WRITING A NOVELLA SHOULD BE EASIER, OR IS IT? - by Vijaya Schartz

Writing a novella is just as difficult as writing a novel. Yet some will say it's more difficult, because you have to give the same impactful story in fewer words.

The secret to writing a shorter work is to simplify the plot. Forget the subplots, and concentrate on the main characters. If it's a romance, you'll want the POV (point of view) of the heroine, maybe that of the hero, and possibly the villain's POV, but only if it's absolutely necessary.

When asked to write novellas, I definitely had to plot and outline in advance to know exactly where the story was going. You cannot wander in the wrong direction when you only have 25,000 to 35,000 words to tell your story. You must make every word count... yet this is no excuse to glaze over setting, description, or emotion. It still has to be there. And forget about telling. You still have to show (in dialogue and action), not tell. Once in a while, you may have an event happen off stage, and summarize it in a few lines of dialogue, but that's it.

This said, you treat the story just like any novel. It has to have a pacing curve. The characters have to evolve. If it's popular fiction, the ending has to be satisfying, in a romance, the couple has to end up together, in a mystery, the criminal has to be caught. All the loose ends must be tied at the end, unlike in some off the wall short stories where the ending is left for the reader to imagine.

The research is the same as with a novel. When writing COYOTE GORGEOUS, my shapeshifter romantic suspense novella, I had to research Native American legends of skinwalkers, Hopi legends of the Great Coyote, and the legend of the Chupacabra, etc. When writing A DESPERADO FOR CHRISTMAS, my border patrol romantic suspense novella, I researched the Arizona border patrol. When writing BOREALIS: BLACK DRAGON, a science fiction action romance novella, I still had to research and project the most likely style of life on a space station at the fringe of conquered space in the 27th Century.

While it takes me five months to write a novel of 85,000 words, it takes me three months to write a 30,000 words novella. Personally, I find it more difficult than writing a novel, but I like challenges.

If you comment on this blog you'll be entered for a chance to win my novella of your choice, COYOTE GORGEOUS, A DESPERADO FOR CHRISTMAS, or BOREALIS: BLACK DRAGON.

Here is the blurb for BLACK DRAGON:

A gambler is cheating in a den of the Borealis space station, and Lieutenant Zara Frankel intends to catch him in the act. She always gets her man, but this one could prove more than she can handle.

Captain Czerno Drake, code name Black Dragon, has come under cover to break his innocent uncle from the most secure penitentiary in the galaxy, on the Borealis space station. He will stop at nothing to succeed, even enrolling the help of the lovely straight arrow TPP enforcer. When Zara realizes that she’s been used by a shrewd but seductive rebel, her reaction surprises everyone, most of all herself.

REVIEWS:

"I like the balance of humor and danger in this story, and the action kept me glued to the pages... I enjoyed watching as suspicion turned to admiration, and admiration became the first flickers of love between Czerno and Zara... Pick up a copy of Borealis: Black Dragon, by Vijaya Schartz, and enter a world of adventure, romance, and a spoiled cat named Marshmallow." Long And Short Reviews 4½ books - sensual

"Vijaya Schartz is known for her strong female characters and Zara is no exception... gives the reader lots of action and a sweet love story." Single Titles Review - 4½ stars

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Guns, Swords, Romance with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com/

Vijaya's books at Amazon.com:
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