How Long is a Piece of String?

I used to ask way too many questions as a child, though surely not as many as my own children. My Gran would silence me by saying "'Cause y's not z," and my Granddad would ask, "How long's a piece of string?"

I'm hosting a Second Wind Publishing discussion on Facebook and Goodreads where I ask how long's a novel, novella, novelette, short story, etc... and invite you to to wonder where dribbles and drabbles and chapters and  blurbs fit in. I think my biggest conclusion so far is I'm still not sure if my e-book's a short story or a novella, but I'm convinced I'd find it harder to sell as a short story. Somehow short, and pay real money for it, don't quite fit together. But what do you think?

Comments

bearman said…
It's about 12 inches
November 19, 2010 at 11:53 AM
maryrussel said…
Interesting discussion on Goodreads. All of the books I am currently working on started out as novellas and I have added to them but they are still under 100 pages. "The Steamer Trunk" is planned as a full blown novel.It'll be interesting to see what happens with that when I finally get back to work on it. Currently, I am at 100 pages with 4 generations to go. I haven't done any editing on it yet.
November 19, 2010 at 1:17 PM
CA Heaven said…
I don't know how long a novel is, but I think many novels are too long. Most novels of 500+ pages would have been better if shorter >:)

Cold As Heaven
November 19, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Nikki (Sarah) said…
a story that leaves you with a punch...and hits its mark...is the best place to end..I think too some go on too long and some not long enough
November 19, 2010 at 4:19 PM
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