The indecision is setting in

[jana_denardo]

I just looked at the anthology I intend my scarred soldier for. Luckily the deadline is nearly a month longer than I thought and the word count can go all the way up to 20K. I know I can do this story in that time/word count.

The indecision? I might be able to get this to go further, into a novel. I don't want to rush this story. I'm on the horns of a dilemma. Once again I may have too much story for a short story (not that 20K is particularly short). I don't want the story to feel rushed but I'm not sure that I have enough for a full on novel.

Surely novella is possible. I'm content with that on many levels except one. Novellas don't get a print release (or at least I don't believe they do, that would be atypical). I'm old fashioned. I like to be able to hold a book in my hands.

So I'm asking the first readers for this, what do you think? Is it feeling too rushed as a short? Would it feel spread too thin if I aim for a novel (keeping in mind the end of the short story would probably be not quite midpoint for a novel). Earlier I was all NOVEL. Now I'm back to doubting.

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Having read what you've written so far, I think a short novel would do it justice, but how many words would be a short novel?

If you made it into a novel, you could do back story from everyone's POV, which would be nice. I'd like to see that, definitely, maybe some actual flashbacks for Aaron, to show how wounded he is.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

I wrote that flashback today as it turns out.

around 60K or more. I'm at 14K...

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool.

Hmmmmmmmmmm...

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

yeah that's the root of the indecision

[corneliagrey.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think you should hide the wordcount on your document and just write the story as it comes out. Not trying to cut it short, not trying to stretch it to reach a particular length.

The story will come out as it was meant to be, and it will be all the more strong for it. Then you can put back the wordcount and see if it was a novella-sized story or a novel-sized one :)

[havocmangawip.livejournal.com]

I really like this idea. Let the story unfold. As frustrating as that is...

It's an amazing story and needs to be told.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

thank you very much. I'm letting it be what it is

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

thanks for the suggestion. It's a good one. What I really need to do is remember that I think it is strong enough to sell as a novella and that if I DO miss the deadline or go over the count for the open call, that I will be able to find a home for this.