From author Janice Hardy comes this lengthy and detail article on nine things to look at if you think your novel is too short. This is a worthwhile read even if you don’t have this problem—a lot of good concepts are discussed. Check it out!
Although most word count problems are too many words, the too-short novel does happen. I’ve talked before about things to do to bulk up a short novel, but today, let’s look at a novel that’s not just light on something, but is actually, truly too short for the market or genre it’s intended for.
- Diagnose the Problem
- Plot Turing Points and Climaxes
- Character Arcs and Themes
- The Beginning
- The Ending
- A Victory That Could be a Defeat
- Existing Delaying Tactic Scenes
- Secondary Character Arcs
- Story Themes
Janice Hardy is the founder of Fiction University, and the author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, where she tapped into her own dark side to create a world where healing was dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst choices. Her novels include The Shifter, (Picked as one of the 10 Books All Young Georgians Should Read, 2014) Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The first book in her Foundations of Fiction series, Planning Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is out now.
