I have a large swath of text with characters, plot, setting, and a beginning, middle, and end. It’s currently 52,489 words, which is (as you know, Bob,) too short. My writer’s group warned me repeatedly that it would be too short, but I’m not that concerned. I think I can add 20,000-25,000 words in revision easily.
Why my novel is too short:
- I usually write short stories, despite certain critique partners past opening each short story critique with “I’m not going to bury the lede here: this is a novel.” (Hi! I’m grinning and waving at you!) Critique partners present kept saying things like “you’re burning fuel at an extraordinary rate…” Yes, I know, that’s valid, but…
- My first drafts have a tendency to be light on sensory description. In fact, my zero drafts read like stage plays or screenplays, with dialog and basic blocking. I was a theater major, once upon a time, and wanted to be a screenwriter at one point.
- I introduced an important character 3/4 of the way in and need to retrofit him in.
Hi, my name is Katherine and I am a pantser. (“Hi, Katherine!”)
ANYWAY.
It’ll be fine.
