Novellas, oh my!

[dawn_felagund]

I think it is official that my Earwen/Arafinwe fic is going to be a novella. *sigh*

Of course, in fan fiction, this isn't as lamentable as when an original-fic bunny turns into a novella. That is the point at which you wash your 20K-word dream down the publication drain.

My favorite piece of original fiction, actually, is a novella. It's something around 20,000 words, a futuristic piece (but not sci-fi) that just sort of happened. My husband liked it. It was also probably the first time that I even hinted at the existence of sex in a story. Perhaps I should post it, in small installments, f-locked of course. There are literary magazines that accept novellas, but they are far and few between, and I just never bothered.

Maybe I should bother. Hmmm.

So, anyway, the Arafinwe/Earwen is going to be a novella. It is currently at 9,618 words, but that counts my author's notes at the end. It's already heavy for a short story. I could easily take on a few different PoVs and make this a novel--the idea has really seized me--but I'm not going to do that because then, come December, I'll be editing AMC and my NaNo novel and writing this one and...no, I'm just not going to do that.

So it will be a novella. *sigh*

Meanwhile, I am so excited for NaNoWriMo. My poor husband has to listen to me squee over it every day and chatter about how close it is and how I can't wait.... What would I do, if I didn't write? I wonder about that sometimes. Well, I'd have time to watch Lost, about which I am intensely curious. My apartment would be cleaner; my laundry would always be caught up. I could finish reading a novel in more than six weeks. (I've renewed Oates' My Heart Laid Bare three times now at the library and still haven't finished it, but oh, it is a wonderful book!) I'd be fluent in CSS. I'd be taking cake decorating. I'd be doing a lot of things that don't involve wasting hours a day on writing.

Wasting? *sigh* Listen to me....

The apartment smells like peanut butter. It is that time of the year when my home smells like either chocolate or peanut butter most of the time, in other words, holiday candy time. Usually, I do elaborately painted candies that take literally hours to complete, but this year, I'm doing filled chocolates instead. It shouldn't take as long, and it always annoys me when people open the box, gasp at the pretty colored chocolates, and then say, "But I can't eat anything so pretty!" Thanks--I'm glad the four hours I threw away on that batch will end up in your garbage next year because of your unwillingness to eat them. One year, I made chocolate gift tags, writing each person's name in chocolate, fully edible. No one wanted to eat those either, and those buggers took a helluva long time to finish. (Have you ever tried to write in chocolate? It's not easy.)

So, tonight, I started on peanut butter filling for peanut butter cups. I also meant to make caramel, but I forgot to pick up cream at the store, so that will have to wait for next week.

Comments

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

Oh yum!! Peanut butter!!

Unlike you, I'd rather skip the first three weeks of November and hope straight to Thanksgiving, that way I wouldn't have to do my, uh, let's see, four million projects.

_{Okay, so it's technically only eight projects. But still! That averages to about three projects per week!}

I could easily take on a few different PoVs and make this a novel--the idea has really seized me...

You could always come back to it when your load is lighter. ;)

[dawn_felagund]

Unlike you, I'd rather skip the first three weeks of November and hope straight to Thanksgiving, that way I wouldn't have to do my, uh, let's see, four million projects.

I'm afraid they'd just back up and I'd have to do them all at once.... :-/

You could always come back to it when your load is lighter. ;)

Eru, don't tempt me! :D

I'm probably going to keep it as a novella, actually. I need to stop giving into the temptation to take other PoVs as a way out. Stories can be complete from a single person's perspective.... *sigh*

It's just not my nature to be *not* long-winded! :)

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid they'd just back up and I'd have to do them all at once.... :-/

I am going to try valiantly not to let this happen...

So far it's not working too well.

Eru, don't tempt me! :D

Sorry?...

It's just not my nature to be *not* long-winded! :)

I'm kind of the opposite. Either that or my muses are extremely evil and cop out on me when I want something longer than a page.

[frenchpony.livejournal.com]

What is the standard length for a novella? I've never been too certain of that.

And I like your candy ideas. I'd probably need to have it pointed out to me that the gift tags were in fact edible, but, sure, I'd eat them. I never have a problem eating pretty things. Salads with pretty pansies in are favorite.

I sometimes make whiskey truffles, but that's pretty much as far as I go making candy. Cookies, cakes and pies, yes, but whiskey truffles are my only homemade candy.

[dawn_felagund]

What is the standard length for a novella?

I don't know. I've seen definitions, but I don't know where offhand, although I'll try to look it up. But I know that 20K definitely falls in the realm: too short for a novel, too long for a short story. (And too long for publication most places. Most magazines won't take longer than 5K; some less.)

And I like your candy ideas.

Thanks! It's part of my ice cream enterprise, actually, and I've far more experience making candy than ice cream.

The gift tags, btw, were obviously edible, as they were made entirely of chocolate: chocolate tags with chocolate writing. They turned out really well, but this was the holiday season when I was between jobs, and I just don't have this kind of time anymore.

[frenchpony.livejournal.com]

So Nelyo's will sell both candy and ice cream? You will be the bane of mothers and dentists everywhere.

