The Circling Song is on Kindle. For a few months, it performed very strongly on Authonomy and received some very nice comments from some very respected sources. It got into double figures – just but there are a lot of books on there! I was proud that it was championed on a good number of occasions by writers whose work leaves most standing.
Several people suggested that I expand it to novel length (at 30-odd thousand words, it qualifies as a novella) in order to get the interest of a publisher. Many times, I read it through looking for natural points that could be used as growth points – buds, which could sprout a couple of extra sub-plots or take the story off in another direction. But to no avail.
At first, I was frustrated but eventually, I came to realise that the story would suffer if I made any changes just for the sake of it. The advice was, I’m sure, well-intentioned but I think the starting point for those offering it was that I wanted it to be published more than anything else.
Of course, I wanted it to be published – still do – and I know that novellas don't apparently sell anymore but I couldn't bring myself to spoil, (as I saw it) a pretty solid story. Ergo, I didn’t want it published more than anything else; I wanted it to remain a strong, powerful and entertaining story – which it is.
Hubris? Possibly. Laziness? That’s what worries me. Did I try hard enough? Well, I think I did. The story is complete and its success lies in its readability. Most people who begin reading, finish it and all who do, enjoy it. That tells me it works.
I also have to say how delighted I was to finally upload it in a format that retains the epistolary nature of the original pretty well. It took some doing, I can tell you and, as always with Kindle, much depends on the font size one chooses. I recommend as small as possible with the minimum line spacing.
Anyway, if it sells well, I’ll submit the paperback version for those who have yet to bow to the inevitable.
Several people suggested that I expand it to novel length (at 30-odd thousand words, it qualifies as a novella) in order to get the interest of a publisher. Many times, I read it through looking for natural points that could be used as growth points – buds, which could sprout a couple of extra sub-plots or take the story off in another direction. But to no avail.
At first, I was frustrated but eventually, I came to realise that the story would suffer if I made any changes just for the sake of it. The advice was, I’m sure, well-intentioned but I think the starting point for those offering it was that I wanted it to be published more than anything else.
Of course, I wanted it to be published – still do – and I know that novellas don't apparently sell anymore but I couldn't bring myself to spoil, (as I saw it) a pretty solid story. Ergo, I didn’t want it published more than anything else; I wanted it to remain a strong, powerful and entertaining story – which it is.
Hubris? Possibly. Laziness? That’s what worries me. Did I try hard enough? Well, I think I did. The story is complete and its success lies in its readability. Most people who begin reading, finish it and all who do, enjoy it. That tells me it works.
I also have to say how delighted I was to finally upload it in a format that retains the epistolary nature of the original pretty well. It took some doing, I can tell you and, as always with Kindle, much depends on the font size one chooses. I recommend as small as possible with the minimum line spacing.
Anyway, if it sells well, I’ll submit the paperback version for those who have yet to bow to the inevitable.
Amazon UK The-Circling-Song . Amazon US The-Circling-Song .
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