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Last summer, Avon asked me to write a novella of twenty-five-thousand words. I’d done one before in 2001 as part of an anthology. This time, the novella would be a stand-alone work of twenty-five-thousand words and sold as an e-book. I thought about it. Thought about the three months I would have to take out of my normal writing schedule. And I thought about the secondary characters readers ask about the most. One name that has continually come up more than any other is Lily Darlington from Daisy’s Back In Town. Readers wanted to know what happened to the crazy woman who drove her car through her ex-husband’s living room.
May 1st, Lily’s story, Crazy On You, was published as an e-book novella. I had a great time catching up with Lily and giving her a wonderful hero. Last week, Crazy On You hit forty-three on the USATODAY list and fifteen on the NYT e-book list. I was shocked that my little novella did so well.
But as shocked as I am that it did so well, I am equally puzzled by complaints that it is too short. I know that the one-hundred and thirty page manuscript got shrunk to eighty pages. But the word count didn’t shrink. It puzzled me so much that I actually did some research on the word count of different story structures and compositions. The general consensus for a novella is that the word count is between twenty and fifty-thousand words. Any more than fifty and its considered a novel. Crazy On You is just over thirty-thousand. Five-thousand more than my contract stipulated. I asked my editor how it got shrunk by fifty pages yet the word count stayed the same, and she explained it to me. Or at least she attempted too. I pretended that I understood, but I didn’t. Just know that if you read Crazy On You, it actually is the standard word count for a novella. It’s not short. And at a $1.99, I’m not ripping you off.
Do you all read novellas? Would you rather read them as part of an anthology with other authors, or do you like the option of downloading just one?
And if you haven’t entered my contest yet, go to http://www.rachelgibson.com/, click on the contest tab, and enter for your chance to win an iPad, Nook Tablet or a $100.00 B&N gift card.
65 Comments on “Does Size Matter?”
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I’m not a novella fan in general, but I do buy them for authors I love. I downloaded Crazy For You, and after I finished it I went back and re-read Daisy’s Back In Town!
What makes me mad is when novella-length books are sold as novels. I don’t know if it is the e-publishing industry lowering the word count or what, but when I see the word novella, I *expect* a short story. Don’t let any sourpusses ruin the experience of doing so well with this release! I really enjoyed it, and I’m obviously not the only one. Great job on your novella!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:05 am.
I am not generally a huge fan of the novella. But I have found some great authors in anthologies.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:48 am.
I love novellas as long as they are complete stories. So many authors forget they need an ending. While I love my full length novels, sometime when i’m in a reading rut, a GOOD novella is perfect and gives me a pick me up. I loved COY (DBIT) is one of my all time favorites, so I was happy your wrote Lily’s book. Can’t wait for your future releases!!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:31 am.
Thanks Melissa. I love that you loved DBIT. I put my son and mother in that book. So, it’s one of my favs.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:52 am.
I love a good novella as much as the next person, but as long as they are marketed and priced as such. I enjoyed Lily’s story and it made me want to go back and read Daisy’s story (which is in my TBR pile again as an e-book). Looking forward to Rescue Me!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:48 am.
Thanks Sandy. I’m glad you enjoyed Lily’s story. It was interesting to write about her ten years after DBIT.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:07 am.
I like to read novellas. Sometimes it’s nice to have a quick read. I think sometimes when people complain the story is too short, it’s because you they are not ready for the story to end. I am going to have to dig out my book about Daisy and read it again. I remember parts of it but after reading Lily’s story it time to revisit.
I love your books and can’t wait for Rescue Me. Phfft to the naysayers. Keep on writing and we’ll keep on reading.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:05 am.
I think you may be right about reader’s complaints. But that a good thing I guess.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:25 am.
