Comments on: The economics of word-count requirements http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/ From Dorchester Publishing Editor Leah Hultenschmidt Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:08:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: how to make money with writing http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-2645 how to make money with writing Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:37:04 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-2645 Hi. I just noticed that this page doesn't display correctly in my browser. Oh well, I think I'll just used the tried and tested Internet Explorer. Hi. I just noticed that this page doesn’t display correctly in my browser. Oh well, I think I’ll just used the tried and tested Internet Explorer.

]]> By: » A rant on word count http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-646 » A rant on word count Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:23:31 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-646 [...] http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/ [...] [...] http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/ [...]

]]> By: March 15, 2009 Little Romance Times « Everybody Needs A Little Romance http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-171 March 15, 2009 Little Romance Times « Everybody Needs A Little Romance Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:36:59 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-171 [...] ♥Wordcounts at Dorchester and why you shouldn’t query a 2,000 page book! Wordcount is a shrinking, folks! Make EVERY WORD COUNT! [...] [...] ♥Wordcounts at Dorchester and why you shouldn’t query a 2,000 page book! Wordcount is a shrinking, folks! Make EVERY WORD COUNT! [...]

]]> By: Deborah Blake http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-164 Deborah Blake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:28:29 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-164 This actually comes as a relief to me. Pal agent/author Lois Winston told me to aim for 90,000 words, minimum 85,000. And I'm at 77,000 and running out of outline :-) So the fact that shorter might turn out to be better is a load off my mind! This actually comes as a relief to me. Pal agent/author Lois Winston told me to aim for 90,000 words, minimum 85,000. And I’m at 77,000 and running out of outline :-)
So the fact that shorter might turn out to be better is a load off my mind!

]]> By: Leah http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-162 Leah Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:50:18 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-162 Deborah - a book won't be turned down as long as it's reasonably within the stated word-count requirements (and well-written, of course). I think the Dorchester website lists 80,000-90,000 or maybe even 95,000. I just bought a historical from a debut author that's around the 105,000 mark. There are a few spots that can stand some trimming, so we'll do our best to get it down. But there's no way to cut it to 85,000 without taking away part of its appeal. It might mean a slightly smaller font for the finished book or a higher page count than Production wants for a new author, or that Sales will decide to charge a dollar more (unlikely, but possible) but the length isn't insurmountable. The reason I let folks know now is so they don't have to worry about that cutting in the future. Some publishers have now gone from 80,000 to 65,000. So keep an eye on those guidelines when sending around submissions. Deborah – a book won’t be turned down as long as it’s reasonably within the stated word-count requirements (and well-written, of course). I think the Dorchester website lists 80,000-90,000 or maybe even 95,000.

I just bought a historical from a debut author that’s around the 105,000 mark. There are a few spots that can stand some trimming, so we’ll do our best to get it down. But there’s no way to cut it to 85,000 without taking away part of its appeal. It might mean a slightly smaller font for the finished book or a higher page count than Production wants for a new author, or that Sales will decide to charge a dollar more (unlikely, but possible) but the length isn’t insurmountable.

The reason I let folks know now is so they don’t have to worry about that cutting in the future. Some publishers have now gone from 80,000 to 65,000. So keep an eye on those guidelines when sending around submissions.

]]> By: Deborah Blake http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-161 Deborah Blake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:40:25 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-161 I am currently working on a paranormal humorous romance with lots of short chapters. But I just figure that if a publisher wants me to combine some to make longer chapters, they'll ask me to. I'd hate to think that the book would be turned down just for such a small, fixable issue. (It's only going to end up being 80,000-85,000 words anyway.) Do you ever ask people to change such things? I am currently working on a paranormal humorous romance with lots of short chapters. But I just figure that if a publisher wants me to combine some to make longer chapters, they’ll ask me to. I’d hate to think that the book would be turned down just for such a small, fixable issue. (It’s only going to end up being 80,000-85,000 words anyway.) Do you ever ask people to change such things?

]]> By: Vicki http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-160 Vicki Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:34:56 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-160 How in the world did someone keep a plot thread going for 2000 pages in one book? And what about pacing??? Besides the cost factor to print said book, or the need for a super magnifier to read the font required... Leah, although I use computer word count, I never thought about short chapters and lots of dialogue as causing the need for extra pages in the printing process. Good to know. :) How in the world did someone keep a plot thread going for 2000 pages in one book? And what about pacing??? Besides the cost factor to print said book, or the need for a super magnifier to read the font required…

Leah, although I use computer word count, I never thought about short chapters and lots of dialogue as causing the need for extra pages in the printing process. Good to know. :)

]]> By: Leah http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-159 Leah Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:26:21 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-159 Sandy - excellent question. I generally use the computer word count as a rough guide, basically just to let me know if we're in the right ballpark. But it's really not just word count that affects the size of the book--and I'm glad you brought it up because I should have mentioned it in the post. Having short chapters--and therefore a lot of them--makes for a longer book. Also, short paragraphs and/or lots of dialogue won't necessarily raise any red flags in the word count but can definitely stretch out those pages. I'm not saying don't have short chapters or lots of quick dialogue. I think both are great pacing techniques, but it's something to be aware of. Our Production Dept. can always tweak font size (though I hate, hate, hate small type!) or finangle things in number of different ways once the book itself is as tight as possible. Sandy – excellent question. I generally use the computer word count as a rough guide, basically just to let me know if we’re in the right ballpark. But it’s really not just word count that affects the size of the book–and I’m glad you brought it up because I should have mentioned it in the post. Having short chapters–and therefore a lot of them–makes for a longer book. Also, short paragraphs and/or lots of dialogue won’t necessarily raise any red flags in the word count but can definitely stretch out those pages.

I’m not saying don’t have short chapters or lots of quick dialogue. I think both are great pacing techniques, but it’s something to be aware of. Our Production Dept. can always tweak font size (though I hate, hate, hate small type!) or finangle things in number of different ways once the book itself is as tight as possible.

]]> By: Liz Kreger http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-157 Liz Kreger Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:36:28 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-157 2,000 pages? Ouch. That is one serious wordcount! Interesting, but not surprising. With the cost of everything rising, I can totally see smaller books for awhile. The question is ... will that page count ever rise again once the economy stablizes? I used to joke with hubby about the price of gas when it began to rise of $1.00 and everyone was bitching - big time. I told him outright that it was going to go to $2.00 and more (easily) and that when it drops to $1.50 no one is gonna bitch because they'll be happy with it at $1.50. Its so true right now. 2,000 pages? Ouch. That is one serious wordcount!

Interesting, but not surprising. With the cost of everything rising, I can totally see smaller books for awhile. The question is … will that page count ever rise again once the economy stablizes?

I used to joke with hubby about the price of gas when it began to rise of $1.00 and everyone was bitching – big time. I told him outright that it was going to go to $2.00 and more (easily) and that when it drops to $1.50 no one is gonna bitch because they’ll be happy with it at $1.50. Its so true right now.

]]> By: Sandy http://romanticreads.net/2009/03/12/the-economics-of-word-count-requirements/#comment-156 Sandy Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:42:55 +0000 http://romanticreads.net/?p=499#comment-156 So, are we talking 80K - 85K in computer wordcount or traditional wordcount? Someone publishers are going to computer wordcount, just wondering what's Dorchester's position. Thanks, Sandy So, are we talking 80K – 85K in computer wordcount or traditional wordcount?

Someone publishers are going to computer wordcount, just wondering what’s Dorchester’s position.

Thanks,
Sandy

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