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Quick answer needed for poll request - help please!
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voted, hope I'm not too late... I read on Smashwords that some readers got mad at an author who put out a teaser/prequel/unfinished start of a longer novel... better have the whole thing out in one piece, there's always the free sample, right?
Thanks guys - yes, I read that too, Barbara...it's not really unfinished except in that it's part of a series but feedback has been that it's too short and the ending is not quite in the part of the narrative arc that people wish it was! JAC
Voted. I'd go with the longer version as you said it would have a "more sensible story arc". The story is the most important thing and to cut it just to knock a couple of pounds off the book price would be a mistake in my opinion. I believe a book should be the length that it needs to be to tell the story properly be that long or short. Best wishes, Stephen Livingston.
Voted! No contest! Definitely the longer version.Patricia
I think that a book you can really "bite into" is best. Sometimes i pick up books at the bookstore that are thin and I put them back because it would take me all of 5 minutes to read and I want a story I can really get into.
Muchas gracias peeps! Will go and look!(you guys are so cool with this sort of thing!)
JAC
Also, it might be important to note that fantasy readers tend to like longer books. If you look at industry standards, other genres run about 80K. Fantasy is over 100K (maybe more like 120K). "I" think that has to do with the amount of description more fantasy books need....world building. But I have read some GREAT fantasy that didn't even go 80K.
Still, I think most fantasy readers want long books.
Splitter
Fortunate really, given my prolixity! Though I do run to a mean haiku as well!heheheh
JAC
Mod
I'd prefer the longer one because I want the depth of story. The only time I go for the short ones is if they're pretty humorous.
I need to do a quick ‘n’ dirty opinion poll re books today. The question is:
New author you’ve probably not heard of has brought out a new fantasy book that will be first of a series. Which would you be more likely to buy between:
a) One that’s 180pages long (ie a slim paperback) that finishes a bit abruptly but is advertised at around £6.50 so you can get on Amazon for about £4, or
b) One that’s about 350-400 pages long (quite chunky) that has a slightly more sensible story arc but is listed at 8.99 and on Amazon costs about £6-7
Would you hazard £6-7 on an author you’ve never heard of before if you liked the sound of the book, or would you prefer a smaller cheaper one for starters? Any thoughts?
I need to make a decision soonish as if it's a one-book deal the formatting can start, but if it's the two-book deal it can't. I could really do with a guide on this one so if anyone here today has an opinion, please vote on the poll for me, and send across anyone else you know who reads fantasy!
It's at
http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/54...
and I'd really appreciate your help on this.
Thanks all, you are stars as always!
JAC