I read novellas. If they are done correctly and I feel that the story hasn’t left anything unresolved, then I’m satisfied with it. I don’t mind anthologies, particularly if such anthologies are linked together by a common theme (i.e. IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON by S. Laurens, et al.). However, if the anthology has a theme BUT one story is part of a series, then I would rather read it by itself. Though I will admit, anthologies are great for reading authors’ works one hasn’t read from them yet.
Oh, and if said novellas feel like they are just short and not truly “complete”, then I’m upset. I’ve encountered/read one such novella and I actually felt that it could have been longer due to feeling like the couple’s relationship really didn’t feel “fleshed out” in my eyes.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:11 am.
I understand what you’re saying about “fleshed out.” It’s tricky to do that in 25k words. The author really has to pay attention to the story arch.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:36 am.
I don’t read a lot of novellas, but I do love them as part of an anthology.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 3:29 am.
I used to read a lot of anthologies and enjoy them. It’s a great way to discover new to you authors.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:37 am.
I love both novellas and novels. With books I am easily pleased since I don’t like to be fussy … well … not too fussy.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 3:44 am.
As a writer, I think I am too fussy.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:38 am.
I can’t say I ever read novellas. I love a good novel, and I want to read in it for more than an hour!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 5:22 am.
A novella virgin?
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:50 am.
I like novella’s as long as the story is complete. Sometimes they are just the perfect size for when you want something quick to read.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 6:32 am.
I like them reading them on hour or two flights.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:53 am.
That’s pretty interesting how the word count stayed the same. One of those things that make you say hhmmm. I read novellas, whether they are part of an anthology or not. It really doesn’t matter to me. I do like the option of downloading just one though. Congratulations on the success of “Crazy on You.” I loved it!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 6:57 am.
The word count shrinkage had something to do with e-formatting.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:54 am.
Novellas are sometimes good, but I sometimes feel like they’re rushed. The best novella I’ve read is “Hearts in Darkness” by Laura Kaye. For me, I think it is all about setting. “Hearts” mostly takes place in an elevator. When one is confined to a certain space, then it is easier to “shrink” the story to fit into the novella category.
After reading this post, I’m going to check out your novella and I can’t wait for “Rescue Me”. It has been pre-ordered for several months now!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:02 am.
Love In An Elevator–now I have Steven Tyler in my head.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:55 am.
As long as it’s by an author I like, I’d read their shopping list. Novella, short story, novel, tome, encyclopedia – size doesn’t matter.
I was thinking about The Lady Whistledown anthologies this week (why?). How complex it must have been to get those 4 stories to intersect in the skating scene & other places, each author seamlessly incorporating overlapping details. It’s a Venn Diagram of writing. I know it was brilliant because I actually remember it
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:37 am.
Only you would post about Venn Diagrams.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:58 am.
Check out the big brain on Fresh. Now I can’t get Pulp Fiction out of my head.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:57 am.
I find I read novellas more in e-format. Not sure why. When they’re in anthologies they do seem short. But I do know they’re supposed to, hence the “ella” on the end of the word.
The main complaint I’ve gotten for all the novellas I’ve written is that they’re too short, which always makes me wonder what people were thinking when they bought an anthology. They can’t ALL be first time anthology buyers who don’t read the four names on the cover and four blurbs on the back.
I do like the option of getting the novella of the authors I enjoy.
That’s so great the novella did so well! Congrats!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:38 am.
I wonder what people are thinking too. You buy a short story and expect it to be long?
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:58 am.
I like novellas when I don’t have anything else to read. I loved how Julia Quinn and some other authors had a novella where the stories where connected. For example in one story a girl bumped into someone and in the next we got to see the story of the girl she bumped into
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 7:59 am.
I believe SuzieE and Karen were a part of that anthology.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:58 am.
Yes they were. Suzanne’s The Best of Both Worlds is still one of my absolute favorite stories.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 5:51 pm.
