011-02-20T00:20:27.545-05:00Hi Francesca, I loved this post! You make so many ...Hi Francesca, I loved this post! You make so many great points. <br />I find writing novella's very challenging. They are a complex art form that requires a separate toolkit from a novel. I grew up loving short stories from master storytellers like Ray Bradbury. It makes me sad to hear people dismiss short stories and novellas as less-than. A novella can be little jewel you'll remember for the rest of your life.<br />XXOO KatKatalina Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04792533045672712045noreply@blogger.com