[dawn_felagund]

Oh, yes. Yes, I will :)

Candy is a comfortable thing for me. Growing up, my mom did it every year; I started five years ago, making painted chocolate lollipops to raise money for the literary magazine. They were wildly successful, and I've done it every year since.

Ice cream is less comfortable. I really need to work in a place where they make ice cream, large scale.

I generally loathe to use commercial products, so for example, my peanut butter cup ice cream uses homemade peanut butter cups and sauce. Which will necessitate making homemade candy.

[frenchpony.livejournal.com]

So we're looking at a pricey, upscale ice cream boutique, then.

I suppose I shall have to start saving the pennies now. Just make sure you do something nice with mint for when I can afford it.

[dawn_felagund]

I'm doing my first experiment with mint chocolate chip ice cream this December because my sister's girlfriend is coming over from England, and it's her favorite flavor.

In candy, I did mint-filled candy once. The problem was that the concentrated flavorings are *really* strong, and everything that came in contact with the mint candy ended up tasting like mint, including the peanut butter cups. Yech. I left a few pounds of plain chocolate in with the closed vial of mint extract and had to throw it all out, as it tasted of mint. So I need to find an alternate method or quarantine my mint candy.

Which is a shame because the mint candy is so good....

There's mint bark, too, which I've never made but tried at the candy supply store once. I might make that this year.

[frenchpony.livejournal.com]

Minty peanut butter cups? Sounds like something I might try on a dare. Which was how I found out that I like vanilla cookies with salsa.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

What is the standard length for a novella? I've never been too certain of that.

From a publisher site that allows admissions:

Lengths are in actual word counts (K= 1, 000 words) and classified as follows:

* Short fiction...9-20K
* Anthology...27K Min.
* Novella...25-35K
* Short Novel...35-45K
* Novel...50K-75K
* Novel+....80K and above…to but not over 150K

[frenchpony.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[dawn_felagund]

Thanks, Rhapsody!

So it seems that my 20-some-thousand word story is on the fence. Most magazines, though, I've found, don't accept more than 5K. A lot are even lower: 2.5 or 3K. As a short story for me is 5K, getting published is always a challenge.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

So it will be a novella. *sigh*

Just give into that feeling honey. Otherwise you will always think that somehow you never did the story the justice it deserves. (sorry about the previous one... clearly not awake)

And have fun with the NaNo.

[dawn_felagund]

I think I can actually be happy with it as a novella. I don't want to throw myself into a novel and then get tired of it, since the original idea didn't allow for PoVs other than Earwen's.

*is torn*

Well, we'll see where the muses go. I want the novella finished before NaNo (I'm at least halfway there). If I'm still intrigued come December, it's definite fodder for my next project.

And have fun with the NaNo.

Thanks! I think I'm going to; I've started a countdown already and can't wait! :)

[1lady-so-divine.livejournal.com]

mmmmmmmmm, candy:)

[dawn_felagund]

I'll definitely be sending you some :)

I'm doing caramels this year too; if I recall, you asked about them last year? Last year, things got seriously mucked up, with my grandfather dying, then getting married, then my great-grandmother-in-law dying...let's hope that doesn't happen this year.

[1lady-so-divine.livejournal.com]

Yep, I did ask about them.
I knew I was getting candy, I'm VIP:)
The babies will be happy too, Chelsea is like me....she loves chocolate!

Novella/Candy

[digdigil.livejournal.com]

Here's my advice: Finish the fic as a novella and archive it at SWG when the site is ready; post it to FF.Net and any of the other fanfic sites that you prefer, then continue with the other ideas taking up space in your brain. Then in a year's time or so return to that story if it still occupies any part of your mind and expand it into a full novel. I mean, why not? If it is MEANT to be a novel it will eventually find its way out of you.

Now, the making of candy sounds like a dream occupation. There is a chocolate factory in town where I live and while their stuff is somewhat expensive it is delicious. It's different from factory-produced stuff, it's fresh and wonderful. I so admire the people (I'm not sure if it's family-owned or not - I think so) who started this business and made a success of it, and every time I drive by I think of you and your ice-cream store! That you make chocolate too is a very nice surprise! Now I just love peanut butter cups. They are my favourite type of chocolate candy, followed by butter creams. Here's an idea for a trade: you send me some of your homemade chocolates (and I promise that I WILL eat them!) and I will send you my DVD set of the first season of LOST. If you think that Matthew Fox is a hunk, I will also send you my DVD set of "Party of Five". Now that will require a massive sacrifice from yours truly because I happen to think that Matthew Fox in Party of Five is really, really hott, and I loved him. If you agree, then I will email you my home address, and if you want to you can email me yours.

Re: Novella/Candy

[dawn_felagund]

If it is MEANT to be a novel it will eventually find its way out of you.

That's how things tend to go for me. I think you said exactly what I'm going to do! :D

Now, the making of candy sounds like a dream occupation.

I agree :) Although the smell of chocolate does get to you after a while! Last night, Bobby had to open the screen door in the apartment because the whole place smelled like peanut butter.

every time I drive by I think of you and your ice-cream store!

