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PAGES PROMOTIONS, LLC

By The Numbers... Average Genre Word Counts

12/19/2018

It seems that not a week goes by when someone asks me about word counts. "How many words should my book be?" Well, according to Writer's Digest Magazine, here are the average word counts by genre. Keep in mind that each publishing company, agent, and editor will have their own specific expectations for word counts. These are benchmarks to be aware of - but not necessarily rules written in stone.

Non-Fiction: average 50,000, depending on topic

Fiction:
Short story: any fictional work under 7,500 words
Novelette: between 7,500 and 17,500 words
Novella: between 17,500 and 40,000 words
Novel: anything over 40,000

Adult & New Adult Novels: Commercial & Literary:

80,000 – 89,999: Totally cool
90,000 – 99,999: Generally safe
70,000 – 79,999: Might be too short; probably all right
100,000 – 109,999: Might be too long; probably all right
Below 70,000: Too short
110,000 or above Too long

Science-Fiction & Fantasy:

100,000 - 115,000

Western & Romance:

50,000 - 80,000

Memoir:

80,000 - 89,999

Young Adult:

55,000 - 69,999

Middle Grade or Tween Novels:

30,000 - 55,000

Chapter Books

6,000 - 10,000

Early Readers:

under 3,500

Picture Books: (about 24-32 pages)

500-60

How Much Can I Make As A Writer?

12/19/2018

Take into consideration these factors when thinking about the revenue your writing career may generate:

Are you writing about what you know? Unless you’re a real “research hound”, readers will know when you’re trying too hard. Write about characters and subjects that you know well. Don’t be something you’re not – and don’t write where you have no experience.
Talent and Technique. Do you have the raw talent to tell a good story (whether fiction or non-fiction, it all comes down to storytelling); and do you have a firm grasp on the technique to do it properly? If you’re unclear, take a class, workshop, or read books on craft.
Book Cover. Your book will be competing against thousands of others, and if your cover doesn’t engage your reader right from the start, chances are you won’t sell many books.
Availability. Make sure your book is available for as many buying opportunities as possible. Place “Buy Now” buttons on your website or blog; link to your Amazon.com page; link to your book’s page on your publisher’s website; get neighborhood stores to carry your books on consignment; contact your local library and offer to do a reading event and provide copies to sell, with a portion of the proceeds going to the library; etc. And, make sure that you are available to make it easy for your buyers… take cash and cards!
Remember that marketing is key. People can’t buy your book if they don’t know you’ve written one. Remember to talk it up on your blog and social media. Think up a special seasonal discount promotion, contact local media outlets, offer to do guest blog appearances with reciprocal links, host a contest and give away free copies, etc.
Imagine your ideal reader and target that person. Consider writing a brief “open letter” on your blog to a specific reader explaining why you think your book might be a good fit for them. Remember to keep it fun and engaging. And, don’t forget – as wonderful as your book might be – you can’t get everyone to read it; so target those who are more likely to be your biggest fans.
Write several books. Prolific authors are profitable authors. Try different storylines with the same characters; try new genres; try fiction vs. non-fiction or children’s books. Change it up, if you like – but remember to keep it fresh. No one ever made a name for themselves or increased their revenue stream by simply “resting on their laurels”

THE WRITER'S RESEARCH ROLODEX

12/19/2018

Writers, below are some fabulous websites that we think might benefit you and your writing projects. Some are tools, others are for research, and some are great resources for other information. We’re not being compensated in any way for sharing these links with you… we simply thought they might be of interest. When you have time, we hope you’ll check them out! WritersDigest.com - Probably one of the best all-around websites for writers, Writer’s Digest offers information on writing better and getting published. The site also includes community forums, blogs and huge lists of resources for writers. Their sister site, WritersDigestShop.com is a fantastic place to buy all the resources you could ever need on craft – from books, to CD, to webinars. They have a resource for ever type of writer in the world. (And, if you click the button on our website, you’ll get a deal on shipping!)

Merriam-Webster.com - Merriam Webster is the perfect place to look up words and find information. The site offers a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, podcasts, word games and a lot of other things that may be of interest to writers and word-lovers.

Publaw.com – The Publishing Law Center – This site also provides important legal information for writers. Topics include licenses, trademarks, copyright, intellectual property and contracts.

NaNoWriMo.org - National Novel Writing Month, known as NaNoWriMo, challenges writers to pen 50,000 word novels between November 1 and November 31 every year. The site provides articles, forums and all kinds of motivators to help them get the work done.

WritersFM.com - Writers FM is an online radio station created by writers, for writers — streaming LIVE 24/7. It broadcasts author interviews, writing prompts, upbeat music and mini mysteries throughout the day.

Behindthename.com – Behind the Surname is a website for learning about all aspects of the etymology and history of surnames. Its scope is broad: all surnames from all cultures and periods are eligible to be included in the main name database.

Babynames.com - Need to name one of your characters? BabyNames.com lets you search for names by gender, origin and letter.

Etymonline.com - This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they’re explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago. The dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word (in English, unless otherwise indicated). This should be taken as approximate, especially before about 1700, since a word may have been used in conversation for hundreds of years before it turns up in a manuscript that has had the good fortune to survive the centuries.

Catholic-saints.info - List of Patron Saints and Patronage – The term ‘Saints’ is used in Christian religions to describe a person who is perceived of being an example of great holiness and virtue and considered capable of interceding with God on behalf of a person who prayed to them. A person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization. The Roman Catholic Church has an official process for creating saints.

Exploreforensics.co.uk - For many people, forensics is a fascinating but confusing field that is full of mystery and intrigue. Whether it’s learning more about how criminal evidence is collected and stored or finding out how the legal system uses this information, everyone should explore the world of forensics.