I usually prefer novels, but novellas are perfect for a 40 minute workout on the elliptical machine. As long as I know it’s a novella and it’s priced accordingly, I will buy it if I like the author. Prior to getting my Kindle, I never read novellas because they only came in anthologies and I didn’t like those. To me they were usually a waste of money. I would always end up only liking one or two of the stories, and would feel resentful that I’d had to buy the whole book. Now that I can buy them separately, it’s much better and I read more of them than I used to.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:16 am.
Interesting. I have seen a new interest in the shorter format due to e-readers.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm.
I loved it. It was the perfect size for me. I carved out a couple of hours last Sunday afternoon and read the whole book in my hammock while the kiddos were occupied playing in the yard. Don’t get me wrong, I always want more and can’t wait for Rescue me and maybe a peak at Lily again but sometimes short and sweet is good. Thanks for taking time out to write a short one for all of us fans!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:27 am.
I’m glad you loved it. Reading in a hammock sounds like a perfect day.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm.
I agree with most everyone else. Poo on the naysayers. The book is marketed as a novella so that should be a big clue that the book is going to be short! I read EVERYTHING. Long or short so as long as the story is well written and summed up properly, I don’t mind the length.
I’ve not read “Crazy” yet but I do plan on it! I’ve got Daisy sitting on my nightstand just waiting to be re-read for the 3rd or 4th time
Congrats on doing so well and I can’t wait for Rescue Me!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:29 am.
I do read novellas though I prefer full length novels.
As long as the book has a good plot and characters I can care about, I’m not so concerned about the length though.
It’s a credit to you that people enjoyed your book so much they didn’t want it to end.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:07 am.
Congratulations on a terrific NYT showing! I think novellas are becoming more popular as more readers use ereaders. They’re a nice way to try a new author without a big commitment of time or money. I liken the ebook novella to being able to buy a single song from an album, instead of the whole thing, as we had to do back in the dark ages.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:09 am.
I think that’s true, Susan. An easy way to try something.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:32 am.
I STILL buy an entire album for one or two songs.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:06 am.
Well, I WANT to read your novella because I have every other book in print that you have put out, but alas, I do not have an E-Reader yet (but I have entered your contest!).
I don’t usually read novella’s because I find that in most cases, they leave me wanting more. I used to like the smaller series types of books like Temptation or Silhouette Desire, but then THEY started leaving me wanting more and feeling like they weren’t as well developed as the longer novels that I was reading.
There are exceptions of course, many great smaller series novels on my keeper shelf as well as some anthologies.
I agree with whoever said they didn’t like to buy anthologies, and I admit that sometimes I only read the ONE story I bought it for and don’t even try the rest…so I guess having the option to buy ONE is better (if I had an eReader). That being said, I once bought an anthology for a Sandra Hill novella, ended up reading the Dara Joy novella that was included and LOVED IT and bought all of Dara’s books after, so I guess anthologies have their place and help introduce us to new authors.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:17 am.
Robin, you should be able to read COY on your computer. There are Kindle and Nook versions for computers in addition to the dedicated ereader device.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:49 am.
Well, I got a free download of a book and its there, sitting pretty in my itunes folder and I downloaded a free computer e reader for it and NOPE won’t work…so I am shying away from buying any until I can get this other one to work…thanks for the tip though.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 4:44 pm.
I think we just love your writing so much that when we get engulfed into the story, we just don’t want it to end! So demanding we are…always wanting MORE MORE MORE!!
I happened to LOVE Crazy On You and yes, I did think it was short, but it’s a novella, and I always want more of your books because they are just SO GOOD!! I thought it was also a great way for us to get back into Lovett, especially since that is where Rescue Me takes place. Just like Susan Mallery’s Almost Summer, it was a novella to get us in the mood for the next three installments of Fool’s Gold. Let’s just call them Appetizers!!
So I will take’em anyway I can get’em…novella, novel, short…whatever you feel like writing, I’ll be reading!!
XOXO
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:21 am.
