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Wordcount
A problem I frequently have when writing is reaching the necessary wordcount level. I’m sure lots of you start out believing your work will reach, say, 80,000 words but find you fall disappointingly short. Is this a sign that the idea wasn’t strong enough?
How can I produce more fruitful work? How can I develop a satsuma into a juicy full-sized orange? 😞
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14 Replies
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I have had the opposite problem with my two completed novels: I had to cut more than 20,000 words, which is also very difficult and soul-destroying when it comes to chopping what you initially perceived to be a great idea, and that was in Book 1. The second was more about expressing in fewer words.
Perhaps you are more disciplined and organised than I am when you begin your writing. I tend to let it flow and then cut later. Perhaps you could add more descriptions, sensory or otherwise?
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Hello Raymonde
This might seem odd to you but I wish I had your problem!
I’m scared of over-describing, although I’ve sometimes thought I don’t give enough attention to the senses. I’m in the process of re-editing a novel I originally wrote years ago but it doesn’t look as if the changes I’ve made have added much to a wordcount of 65,000 +.
Thank you for your reply and good luck with your novels.
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This might be a good position to be in Rose. Firstly, congratulations on completing a book at all and secondly further congratulations on not waffling. I suggest you send it out to beta readers as it is. They’ll soon tell you where they feel they need more. Sometimes, when it comes to our own work, we can’t see the wood for trees!
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Hello Bridget
Thank you for your reply.
I was thinking of putting the book up for critique when I’ve sorted it out; or perhaps a few chapters, as it is probably asking a bit much for some people to read over the whole thing. (I may not be able to return the favour). I’ll give it some thought, though. It would probably help for other minds to read it. 😃
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Rose, as someone who also errs to the lower end of an acceptable wordcount, I feel your pain.
There could be so many reasons for your word count being what it is – one is simply that you are an economical writer.
If you are concerned that your word count is a symptom of problems with the manuscript, it is worth going through it looking at different elements (e.g. character description, sense of place etc) in abstraction to see if you do enough with them.
Another thing would be to look at plot and do problems get resolved too quickly?
I find having a novel plan really helpful, especially when identifying gaps. I list the chapters in one column and then have bullet points of what happens to advance the plot in another (I also have another column for what actually happens in another). (I’m really aware of ‘padding’ type stuff in my own work & find it really annoying when I read stuff in published books which I think falls into that category – i.e. just there to bump up the wordcount!) I also have a column for wordcount so I can keep an eye on my ‘normal’ chapter length. Obviously there is a variation but generally it is within a few hundred words, which isn’t a huge amount in the great scheme of things. If a chapter is unusually short it could be that you haven’t done enough with it. Like wise, a randomly long chapter might need to become two chapters with more added. It’s hard to say.
If you can find a trusted beta reader who knows your genre & understands what you are trying to achieve, they may be able to help you diagnose potential issues.
Hope this didn’t sound like I was trying to teach you to suck eggs! Hope it helps & good luck…
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Hello cds cds
Thank you for taking the time to consider my problem and for your advice given. No, I don’t think you’re trying to teach me to suck eggs!
I try to plan but I just want to get on with the writing. The last few times I’ve written a novella or short novel I’ve drawn up a sort of graph, with a similar idea to yours. I.e. so that I can see if there are any long plot gaps or if too much is crowded into one place but it hasn’t resulted in major changes. As for chapter length, that has never concerned me, as I believe it’s important to get a varied rhythm to the story.
Like you, I’d be hostile to padding just to bump up the word count.
I’ll consider the points in your third paragraph before I complete the re-edit. I appreciate your suggestions.
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It can’t be one of two things: either the idea is not substantial enough for a full novel or it can be that the first draft is under-developed and needs developing in the edits (and I don’t mean padding, I mean developing scenes where needed, adding layers, developing characters, etc…)
Talking from experience I am an under-writer when it comes to my first draft. I tend to just write the bones of the story and then add flesh as I go through edits. The first draft of my first novel was only 55,000 words, by the time I submitted to agents it got to 79,000 and the word count was roughly 84,000 by publication.
Regarding how to develop your work, it’s all about learning to identify where scenes are under-developed, the important moments in the story need space to breathe, for the readers to absorb how important they are. Showing also uses more word count than telling so it’s about finding the places where to show. It does help to have trusted people who can offer feedback and point out places that could be developed further. I also find that editing and providing feedback on other people’s work helps me keep my own editing skills sharp.
You can also study your favourite novels and see how the author takes their time developing a scene or characters.
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Hello Laure
Thank you very much for taking the trouble to reply with your suggestions.
I’m beginning to realise that under-development is probably the problem. I’m always very conscious of the need to show, rather than tell, although I know there are times when it’s permissible to tell, so I honestly don’t think that’s a problem. Even so, it’s something I’ll bear in mind when I make the final read-through, as well as the possibility to develop each scene further.
The novel I’m working on was written long ago and received the usual unhelpful rejections. I’ve given it previous re-edits but tend to look at rephrasing, cutting things out, orputting bits in. Fresh eyes would probably help.
I ‘ve given feedback on other people’s work but tend to shy away from it when it’s in a genre that’s very different from my own. Perhaps doing it more would sharpen up my own abilities, as it has done for you.
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Hi Rose, I do so agree that it’s hard to gauge your wordcount when writing and for me anyway, impossible in a first draft. Also, when you know your own story so well, it’s really hard to see what needs altering for the reader to gain most effect. I think an outside opinion or two on your first few thousand words might help. For best results, those readers should be in your genre. I am currently in that horrible space called the waiting room, having sent a full manuscript off and several partials. My genre is historical. I’ll be happy to read and comment if you think it might help. I think there’s a facility to send it privately if you prefer, but whatever you opt to do, good luck with your writing.
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Hello, Angela
Thank you so much for your reply.
Yes, I think more pairs of eyes and minds would help and I’d welcome the chance to receive your comments and others’ when the book is ready. I would probably do this via Peer-to-peer Critiques. Although “The Lad From Ravenwick” is a coming-of-age novel, it does have a Victorian setting and I’ve written historical before. Other work is contemporary. I would be looking to send it to a non-Big Five publisher or digital first publisher.
Congratulations on your full request, which I hope will be successful, and good luck with the submissions as well.
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Hi Rose, Thank you so much for your kind encouragement. Any time you feel able to share a little of the work, I am happy to help. I understand very well the ‘launching your precious baby’ feeling which we probably all have. All the best, Angela
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Hi Rose,
Forgive the late comment, but I thought of your post this morning as I finished a first draft. It’s come in at just over 68,000 words: a bit more of a satsuma than I’d hoped. I can’t tell at the moment whether the low word-count is because the plot’s a bit under-developed or if I’ve rushed to tell myself the story. Or both.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that you’re not the only one with this issue. It’s been really useful reading the replies here.
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Hello Cath
Perhaps when you’re editing, you’ll find you can develop your book into a higher wordcount. Good luck with it. 😃
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Thanks Rose, that’s what I’m hoping! Good luck with your writing too.
