This is the fourth blog on story farming. In this one, the focus is—The Backyard Garden (novella-length pieces).
A good backyard garden might have different areas of plantings—like an anthology. But it might also have a focus that must be a single unit to be properly appreciated—like a fruit tree… or a novella.
The anthology approach to a back yard garden is like a buffet with stations. Each planted area makes a statement on its own. You might have roses, ground cover, annual color, and a perennial shrub border. Then again, you might have none of that—and still have a very nice backyard garden.
The novella approach to a back yard garden is like a meeting where lunch is catered and consists of ONLY one specific portion for each guest. No matter where you look, it’s evident that this backyard is a rose garden, a vegetable garden, or whatever the focus is.
ANTHOLOGIES used to be common forms of book publication. At one time, I had shelves of them in my collection.
But, the last post focused on short stories.
NOVELLA is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
(1) a story with a compact and pointed plot; or
(2) a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel.
Whether you choose the first or second definition, the process of growing a novella is similar.
In definition (1), the plot itself is emphasized. In definition (2), the length is the focus. Some definitions of novella include the idea of “morality tale” in them.
In general, novellas are more commonly associated with the novel than the short story. However, in some anthologies, novellas are included—generally in a segregated section of the book.
According to Writer’s Digest, “Novellas generally run 20,000-50,000 words.”
Reverse Image, volume 3 in the Traveler’s HOT L series is almost 28,000 words. It is a novella in every respect as described in this blog.
If you have a point you are trying to make, I recommend the short story over the novella. Writing shorter forces you to FOCUS on where you’re going. If you ramble in a novella, it’s a lot like wandering through a back yard that’s just had plants stuck in where there is space. Over time, or pages in a novella, the garden gets so overgrown that finding any specific plant, or idea in a novella, is nearly impossible. When any plot becomes so convoluted or obscure that your reader can’t follow it, they will stop reading.
I close with the most important lessons in writing for the backyard garden.
1. Prune the plants. Edit judiciously. Remember the goal is completeness, not length.
2. Keep it weed-free. Edit judiciously. Remember the focus of your story.
3. Fertilize when needed. Edit judiciously. Remember to flesh out plot points as needed to move the story forward.
4. Remove dead or dying plants. Edit judiciously. Remember that even the best plot point in the wrong story is an impediment.
Next blog: Idea Farming—growing your plot #5—The South Forty – The Novel
SEO: set the stage, how many words
Follow me on
Twitter: @CRDowningAuthor
My Blogs
Life as I see it. Topics rotate between those of general interest to lovers of life, authors, teachers—probably you, too. Posts on Tuesdays and some Mondays. http://crdowning-author.blogspot.com/?alt=rss
My Christian Context. Posts M/W of discussion questions. Thursdays - Timeless Truths. Fridays - Expressions of Faith. https://mychristiancontext.blogspot.com/
I'd appreciate your feedback on Blogger!