:)

Now I just love peanut butter cups. They are my favourite type of chocolate candy, followed by butter creams.

Yay! I make peanut butter cups every year (they're really easy and the most popular) and sometimes make filled candy with butter-rum flavored filling.

Also on the list for this year are caramels and cordial cherries. I'm working on an idea involving almonds too. (Felak *hearts* almonds and wants an excuse to buy some and play with them in recipes!) I'll probably do some painted candies too, to brighten things up, but none of the complicated designs, as they take literally hours to finish, and with NaNo, I don't have that kind of time.

Here's an idea for a trade: you send me some of your homemade chocolates

I'll send you some! :D I'd love to watch Lost, but I'd be afraid of your DVD getting lost in the mail :-/ So I would understand if you don't want to send it; I'll send you candy anyway! (I love making candy for people :D)

[rous3.livejournal.com]

"Meanwhile, I am so excited for NaNoWriMo. My poor husband has to listen to me squee over it every day and chatter about how close it is and how I can't wait..."

At least your husband tolerates it. I have not mentioned it to mine; I know what he will say, "Why waste your time on that? It is not productive." It is the same for my poetry and my music. If it will not make me any money, why do it.

On to candy:
I used to make quite a bit of chocolates during the holidays. And, it seemed I did more when working full-time. I guess I just got burned out. But, I do like making them occationally. Truffles are my favorite to make, and PB cups. Although I find caramels the easiest. Hmm, maybe I will start back up again this year. I have enough molds, I should be set. Ever make chocolate liquior bottles? Pain in the ass, but well worth it. Big seller, too.

[dawn_felagund]

I have not mentioned it to mine; I know what he will say, "Why waste your time on that? It is not productive."

:(

Hubby and I have an understanding about things like this. He knew when he married me that he also married my writing and my artwork. I knew when I married him that I also married his hockey! ;)

We aspire to open our own ice cream/candy business one day, but we both like to laugh over the possibility that--our ages--it is still wholly possible for me to become an author and for him to be signed to a minor league hockey team. You never know where things will take you!

I'm glad, at least, that you write in secret. :)

I used to make quite a bit of chocolates during the holidays.

Growing up, when my mom was still stay-at-home, I remember her making candy every year. When I got older, she let me help her make Valentine's Day candy to raise money for Easter Seals.

In a pinch, one year, trying to raise money for the literary magazine for which I worked, I made chocolate Halloween lollipops. They were wildly successful, and I've been doing it ever since.

I've never tried making chocolate liquor bottles--although, I had them at a party once, and I'd imagine them well worth the effort! In previous years, I did mostly painted candy, but it takes so long that I'm switching to almost all filled candies this year. (Although the painted ones are so pretty that I doubt I'll be able to entirely resist! :D)

[rous3.livejournal.com]

Well, when we married he knew I was a musician, but he just cannot get over the fact that I have no drive to do much professionally. I love playing in church and the few community things we do. That is enough for me. As for the writing, it is a fairly recent thing. I tried reading one of my stories to him and he just pointed out that I was wasting my time. He did not say it was bad, just not profitable. And forget the poetry, he does not understand it. And, he is jealous of the music. So, where does that leave me? Writing in secret and playing when he is not around. It also drives me to the internet for validation, another no-no in his book. A lot of you do not fully realize how lucky you are to have husbands who at least tolerate the obsession. After all, I put up with his pyro passion. At least I am not out tempting fate to blow me up. Men! If it is interesting to them, it should be to us. If not, we should not bother.

Candy? I love seeing the painted ones, but I hate making them. I do a lot of Christmas cards and some for Easter. I do paint them, but they are easier. I just limit myself to the truffles, PB cups and things like that. I did make angel suckers one year for my daughter to sell at work for a missions trip. They went over very well. I may have to try that again, as soon as I find a good reason to do so.

[dawn_felagund]

A lot of you do not fully realize how lucky you are to have husbands who at least tolerate the obsession.

I do. I really, really do. I usually grab him in a hug once a week and ask, "However do you put up with me?" But we have been dating and best friends since I was 14 (he'd just turned 15), so we've had lots of time to become acclimated to each other.

A lot of things people do are not profitable. Watching sports? Not profitable. Going out to dinner? Not profitable. But in a way, they are.... Bobby (my husband) was saying last night how silly it probably is that he is thinking of switching jobs because this current job threatens to prevent him from playing hockey. But, I told him, it really isn't silly. We all have thoroughly unprofitable things that we love to do, that "ease our minds," so to speak, and without them, productivity falters. It's the same conundrum that paying someone to take a break will cause them to be more productive and, hence, more profitable, despite the "lost time." It seems counterintuitive and so is lost on a lot of people, but that's the direction that most of the industrial psychological research points.

So: You write and play your music, freely and without fear of being mocked for it, and you will go to your job or face your responsibilities at home better rested and with a more positive mindset. As such, you will do them better.

(Bet you can tell what Felak studied in uni, eh? ;D)

At least I am not out tempting fate to blow me up. Men!

Ai...here I thought mine was bad for putting on skates and slamming full-force into other big dudes, whilst chasing a frozen-hard object.... ;)