I read novellas. I’m actually kind of annoyed now that a lot of them are now just ebooks since I don’t like to sit at a computer and read and I don’t really want a nook or kindle. I have 3 e-books and I’ve yet to read them because a) I forget they are there and b) don’t want to sit at a computer to read them. However in answer to your REAL question I do like them. Sometimes I am disappointed in the length but only because I either like the characters so much I want to know more or because I felt like there wasn’t enough to the story.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:27 am.
I wonder if some of those complaints are from readers expecting a full-length novel.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:33 am.
I love reading novellas! I also love short stories. I clearly have no issue with short fiction. You can tell a different kind of story in a shorter format. It’s a fun change of pace.
I keep hearing that readers get upset at the shorter form in digital format. I don’t understand why. Is it possible that people don’t know what the term “novella” means?
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:34 am.
I wonder if all the complaints about novellas are because the reader liked it and wants more or if they feel ripped off. I’m hoping it’s the first one.
I like the quick satisfaction from novellas, sometimes I’m just not up to the I vestment of time a novel takes – which made Crazy on You great to me. . I first read a few of the goddesses in the novella format.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:14 am.
I do read them now.. because most of them are in e-book form. I didn’t have an e-reader until this past November, so I have been downloading all those novella’s that I have wanted to read.. They give us a bit more background about people we wanted to know more about and I read yours and it was great.. And Daisy’s Back in Town was the only book or yours I could not find and so I got to download this one at the same time as Crazy in Love. I read Daisy’s story and then Lily’s back to back.. I loved both of them…
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:00 am.
I love a good short story! I like anthologies, I believe I found this blog via finding at least one of you goddesses in an anthology with Julia Quinn (I think it was the same one Archer mentioned, one of the Lady Whistledown ones) going to her website, and finding the link to here
.
I don’t mind getting an individual short story via e-reader either, especially since they’re cheap, but I do think I prefer the group of short stories with more reading material.
I don’t expect longer with a novella, although I may wish for more about the characters. I think some people must really not get that a novella is shorter or they are just whiny. I know as soon as I see that something is $3 or less I assume shorter story unless it says SALE.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:04 am.
I love to read novellas! I think I prefer them as e-books, because in anthologies I usually only like 1-2 of the novellas. I do like when authors release their novellas in print as one anthology, though (Nalini Singh recently did this with Angel’s Flight).
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:12 am.
Kudos, Rachel, on your achievments! I have Crazy on You in my TBR queue on my Kindle. I read a lot of novellas. Most are good; others, not so much. The ones that set up a series can be especially good if they entice me to read further. Writing short stories or novellas is an art, IMO. There’s not much space to develop everything especially if any backstory is needed.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:41 am.
Congratulations.
I have read a few e-novellas. Personally I prefer them on paper.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:47 am.
I read novellas, and enjoy reading them. I’ve read some great ones and some really bad ones. It’s all about the execution. Some writers can write in a shorter format, while others can’t.
With an e-reader I’ve read more novellas recently than in the past. It’s a nice way to discover new authors. However, I think that it needs to be clearly advertised as a novella and priced accordingly.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 12:02 pm.
I like novellas….sometimes. They’re a fun way to fill in a gap in a series (a secondary character)or catch up on a favorite character and keep me involved in the series until the next “book” comes out. The trouble with e-books sometimes is it is hard to judge just how long a book is. Word count means nothing to me. In a traditional paperback book, as part of an anthology, I get a sense of how much of a reading experience I’m going to have. (three stories for $7.99).
I don’t have the same judgement with word counts or file sizes in e-books. This hasn’t stopped me from buying novellas online. My favorite author’s books tend to be labeled properly as “novellas”, so I know what I’m getting, I don’t know if it is the publisher doing this labeling or the purchasing point, but I feel like I’m getting what I paid for with authors like the ones on this site.
But, some authors out there are selling “books” that really end up being novellas, filled with lots of excerpts at the end and leaving me, the reader, feeling cheated. I don’t want to pay for a novella and then just get a “short story” with lots of excerpts I could have found somewhere else online for free. It makes me feel like I paid for commercials!
