Letting The Story Determine Its Own Length

Novel. Novella. Does it matter?

Cover designs by Mark Starlin

Before the invention of the printing press, stories were typically told by one person to a small group of other people. Longer stories were told in song to make them easier to remember. 

The printing press placed storytelling into a mass-market container called a book, and the novel was born. Over the past 500 years, publishers have established the novel as the highest form of storytelling. At least in the minds of most writers and readers. They also determined which stories were worthy of telling (printing.) 

Writers then conformed their stories to meet publisher’s expectations. Not always to the benefit of the story. 

When I set out to write The Grand Story Of The Seemingly Impossible Adventures Of Baron Britpop Blastfurnace, I set out to write a novel. That is what writers aspire to, isn’t it? So I wrote a novel. It was a short novel by traditional standards (roughly 52,000 words), but a novel nonetheless. 

Once I finished the novel, I thought I could write another. Then it became a trilogy. But recently, I have been reconsidering my decision to write three novels. I now believe I should let the stories determine their own length. 

My second book in the trilogy is currently at 34,000 words. But it is at a pivotal point in the story that is a good stopping point. Why should I try to add 16,000 words to it just to meet some self-imposed arbitrary goal of 50,000 words per novel? Why not end it and start book three? 

I am not seeking traditional publishing. The story is too quirky and not commercial enough for traditional publishers to consider. I would be foolish to pursue that route. I realize the series will not sell many copies, and I have made peace with that. So why should I still try to meet traditional novel requirements? Why not end book two at a natural stopping point?

I have decided to do just that. Call it a novella if you like. I will simply call it Book Two in the series. 

In my mind, the story is the most important part. Far more important than the medium. 

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Books 1 & 2 are now available to read for free on my Substack website. Here is a link to the first chapter. 

Baron Britpop Blastfurnace

Silent Horseshoes

Baron Britpop Blastfurnace is also available on Amazon in eBook or paperback format if you prefer. 

Book two, The Unexpected Arrival And Further Adventures Of Elise Boissonneau (Elise Boissonneau, for short), is now also on Amazon.

And I will soon begin Book Three in the series, The Continuing Unexpected Adventures Of Captain Peanut Butter. I plan to write it on Substack, as I did Book 2. I will let the story determine its length also.