25 Comments

Synopsis - YES. What you said with many bells on. Thank you for normalising my dread of these things! A handful of bare words - the quickest way to undermine any faith you had in your intricately woven plot.

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😭

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Apr 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

I'm going to repeat here what I posted on Mary's substack: I love this series so much! :)

Really appreciate all the info you and Mary have shared; it's such an interesting discussion, and also an ever changing one, it seems! It was interesting to hear more about your publishing choices now, Eleanor, with relation to hybrid publishers. It's something I've also been looking into, for a crime novel I'm translating into English. I wish you all the best with it! I'm looking forward to reading it once it gets published.

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Thanks so much, Ollie. I'm happy to share more of what I've learnt, so do ask if you get stuck. Out of curiosity, what's your native language?

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Apr 14Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

I'm South African, but born to an English dad and a Brazilian mom. I'd say I'm equally comfortable with Brazilian Portuguese and English, though these days I find it easier to translate into English.

Thank you for the offer in sharing your learnings. I'll definitely drop you a comment if the author and I decide to go down the same route as you!

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Hi Eleanor, thank you to you and Mary for such full, honest, helpful posts. I’m so touched that you have put so much into this, and it is incredibly helpful, not to mention inspiring, to read the words I needed to see. As touched on in my thank you to Mary - I’ve put so much work into the novella since it’s been on here and I do feel it’s as ready as it ever will be. I work in graphic design so the cover / setup aspect of self publishing doesn’t scare me, it’s the paths unknown that are holding me back. Thank you for lighting the way ✌️

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We're both cheering for you, and I'm glad to be of support. Feeling a piece of work is ready is a marker in itself, and I applaud you for your focus and hard work. Please keep us in touch with how it goes! And come back to me and Mary with anything else we can help you with.

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I can’t wait to share progress with you both xx

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The final step for writers are beta readers. If feedback is enthusiastic, why do agents ignore their query? Something ain't quite right.

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I tend to feel it comes down to taste. If they don't love it, no matter what anyone else thinks, they won't sign.

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“I’ve just sent the second draft of my first novella to four agents." Well there's the first issue. Novella. What's an agent gonna do with that? : )

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Hi Richard I am very aware novella is an issue in itself, but at 52,000 words it’s on the chunkier end of the novella spectrum! It’s my first ‘anything’ over 3000 words so it feels a big achievement to even get this far.

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Apr 15·edited Apr 15Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

How long is a piece of string, etc.? I know of a recent debut signed by an agent and published one of the big houses at 36,000 words. It's called the writer's first novel in the bio.

And Brokeback Mountain is 10,000 words long but it has a novel's worth of story and it's been published in the New Yorker, as a stand-alone book (a small one!), and in a collection of short stories. Okay - it helps its author had already won a Pulitzer Prize, and that grants some permission.

But it goes to show that word length is a matter of the imagination, even if in certain commercial genres it will be more fixed as publishers are looking for X or Y.

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Well indeed... I'm hoping this is something experience will strengthen. If a novel is 'happy' at 16,000 / 59,000 / 120,000 words, would you potentially spoil it trying to force another word count out of it.

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I'd call that a novel.

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I've written a novel!? Need a drink.......

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It's a huge achievement, Linnhe. You're absolutely right. And for the record, I wouldn't call 52,000 words a novella. But I can understand your using it, in terms of agents and publishers.

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Funnily enough, my agent first read my manuscript when it was a novella, but the deal was to develop it into a novel, so yes, a novella as is, can be an issue.

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Have you written about getting an agent? This is very important to writers, as you know. I can only write about NOT getting an agent : )

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Apr 12Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

♥️

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Hey, Bethie! x

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Heartbreaking. So glad you stuck with it!

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Thanks, Natalie! Me too. Perseverance is everything.

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Apr 12Liked by Eleanor Anstruther

I’m not at this stage yet, but I find these posts so useful- it starts opening up space in my head for future stages. Thank you, it’s greatly appreciated!

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My pleasure, Priya. Glad they're helpful.

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