I do like an excerpt from the author about their next book, I just don’t want a novella more excerpts than actual reading material.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 1:13 pm.
Part of the problem is that so many authors are offering their full novels for $.99 that people expect even fairly priced novellas to be novel-length for $.99. I don’t think there’s anything you can do about that. MOST readers don’t have issue with paying a little more for an established author’s short work than they would be for a debut author’s long work.
I’ve also found that romance readers in particular aren’t keen on the shorter formats. They’re used to having plenty of “space” for a romantic story. I’ve been in five anthologies and rarely do they sell as well as a single novel. It’s just not a format that romance readers are as comfortable with.
I don’t understand it either–I LIKE the shorter format. I like having a little romance when I don’t have time to read a full one. I enjoy the different focus. I’m always as perplexed as you when readers don’t like them.
Yes, not every author does the novella format well, but plenty of them do, and I still see readers sometimes complain about the good ones that the characters aren’t well enough developed. Whenever I see that, I always assume that this is one of those readers who is never going to be satisfied with a shorter story.
I also know readers who judge a book by how “meaty” it is. I never did that. Some of the most powerful stories in the world are short (“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck–only 112 pages long). A good story is a good story no matter its length, IMO.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 2:43 pm.
I’ve never thought of the $1.99 novellas as ripping me off… although I can’t say the same for the ebooks that cost the same as hard cover books. Also kinda sucky how books outside the U.S. generally cost so much more.
Good writing can make any length work imho.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 6:00 pm.
Rachel, fellow shoe fan, I got the sale catalog for Manolos from the Wynn store. You interested in seeing it?
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm.
Rachel, fellow shoe fan, I got the sale ecatalog for Manolos from the Wynn store. You interested in seeing it?
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 8:01 pm.
Novellas and short stories have their place and use. I have found quite a few new-to-me authors inside an anthology. Novellas and shorts published a ebooks or pdf’s on an authors site are fun way to keep in the loop between major publications especially when there can be a year or more before the next book in the series comes out. And some of the side characters are of interest but not always as a dull-blown book subject.
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:14 pm.
So long as I’m excepting a novella, I don’t really care about the length so long as it tells the story well. And I’m sure yours did, Rachel. I have it on my Kindle, but haven’t had time to read it yet, but hope to do so tomorrow while I’m traveling. In fact, I can’t wait to read it!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:46 pm.
I mean exPecting a novella and not exCepting one. Sheesh. My fingers are clumsy today!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 9:47 pm.
Novellas are a great change of pace for me. I love downloading novellas onto my Kindle as it gives me something to read during breaks and at lunch at work. I can usually finish one in a day and it keeps from spending hours I should be writing reading. BUT, it helps me refill the well in short bites.
As someone else said they have to be complete in and of themselves and I LOVE it when they are about a secondary character from a book I loved. Can’t wait to download this one!
Posted on May 19, 2012 at 11:37 pm.
Rachel, I read it and loved it. Novellas are supposed to be short, sweet and saucy–yours fit the bill perfectly. I read two novellas back to back–the second was Crazy on You. Wasn’t a big fan of the first one I read (characters seemed too forced together without the attraction building), but I loved your novella. I especially liked how I could polish it off in a night. Great book with fun and well developed characters. And I can’t wait until Vince’s book now…
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 10:03 am.
It’s strange. It’s a pain to purchase a $7.99 paperback anthology when I want to read just one author and now you’re getting complaints on a price point of $1.99 for a single novella. That sounds pretty reasonable for a short story. It costs almost $5.00 for a category romance.
Posted on May 20, 2012 at 4:42 pm.
I’m a reader and it really doesn’t matter to me the actual length.. I like novellas where I may read about a secondary character that had a signifcant part in another story..
Size only matters to men.. lol..
Posted on May 25, 2012 at 9:18 am.