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I’m at 180 queries using querytracker.com. Have had a few requests including a couple of majors. The stumbling block I’m sure is my word count. Ready for it? 176k.Yikes! To try and mitigate that ugly number, I have a top notch formal writing education and have been primarily a short story writer - which requires an economy of language, s…
I’m at 180 queries using QueryTracker.com. Have had a few requests including a couple of majors. The stumbling block I’m sure is my word count. Ready for it? 176k.Yikes! To try and mitigate that ugly number, I have a top notch formal writing education and have been primarily a short story writer - which requires an economy of language, so… None of my beta readers, which include well-published authors and professional readers, have suggested I cut anything. I made sure to give them plenty of room to suggest cuts. It’s an epic literary adventure that crosses a number of genres. What can I say?
Maybe it’s the query?
Anyway, I’m open to wise suggestions and have submitted to you Kate, although I initially called you Karen in my upload. Yeesh!
I mean, it could be the query. But 176k is long!!!! You can be the best writer in the world and a book can still be too long *for that book.*
Thanks!
So, the question is, what or who determines if *my* book is “too long” for *this particular book* ?
And of course, there have been many exceptions over the years for books - even for debut authors - that have gone far over the traditional or specified word count for the genre.
I hope I don’t sound argumentative because I’m not trying to be, but it’s a real dilemma I’m facing here and I don’t know what to do.
Do I cut what others say is great prose and narrative simply for the sake of shortening it for publishers (ironically, sound advice if I want the book to get published)? This amounts to about 1/2 of the entire book. And I have 2 more books in the series to write - possibly longer than the first. 😱
Self-publish? (ugh)
Or just keep querying? Maybe rewrite the query to hide the landline of the word count?
As I mentioned, I’ve had really great beta readers - even a successful female historical fiction writer who gave it a goodreads 5 star review - who have unanimously been just fine with the length. And I’ve pointedly asked them.
Hmmm. Again, thanks for your input and advising service here!
Daniel
Who decides? The market. With a dash of the cost of paper and shipping. I know that sounds crass and it's not the whole story, but this is one of the ways "too long" is defined. If your book is so long that the publisher will need to raise the unit price higher to absorb the costs of paper (which are soaring right now) then the market has to be willing to pay that higher price. How will they know they are willing to pay that higher price if you are an unknown entity? Also all your great prose and narrative do not have to go into THIS book. It being good is not enough of a reason to keep it in there if it does not suit THIS story or overall detracts from your chances of reaching your readership. Editing doesn't just take out the "bad" stuff. It does what the overall book needs. You can publish a long book. But it's just that much harder.