Post by pelwrath on Oct 2, 2020 11:32:18 GMT -6
This is informative information as you write your great story. Is it a short story, novelette, or novel? Below is an official list from the SFWA:
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America specifies word lengths for each category of its Nebula award categories:
Classification Word count
Novel 40,000 words or over
Novella 17,500 to 39,999 words
Novelette 7,500 to 17,499 words
Short story under 7,500 words
Wiki says the same thing on their Novella page: "Publishers and literary award societies typically consider a novella's word count to be between 15,000 and 40,000 words, although definitions vary."
Why is this important? Almost every agent and publishing house will ignore it. Not because they don’t like new writers but its a cost to set up a 40k novel and its almost the same as a 70k novel, and which would have a higher price? Agents are looking for 60k+. especially if your a first time author. Why, because they’re an easier sell to a publisher and what most big publishers are looking for.
There are traditional publishers, not vanity presses, but smaller presses, that do take novellas, and some agents. A brief warning:if a publisher wants money up front, be very careful. You shouldn’t pay for publication and that could indicate a vanity press.
If you’re on Twitter use #MSWL to find an agent. Self publishing has become a common destination for those who have or write the shorter stories. Ralan.com is s free resource for those looking for magazines and publishers in various markets. (Pro, semi-pro, and token. NOTE: I used Ralan and found the places where four of my short/flash stories were published. I’ll add that my current story has been rejected by two agents as too short at 48k. One agent told me that if I could add about 20k, they might be interested.
Hopefully this will help you as you write that story as to decide how you wish to have it published.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America specifies word lengths for each category of its Nebula award categories:
Classification Word count
Novel 40,000 words or over
Novella 17,500 to 39,999 words
Novelette 7,500 to 17,499 words
Short story under 7,500 words
Wiki says the same thing on their Novella page: "Publishers and literary award societies typically consider a novella's word count to be between 15,000 and 40,000 words, although definitions vary."
Why is this important? Almost every agent and publishing house will ignore it. Not because they don’t like new writers but its a cost to set up a 40k novel and its almost the same as a 70k novel, and which would have a higher price? Agents are looking for 60k+. especially if your a first time author. Why, because they’re an easier sell to a publisher and what most big publishers are looking for.
There are traditional publishers, not vanity presses, but smaller presses, that do take novellas, and some agents. A brief warning:if a publisher wants money up front, be very careful. You shouldn’t pay for publication and that could indicate a vanity press.
If you’re on Twitter use #MSWL to find an agent. Self publishing has become a common destination for those who have or write the shorter stories. Ralan.com is s free resource for those looking for magazines and publishers in various markets. (Pro, semi-pro, and token. NOTE: I used Ralan and found the places where four of my short/flash stories were published. I’ll add that my current story has been rejected by two agents as too short at 48k. One agent told me that if I could add about 20k, they might be interested.
Hopefully this will help you as you write that story as to decide how you wish to have it published.
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
