I’m 30k words over the 100k mark, which I’ve heard is the maximum number of words an aspiring author should be querying.
30k.
Let it sink: 30,000 words.
That’s half of some people’s books.
30k.
Yes, my book is a sci-fi story, and yes, my current word count is well within the industry’s standards for the genre, but all the agent advice I’ve ever read warns against going over 100k with your first book (that is, when no one knows if you “can sell well enough to justify the production costs”).
As I panicked last night, I started planning where to cut, what to do. So far, I’ve got 32 chapters, so it looks like I’ll be cutting about 1 to 2 pages per chapter, or something like that.
It stings. It feels like starting all over again.
I don’t know if I can cut that much story without hurting the book (or having to rewrite some parts of it).
Evidently, I’m not thrilled about my imminent return to the editing mines.
It’s like I never leave that place anyway.
First of all, hats off to you for writing that many words on one project!
Second, you’ll be able to trim it if you need too. I believe in you.
Third, who says you HAVE to trim it? Maybe this won’t be the first book you publish. If it will hurt the integrity of the story, keep the words and wait until your name has enough traction for someone to take you on with 130k.
No matter what you, you’re brilliant!
Haha, thanks? I mean, thanks, but also “how do we know I’m brilliant?”
I truly need to finish editing. This editing black hole makes me so sad. I WANT OUT.