Elizabeth Sims, Fiction Lengths, Critique Groups

In today’s Journal

* Elizabeth Sims and Fiction Lengths
* Critique Groups
* Of Interest

Elizabeth Sims and Fiction Lengths

In Elizabeth Sims’ article on why fiction writers should write short stories (see “Of Interest”) I was pleased to see her offer “a general guide on length and terminology.”

It spurred me to look at my own fiction length and pricing guide, and to revise it for the first time since 2017.

I use fiction lengths and terminoloy to determine price. There’s no difference in how I price a short story and how I price a long short story (novelette), but I do price novellas and novels at different levels. Forgive the awkward spacing. I was going to set all of this up in a table, but that seemed like far too much effort for too little reward (grin):

To 99 words………… Flash fiction………… (collections only)
To 1999…………….… Short-Short…………. 1.99
2000 to 6999…….… Short Story……….… 2.99
7000 to 9999………. Long Short Story.… 2.99
10,000 to 24,999…. Novella………………. 3.99
25,000 to 44,999…. Short Novel………… 4.99
45,000 to 79,999…. Novel……………….… 5.99
over 80,000………… Long Novel…….…… 6.99

A lot of what Sims writes is directly tied to the myths (of course). In general, writing shouldn’t feel intimidating regardless of length. You’re only writing a fictional story for goodness’ sake, not contemplaing how to shore up the world economy or racing to defuse a bomb in the basement of an elementary school.

I disagree with some of her points and pretty much all of her assumptions and innuendo, but overall the article is pretty good and it has a few gems scattered throughout.

As I’ve written here many times before, THAT you write is important (because you’re a writer) but WHAT you write doesn’t matter in the slightest. It’s only a few minutes’ or hours’ entertainment, nothing more.

Sims also talks about critique groups as if they’re a necessary and integral part of a writer’s life. Don’t get me started. Oops, too late.

Critique Groups

I especially don’t recommend critique groups. In fact, I actively recommend against them. And yes, I’ve been a member of critique groups, though I always had a nagging little feeling: What right do I have to tell this writer how to write his/her story? Instead of recommending critique groups, I recommend you believe in yourself and defend your work aggressively.

And if you can’t do that, frankly, I recommend you find another hobby. You probably won’t make money at that one either, but at least you can relax and enjoy yourself and not feel scared to death or insignificant all the time.

Maybe you can go hiking or do something else you actually enjoy. But don’t ask other hikers their opinion of your technique. Seriously, you’ve been walking since you were like two feet tall. (You know, about the same time you started telling stories.) You’ve got this.

As a side note, if you enjoy having your work ripped apart by members of a critique group and even invite them to do so, you might consider getting some professional help. (I’m not joking.) Or find another way to improve your opinion of yourself and your characters and grow some confidence.

You don’t even have to be confident that you’re a great storyteller. But you ALWAYS should be confident that you write each succeeding work to the best of your ability with your current skill set. Then you read more, learn more, absorb more, and write the next story a little more skillfully.

Anyone who commentsabout the content (characters, storyline, etc.) in someone else’s story is Just Flat Wrong. Or put another way, the comment from a member of a critique group is absolutely right—for that commenter’s tastes as a reader. But s/he is absolutely, slap-your-grandma WRONG for every other person on the planet. Even in mentoring, I might tell you what elements are missing from your opening, but I won’t tell you what to write. That’s between you and your characters.

Defend Your Work. I once set aside a novel for several months because a good friend (and a prolific professional writer) ACCIDENTALLY blurted out what he thought might be a good ending. He would never have done that on purpose. (This is exactly why I advocate not talking to anyone about your work while it’s ongoing.)

But hey listen, if you personally like critique groups, go for it. I have a writer friend who defends his critique group as avidly as I preach defending his (my, and your) work. But to each his or her own. I really don’t care. (grin) Everybody’s gotta have a hobby, right? I can only make recommendations and explain why I believe those recommendations are correct. What you do with them is up to you.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Thriller Writing Advice From James Bond’s Creator, Ian Fleming — Circa 1963” at https://killzoneblog.com/2021/07/thriller-writing-advice-from-james-bonds-creator-ian-fleming-circa-1963.html.

See “20 Reasons Why Everybody Should Write Short Stories” at https://www.janefriedman.com/20-reasons-why-everybody-should-write-short-stories/.

The Numbers

The Journal…………………………………… 770 words

Writing of The Stirchians (novel, tentative title)

Day 10… 1330 words. Total words to date…… 28459
Day 11… 2337 words. Total words to date…… 30836
Day 12… 2115 words. Total words to date…… 32951

Total fiction words for October……… 41145
Total fiction words for the year………… 161525
Total nonfiction words for October… 21300
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 174520
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 336045

Calendar Year 2022 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2022 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2022 Short Stories to Date… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 68
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31

Disclaimer: In this Journal, among many other things, I promote Writing Into the Dark. WITD greatly increases productivity and practice, and provides a rapid ascension along the learning curve of Craft. This is not opinion. It is all numbers and facts.