It's terrifying, honestly. Both of my written fiction novels are long. One is around 500 pages and the other is longer than that. It is hard enough marketing in this day and age, but trying to market to a world that rarely reads anymore, on top of a world with an attention span deficit? Scary. As someone with ADHD as well, I know the struggle all too well when it comes to finishing a book. I have started hundreds of books I have begun to read and never finished. I am one of those people who abandons a book if I don't love it and don't want to waste the time. However, there is always a book on occasion that touches my soul which I devour entirely. Books are like love letters, they are all meant for certain individuals.
I do think that fiction has the opportunity to continue to be longer. I know for me. I love a long novel because I never want the story to end when it’s really good. This I think is different from nonfiction where people want to get to the point and have the knowledge on hand or start applying it right away.
You made a bunch of interesting points. The stats on how many people end up finishing books over 200 pages are mind-boggling. It must be a trend for sure. However, I'm not sure if it'll change the style of novels coming out.
The lifestyle of modern-day society might change "how" books are written but not "what" books are written. We have seen that happen with internet blogging already. Well, let's see, what happens. What do I know? Predictions are a fool's game after all. 😂
A very interesting and well-written piece mate. You got me thinking!
I definitely think that fiction vs non-fiction is different. I bet more people read longer fiction books once they find a good one or a series. Fiction is about the only thing I will read to completion over 200-pages. But I think the non-fiction game has definitely changed.
I actually agree with this statement. I've been so USED to writing extremely long novels (non published lol) short stories, and even poems. But I realized that the longer they are, the more dragged out they seem. Long novels can be really great, but sometimes it can get overly complicated for both the writer and the reader. Recently, in college I've been challenged to write a short 50 page novella in my course. I thought I would hate it (because it had to be so short) but I actually LOVE it way more than my 6 unfinished 150 page novels 😂 The simpler really is the better, and most likely a lot easier for the writer and the reader to connect. Thanks for sharing!
I have a coworker who loves 50-100 page novellas. It’s all she reads. She has a fav author who puts out a new one every two months for the last three years and she loves it because there is a new book ever two mo the and they aren’t super long.
I 100% agree with you! I like short books, articles, and essays. People like things to be easy to read and quickly move on to the next thing. That's why I write 1-minute devotionals. That's what I enjoy reading and writing.
Yes! I think people will also get back into reading more if they find short books. I have found a few people in my life like that and it has only inspired me more!
Shorter books should be easier to write, too. I struggle to keep things short, but I'm working on it. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Now, if I can just write that short book. 🙄
Yep. I think that short books are the way to go for new authors or authors who aren’t crazy famous. No one wants to read 300 pages from someone they’ve never heard of before.
It's terrifying, honestly. Both of my written fiction novels are long. One is around 500 pages and the other is longer than that. It is hard enough marketing in this day and age, but trying to market to a world that rarely reads anymore, on top of a world with an attention span deficit? Scary. As someone with ADHD as well, I know the struggle all too well when it comes to finishing a book. I have started hundreds of books I have begun to read and never finished. I am one of those people who abandons a book if I don't love it and don't want to waste the time. However, there is always a book on occasion that touches my soul which I devour entirely. Books are like love letters, they are all meant for certain individuals.
I do think that fiction has the opportunity to continue to be longer. I know for me. I love a long novel because I never want the story to end when it’s really good. This I think is different from nonfiction where people want to get to the point and have the knowledge on hand or start applying it right away.
You made a bunch of interesting points. The stats on how many people end up finishing books over 200 pages are mind-boggling. It must be a trend for sure. However, I'm not sure if it'll change the style of novels coming out.
The lifestyle of modern-day society might change "how" books are written but not "what" books are written. We have seen that happen with internet blogging already. Well, let's see, what happens. What do I know? Predictions are a fool's game after all. 😂
A very interesting and well-written piece mate. You got me thinking!
I definitely think that fiction vs non-fiction is different. I bet more people read longer fiction books once they find a good one or a series. Fiction is about the only thing I will read to completion over 200-pages. But I think the non-fiction game has definitely changed.
I actually agree with this statement. I've been so USED to writing extremely long novels (non published lol) short stories, and even poems. But I realized that the longer they are, the more dragged out they seem. Long novels can be really great, but sometimes it can get overly complicated for both the writer and the reader. Recently, in college I've been challenged to write a short 50 page novella in my course. I thought I would hate it (because it had to be so short) but I actually LOVE it way more than my 6 unfinished 150 page novels 😂 The simpler really is the better, and most likely a lot easier for the writer and the reader to connect. Thanks for sharing!
I have a coworker who loves 50-100 page novellas. It’s all she reads. She has a fav author who puts out a new one every two months for the last three years and she loves it because there is a new book ever two mo the and they aren’t super long.
That's awesome! Definitely a writing route I'm considering.
I 100% agree with you! I like short books, articles, and essays. People like things to be easy to read and quickly move on to the next thing. That's why I write 1-minute devotionals. That's what I enjoy reading and writing.
Yes! I think people will also get back into reading more if they find short books. I have found a few people in my life like that and it has only inspired me more!
Shorter books should be easier to write, too. I struggle to keep things short, but I'm working on it. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Now, if I can just write that short book. 🙄
You might try creating an outline with three points per chapter and each point gets two sub points. Then write one to three paragraphs per sub point.
That will take some work. I'm a pantser. I've tried writing an outline, and I stink at it. I'm a work in progress. I'll get there.
I think it's a real positive thing, it's how I like to read and write.
I think a lot more people like to read this way. And more writers will see success writing this way.
Yep. I think that short books are the way to go for new authors or authors who aren’t crazy famous. No one wants to read 300 pages from someone they’ve never heard of before.