(no subject)

[camrogers]

DK pointed out that a lot of authors make a living publishing 30,000 word novellas. Sonya Hartnett, for example, who won the Orange Prize, has her words inscribed in marble in the State Library and routinely sweeps other major literary awards.

I did 1300 words before breakfast. It's been so long since writing came this easily. Half of it has to do with finally being able to shut off my internal editor long enough to produce material I can then fix and shape the next day. But I can do this. And the thing is, even if a publisher doesn't pick it up, I don't care. It's great being able to do this. This is actually what I'm meant to be doing.

Comments

[greylock]

a lot of authors make a living publishing 30,000 word novellas.

Who?
I don't go hunting for that kind of stuff. Historically I know you had (ie) Amazing Fantasy and the like, but from the outside it seems like if you want to do that you need to be in the clubhouse.

Sonya Hartnett
No idea. She is famous?

and routinely sweeps other major literary awards.
That might explain why I am blanking.

I did 1300 words before breakfast. It's been so long since writing came this easily.

What, broadly, are you working on?
Is it any good? Was it a late breakfast?

IIRC the NanoWriMo target is 1,700 words, and I found that easy. Just not to sustain.
I can do that at *work* in 90 minutes.

Why is it coming so easily? Lack of Fateless moxy?

I think Stephen King thinks he's done a good *day* if he's done 3,000. I always used that as my target.

This is actually what I'm meant to be doing.

We can't have that. I will target you with my Downer Ray immediately.

[camrogers]

Sonya is one of Australia's leading lights. Very popular with schools and librarians and critics. The Orange Prize is the biggest, most prestigious literary award on the planet... not counting the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Not sure there's a 'club.' Shorter fiction is rising in popularity as free time dwindles.

King can do 3000 after years of practice and writing as train of thought. 1000 is respectable, 2000 is a comfy ideal.

I did it between 8am-10am.

And yeah, it's a solid piece of writing. Happy with it.

[greylock]

Very popular with schools and librarians and critics.

So, probably worthless. :P

Not sure there's a 'club.' Shorter fiction is rising in popularity as free time dwindles.
I have been getting into the shorts a lot in the past two years. I think it has dwindled because of the financial issues to do with publishing. Fucking economics.

King can do 3000 after years of practice and writing as train of thought. 1000 is respectable, 2000 is a comfy ideal.

This was from his earlier era (Skeleton Crew?) I think. What do I know, I don't know.
But his was 3,000 raw words per day.

And yeah, it's a solid piece of writing. Happy with it.

An aside, I have been re-ordering my shelves. Original Razors and Chronoporter are sharing a shelf with King for vaguely thematic reasons. I keep meaning to tell you.

[camrogers]

That's pretty cool. :)

Just had a friend in Finland tell me she's been reading Razors. Says she's been reading it so much her eyes are hurting. That put a smile on my face. Outi's cool. I like the idea of someone like that liking something I wrote.

[greylock]

Just had a friend in Finland tell me she's been reading Razors. Says she's been reading it so much her eyes are hurting.

Does she not read much?

From memory I did it in two or three sittings. And some dude knocked on my door trying to buy pot.
I have lost my v2 copy.

I like the idea of someone like that liking something I wrote.

It's no Ray Bradbury, but it remains a solid first novel. I thought that (almost) 10 years ago, and I still think that now.

There should be a second, you know?
Demeti is right. Churn out some short stories.
I haven't considered you a short writer, because you have spent 8 years Fateless.
So, hop to it lad. :)

[damien_wise]

Hell yes, a collection of short-stories would hit the spot for me.
Not sure how the general market receives that sort of thing. Or whether you think it's quicker/easier to produce a number of short, polished works as it is to produce one, sustained, long-form story.

[camrogers]

Razors was initially slated as a short story collection, til Penguin decided they dont sell. Not sure that's still true. Most likely for small fry like myself. For my own sake I'm better off focusing on long form for now, I suspect.

[greylock]

Shorts for short-term cash. Novels for more.

Shorts can and do work. Or can. If no one knows who you are why would they care?

If you hit a good idea, expand it.
If not, sell it and move on.

[greylock]

From what I understand, a collection of shorts now requires branding.
Cam doesn't have that, and has lost 10 years of marketing off Razors.
Selling a collection now would be hard, but perhaps possible.

He needs to tap the Byrne/Dann/Sath-thing wortex locally if he want to make that work.
And be good.

King got his start off Playboy. Bradbury, similar. Word was different then.

There are different publishing dynamics at play.

[jilder]

I love Harnett. She doesn't need any more than 30 000 words to rip the heart out of my chest. I recommend starting with "Of a Boy" or "Sleeping Dogs".

[reddragdiva]

That's the way. Keep it up :-D