THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHORT STORY AND A NOVEL....

Is a lot A LOT of often unnecessary words!

I spent yesterday editing a section of the novel-in-progress down to make it eligible for a short fiction call.

It started at 7,750 wds or thereabouts. I had already 'tightened' to c 5,750.

The call is for work no longer than 3,000 wds.

Wow. Not possible. 7570 to under 3000?

It certainly is. The story that came through in Bridport last year was a heavily edited part of the same novel, losing at least half that section's bulk.

More is not necessarily better.

Less is often more.


The trouble is, every novel I pick up now does the same to my head..."You could have said this in a quarter of the words... or less. Why have I paid to read the extra?"