Writing Forum

Hey Matt,

My problem is an odd one---I always, always write too short. I have a really hard time coming out with novel-length works. I think it's the editor in me. I write short to start with, then I trim like an editor.

The good thing about writing long with subplots is that if you go too long, your subplots (if they're interesting enough to be in the story) can be extracted into short stories. Sometimes, writing a series of short stories and connecting them later is the only way I can come up with a novel-length work. That's what happened with my first published novella (even IT's not a novel though it houses two complete stories). I wrote two stories then twisted them together. I don't see why this can't work in the opposite way as well. If the characters are well developed and their stories interesting, you can yank them and give them their own story if you've gone too long. Or leave them if you haven't.

I always know how long my stories are going to be right from the first word. Too short. Again. Damn it. (Strangely, my forum posts don't suffer the same.)



Come check out my writing website here: http://katmhawthorne.com, or my editing website here: http://www.movetothewrite.com