What is the ideal length of a fantasy novel? Of a fantasy series? Fantasy, as a genre, is known for being big. Big stakes, big emotions, big battles—and big books. It isn’t unusual for a single fantasy novel to run well over 200,000 words. Authors like Brandon Sanderson regularly turn in doorstoppers, with Words of… Continue reading Fantasy from A to Z: E is for Epic
Tag: series arcs
“It was too short.”
This, by far, is the number one criticism I seem to get in my negative book reviews. I never quite know what to think of it. On the one hand, a reader wouldn’t say something like that unless they thought it was good, since if they hated the book completely they would say something like… Continue reading “It was too short.”
Thoughts on sequels and the Desolation of Smaug
So last week I saw the new Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug, and I really, really liked it … right up to the ending. Why? BECAUSE IT RESOLVED NOTHING!!! Okay, sorry for the spoiler (though you probably should have guessed there would be spoilers in a post like this). There’s going to be more… Continue reading Thoughts on sequels and the Desolation of Smaug
Novella woes and farmers markets
Today I wrote about 2.6 words in my current WIP (Sons of the Starfarers), which didn’t really feel like it because I was constantly getting distracted. Still, 2.6 words is pretty solid–it’s about mid-range for me. If I can hit that every day from here on out (which is doubtful, but hey), the rough draft… Continue reading Novella woes and farmers markets