Novella idea: thoughts?

[Chessie]

So I have this burning desire to write a novella (or 2) about the villain in my story who lives in a marsh. I'm considering it being a teaser to the novel I'm currently writing. This plan needs a bit more honing but I'm curious to know what others think about novellas in general, and if you would read a novella, then a novel set in the same world with relating characters.

 

[Mara Edgerton]

I write an adult-content series under another name that includes both novellas and novels. Nothing wrong with writing either or both! And, as a reader, if I like a series I will read short stories in it, novellas, novels--whatever.

If you are a self-pubber, you may wish to price your novellas at a lower rate than your novels. And you probably want to make it clear that the reader is getting a 30k book instead of a 60k book. Apart from that, you should be fine.

 

[Tyrant]

I mostly expect novellas to be a part of a larger story. Also they should branch into some unexplained portion of a story that the main novel left blank. I def dont like a cut and dry short story that I will never hear from again.

 

[Steerpike]

I'll read novellas. There is a whole theory of literature around the novella and what constitutes one (going beyond word count). The only thing that matters to me is whether it is well done or not.

 

[ThinkerX]

I seem condemned to write mostly novella's and other shorter works.

Even my novel length works look to be on the short side (60,000 - 80,000 words).

 

[skip.knox]

That's what I did, but it wasn't on purpose. That is, I was working away on my novel when another, utterly unrelated, story popped in and promised to be short.

It lied.

With a complete story at 14,000 words, I knew there was no way to get it traditionally published (helpfully abbreviated as TP). So I just tossed it up on Amazon, where it promptly sank. But I sort of don't care. Once people learn what a marvelous writer I am, and how great is this Altearth place, they'll be clamoring for my "early works". That's what my muse claims, but the old dame is batty as a Missouri cave.

My own advice: first write it, *then* figure out what to do with it. It's much harder to do in the reverse order.

 

[Chessie]

That's great advice Skip Knox. I'm still writing the novel but I like the idea of the villain having her own story, but not a long one. My idea is to eventually write a couple novellas centered on her which are creepy/funny fantasy. It wouldn't be the same in a novel.