When the author can’t control his word count? As I’m not a full-time writer, I have been attempting to write shorter novels so that I can release more of them and release them more often. I was unable to keep the last two under 100,000 words (assuming 250 words a page that’s maybe 400 pages). In fact, after multiple revisions and edits and additions, I went way over on both. But that’s okay. The story needs to be as long as it needs to be and I’m not hung up on word count.
I would like to release books quicker, though. So I’m writing two novellas that are prequels to the main sequence of my Galactic Arena Series which will follow Rama Seti into humanity’s future in the galaxy, fighting aliens and attacking ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion and whatnot.
The two prequels give background on the world and introduce and explore some of the themes in the main story. In the first prequel we’re talking about Artificial People and the practical and ethical problems associated with the science of it and why there is such rampant pro-human and pro-AP terrorists at the start of the Galactic Arena universe. There is more detail on the practical issues with long duration interplanetary voyages to the outer solar system. It’s about genetic engineering, space exploration and first contact.
The second prequel is going to be more proper military scifi and will be the selection process for the first proper combat mission on the Orb against the Wheelers. The UNOP High Command needs to find the best soldiers on Earth and test them to the limit and beyond. It is also about violence in a non-violent culture, the extent to which we need soldiers and the military and masculine / feminine traits in that context. So, sort of (i.e. exactly) like Demolition Man. It’s really gonna kiss some ass.
I was aiming for about 25,000 words in the finished version of the first prequel. In fact, the first draft is already 27,500 and I have a lot I want to add to the story. So I was hoping to get it released by the end of this month but it will be more like October. I do not intend for it to reach the length of a novel but you have to do justice to the story so who knows… it might end up being over 100,000 words.
My intention for the title of the first prequel is Human Contact but I’m not sure. Bearing in mind it will be in the scifi category with a spaceship on the front, does that make you think of “first contact” and humanity or does it sound like a romantic drama?
Please help – what do you think?!
Hmm, the title does imply something more personal or perhaps psychological, ie: a disabled person who can’t endure physical contact. However, I think your cover gives a stronger impression of what the book is about.
If you’re still mulling alternatives, how about something that uses “contact” in the military sense, like “Enemy Contact” or the like.
Thanks Deby, very much appreciate the feedback, as always! It ultimately is a kind of personal story but I think I might have to rethink the title a little to appeal to my target audience. I need to get the balance right, get the tone right because it’s not military, it’s not action. It’s much more the kind of 1960s/70s science fiction story. Maybe inhuman contact or nonhuman contact, something like that. Anyway, cheers!