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Posted on 11/17/2024 4:50:52 AM PST by Lazamataz
I've returned to writing my novel, tentatively titled "Dimensions of Essence". I've gotten somewhat deep into the first act, and I find that my word count is surprisingly low. I tend to be extremely concise. I need to do the opposite of what many authors do... instead of ruthless editing, I need to be more wordy.
I asked ChatGPT what the size of the typical sci-fi novel is, and it replied:
Science fiction novels typically range between 90,000 and 120,000 words. This length allows for the extensive world-building and complex narratives characteristic of the genre. However, some sci-fi novels can be shorter or longer, depending on the story's requirements and the author's style.I'm only at ten percent of the low-end sci-fi novel, so I asked it for suggestions on increasing word-count, and it offered this.
To expand your story into a full-length novel, consider the following strategies:I offer these points to all my writer friends, that you may profit from them in your efforts.By implementing these techniques, you can develop your manuscript into a more substantial work that meets the typical length expectations for a science fiction novel.
- Deepen Character Development: Explore your characters' backgrounds, motivations, and growth arcs to add depth and length to your narrative.
- Enhance World-Building: Provide detailed descriptions of your story's setting, societal structures, and technological aspects to immerse readers fully.
- Introduce Subplots: Weave in secondary storylines that complement the main plot, enriching the overall narrative and increasing word count.
- Expand Key Scenes: Elaborate on pivotal moments, adding descriptive detail and emotional depth to engage readers more thoroughly.
- Incorporate Conflict and Challenges: Introduce additional obstacles or conflicts that your characters must navigate, adding complexity and length to the story.
The Writers Guild of Free Republic ping list
AI is only as good as the human behind it. I can always tell when someone is written by AI—it sounds wooden and dead. Write your own book.
Oh, I am definitely NOT using AI for the actual writing. Like you, I find AI is simply uncreative, flat, and forced. I originally had some fear of AI. No more.
I am, however, using it for suggestions on how to improve my writing. It seems to work fairly well in that regard.
i have the sane problem. that class i took in journalism ruined my descriptive style...
Please add me to this ping list. When my sweetie passed away a few years ago he left behind a couple of unfinished novels. One is sci-fi. The other was a semi-autobiographical account of his life in submarines. I’ve thought about trying to finish one myself, or offer them to someone who’d like to try their hand at writing.
Brevity is the soul of wit. ;-)
Cheers! ‘Pod
Indeed, but brevity is not the soul of sales on Amazon. 😉
It’s good not to be wordy. Wordy is boring.
As far as length, your work is going to be as long or short as it needs to be.
Fulfill your vision.
You will come to fear AI (fraud) again. The next time you use it, it will accuse you of plagiarizing! Then it will ask you if you know what FAFO truly means.;)
Congratulations. Most don’t even start to write.
Subplots...yes...agree.
Question: How about more plots? Like a mystery, how and why did you start the story where and when you did? How did that occur? Perhaps reveal and tease that as you progress.
Assuming you’re familiar with the hero’s journey and you’ve outlined that. If you want, do the same with your antagonist (s).
With regard to characters, false friends and benevolent antagonists as minor characters can give you things that will add to the twists and of course add words.
Keep going!
Ok. Here goes:
A NOVEL, by Laz
Stuff happened.
The end.
It happened.
D’oh! Beat me by two seconds!
The writers did all of that in the show “24”.
I know why, because you can only really do about 5 minutes of cool stuff in an hour.
But I would have been good with the show if it had only lasted 5 min every week as long as I didn’t have to ever see or hear about Jack’s daughter.
Write it your way and eff those who tell you it needs to be different/longer/elaborate.
Elaborate writing is for sissies.;-)
And, as an aside, now that you've got me stirred up, minimalist writing can be VERY complex. It takes more work by the writer (and the reader), and it is certainly more interesting...and even more powerful in my opinion.
When I submitted my first book for publication, the ‘editors’ came back quickly with suggestions taken directly from a collegiate style guide.
I fought them on a good bit of that. Their ‘style guide’ pretty much eliminated my own style.
I won.
This second one is going much better.
It was a dark and stormy night. A door slammed. A woman screamed.
I’ve written several novels, some of which are on Amazon. The way I addressed all of those things in your excellent list was to create a biography for each character. What experiences shaped their childhood? Were they abused or spoiled? I went into great detail for even minor characters. Then when those characters appeared they didn’t mindlessly advance the plot. Most of these things were never mentioned in story. The characters responded to circumstances, sometimes in surprising and, even to me, unexpected ways. When the characters and their interactions are driving the plot, you’ll find it resembles the way things work in the real world.
If you do this. The subplots write themselves.
I was repeatedly asked by readers, was this or that character actually someone I knew?
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