This post by Janet Dean first appeared in Seekerville on
June 13, 2011. Comments are closed today so
we can catch up on our reading and writing!
Janet here. I was honored when asked, along with authors Victoria Bylin and Pamela Nissen, to write a historical novella for Love Inspired Historical. And I was thrilled to join these wonderful authors on the printed page! The Spring wedding anthology released in the spring of 2012 as Brides of the West.
Executive Editor Tina James gave these guidelines for this novella:
The word count for this novella was 25,000 words.
The theme is spring weddings.
The hero and heroine should know each other in this reunion romance.
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| My story in this collection is entitled "Last Minute Bride." |
I was grateful for these concrete facts to center my story around. Yet I wanted more information about novellas in general so sent out a plea for tips and got great advice on writing novellas.
Cheryl St. John gave this explanation: A novella needs all the same elements as a full-length novel: Engaging, sympathetic characters, internal and external conflict, believable motivation, a realistic setting and hooks that keep the reader turning pages. However, you have a lot fewer pages in which to do all that.
I'm nodding and noting that the 25,000-word count would vary depending on the number of novellas in the anthology.
Seeker Glynna Kaye, chimed in with her view of novellas: I think the best ones don't try to cram a 60-100K book plot into 25K. Instead, they focus on a "smaller picture" -- a snapshot, a shorter timeframe and a GMC that fits that. Instead of months, they might encompass a weekend or a few weeks. You get a cozier feeling from them than you might get in a bigger novel because of the narrower scope. I always like ones that leave you smiling at the end. That is heart-warming.
Victoria Bylin gave me this advice:
1. Limit the time frame of the story. A day? A week? A month?
2. Keep story locations to a minimum. Setting description eats up word count
3. Keep secondary/supporting characters to a minimum.
4. Instead of starting from scratch, use secondary characters from earlier books.
Cheryl St. John added these tips:
1. The first place I look for a story is in my idea file where I’ve saved ideas that didn’t have enough conflict to support a full-length novel. Don’t ever throw out an idea—the archives are a gold mine when you need a novella.
2. When developing your characters, don’t give both major story people complicated pasts or set them both up with difficult to resolve motivations or conflicts. Keep the major stumbling block to falling in love focused on one character.
3. One character may already be in love with the other or have admired them from afar.
4. Use a secondary character from a previous book as your hero or heroine. You already have their names and descriptions decided and most likely your setting has been established, so your job is easier.
5. Secondary characters are important, but one character may serve several purposes. Look to combine characters if the cast gets too large.
6. Use stereotypes for secondary characters. The reader already has expectations and a mental image.
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| I'd first given life to the characters in my novella in this book. |
With all this wonderful advice for writing this novella, I was ready to forge ahead. I decided to tell the story of single mother Elise Langley and Doctor Wellman, secondary characters in Wanted: A Family They were already attracted to one another in that story so their HEA in 25k was believable. It was easier to write, too, as I had their descriptions and the setting. All I had to do was give them a strong conflict and a equally strong reason to keep them interacting. I was not only able to bring Elise and David their happy ending in "Last Minute Bride," I was able to tie up the lose ends of other unwed mothers from the original story.
Since "Last Minute Bride," I've written "A Daddy for Christmas" a novella with brand new characters and setting so it can be done. I kept the time period tight and the conflict to falling in love rested with my wounded heroine Tess.
When Rafe Rafferty discovers he’s a father, he returns to Bountiful, Indiana, to marry the mother, only to learn she died after childbirth and her sister Tess is raising his child. Rafe falls head over heels for his daughter and for Tess Russo, a woman who doesn’t trust easily. Especially the man she thinks abandoned her sister. Can Rafe prove he’s worthy and conquer the protective walls she’s built around her heart?
Janet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write. Janet is a two-time Golden Heart finalist, Genesis and Carol finalist and a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her Love Inspired Historical novels are also Golden Quill, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Booksellers Best, Inspirational Readers Choice Award and Holt Medallion finalists. Visit Janet at her Website: www.janetdean.net