Comments on: Distractions, distractions

By: Ireland

Ireland — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Ha! I think the real skill is writing novellas. Prolonging sexual tension and emotional attachment is quite easy for me, but writing it all in a short space and making it believable? Hard! I’ve read many a novella that left me questioning the flimsiness of the h/h’s declarations of love and feeling that it would have worked better as a full length novel. But I think the crux of the novella is the storyline. Some are meant for short stories and novellas and some are meant for full length stories.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

You’re right about the storyline. It has to be something believable AND easily resolved. I’ve read a few novellas where the plot was either totally off the wall or was hastily sewn up in the end. But when you find a good one? Oh my…

By: peterg22

peterg22 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

As your novellas are being better received than a longer work, do you think this is because more people have a short attention span and don’t concentrate long enough ? Also, I don’t know if some of it is down to a "market requirement" (Mills and Boon titles are written to a set, short length) ? Personally I’m inclined to pick up a longer novel, but only if it doesn’t run out of steam half way (I’m sure yours don’t, of course )

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I appreciate your confidence in me, Peter! Truly! And yes I think attention span has alot to do with it. The readers and my own. Anthologies are doing very well right now, in all formats. Either people are too busy to dedicate a large amount of time to one story or they want immediate gratification. I read anthologies for just those reasons so I imagine others do too. But I love a great full length novel. Gives you a better chance to get to know the characters and their issues.