Seventhsanctum.com – A wonderfully user-friendly tool that helps you to create names (and more) for just about every genre you can think of… Anime/Manga; Beings; Characters; Combat; Darkness/Evil; Equipment; Humor; Magic; Media/Fandom; Names; Organizations; Setting; Skills/Abilities/Traits; Superheroes/Sentai; Technology; Writing.

Onlineconversion.com - Convert just about anything to anything else. Over 5,000 units, and 50,000 conversions.

Howstuffworks.com – This is a fabulous research site for any writer who needs to verify that the process or effect or affect they are writing about is actually plausible. They cover nearly every topic, Adventure; Auto; Culture; Entertainment; Home & Garden; Money; Science and Technology.

Duotrope.com – Duotrope is a $5/month subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, submissions trackers, and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points they’ve gathered on the publishers we list. They cover anthologies, journals, contests and a host of other “call for author” opportunities.

SFWA.org - Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America – The SFFWA, or SFWA for short-short, is one of the most effective and widely-recognized of all non-profit writers’ organizations. Members have access to all manner of resources and publications and can benefit from the protection offered by the SFWA.

PW.org – Poets and Writers is the largest non-profit organization that serves creative writers. Their website is full of resources, providing information on everything from job listings to writing contests.

Twenty Master Plots

12/19/2018

Throughout all of literature, there are only twenty major plots. Don't believe me? Read this list and then, the next time you read a book or watch a film, you'll immediately be able to make the connection... no matter the time it was written, or the author! Of course, there are minor differences in all writing - but these are the foundations where everyone begins.
The Quest

The protagonist’s search for a person, place or thing, tangible or intangible.

The Adventure

An action plot, the plot of the body that focuses on the journey itself.

The Pursuit

The literary version of hide and seek; one person chases another.

The Rescue

The hero searches for something or someone; this plot relies heavily on the antagonist.

The Escape

A physical plot that concentrates its energy on the mechanics of capture and escape; and the escape is literal – the hero must get away from where and whom has confined him.

The Revenge

In this plot, there is a clear retaliation by the hero against the villain for a real or imagined injury; it should reach your reader on an emotional level.

The Riddle or Mystery

A paradox that begs a solution that focuses on events that must be evaluated and interpreted, although things are not what they appear on the surface. Clues lead to the answer, and the answer is usually in plain sight, though overlooked due to distractions.

Rivalry

Two people have the same goal and each has their own motivation; and each usually assume they will win due to their superiority in some way.

The Underdog

The hero is faced with a disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds toward achieving the goal; and somehow, he finds a way, although the way is often difficult.

Temptation

A story of the frailty of human nature; often with religious overtones.

Metamorphosis

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures; this is a story about change, both physical and emotional, and usually the physical change is the impetus for the emotional change.

Transformation

The process of change in the hero as he goes through life; moving from one significant character change to another.

Maturation

A story of growing up; it’s an optimistic plot with lessons to be learned and in the end, the hero is better for the challenge and learning.

Love

Often a story of frustration, confusion, misunderstanding, mistaken identities, agony, torture... something usually gets in the way and the payoff is that the love endures and wins in the end.

Forbidden Love

A love affair that violates some social taboo; the lovers usually pay for their “folly” with their lives.

Sacrifice

The characters sacrifice themselves for an ideal; they often subscribe to the belief that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the individual.

Discovery

This plot dedicates itself more to the pursuit of learning about the self than uncovering a secret about society. This plot is about people and their quest to understand who they are and how they fit in, rather than chasing buried treasure (although that can be part of it).

Wretched Excess

This plot can happen to characters of every kind, and in every situation. The tension inherent in this plot comes from convincing the readers that whatever the excess, it could happen to them, too.

Ascension; This plot deals with the rise of the hero. Descension; This plot deals with the fall of the hero.

In these last two plots, the hero is magnetic, everyone and everything relates to him. They tend to suffer from an over-blown ego, and are involved in a struggle that creates a vortex that sucks everyone else in the story into it.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1) by Ransom Riggs

12/19/2018

If you're looking for a story that draws you in and makes you think... and then go back to re-read just so you can try to predict where things might go next... this just might be the book for you! "Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs. I found this to be a captivating novel. I truly enjoyed each strangely peculiar twist and turn. It's a little creepy, and little not... and a LOT to make you wonder, "hmmm, could this really happen/have happened? I got some wonderful ideas about "what if" scenarios, and was so captivated by the characters and what might happen next, that I've purchased the next book in the series and will read it next! This is a wonderfully creative concept, and I'm looking forward to getting deeper into the story

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

12/19/2018

This is a well-crafted foray into the possibilities of a different sort of reincarnation. We found the book to be a little difficult to grasp in the beginning third, yet after that, the delicious paradox the author bends is quite captivating. If you enjoy sci-fi stories told with a strong emotional component, this one is a great read!

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

12/19/2018

This was an intriguing story about a female magician at the turn of the century. I enjoyed how the POV of each chapter moved from one of the main characters to the other, and back again. It gave the story true depth. Also, the subplot characters took on a life of their own, which made the story even more interesting. Several times, I was surprised at a hook moving in a direction I couldn't predict... and the ending surprised me, as well. I'd highly recommend it.

14 by Peter Clines

12/19/2018

This is an edgy science fiction/horror story with just enough humor to lighten up the shadows. Having a building play a central part to the plot is very interesting; a writing device that intrigues and challenges your understanding of what the page if capable of producing. The story draws you in deeper to the mystery, and the characters mimic people you know in real life. This is a story that makes you contemplate "what if" scenarios, and perhaps suspend your disbelief more than you thought possible.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

12/19/2018

This is a wonderful book that gives you the distinct pleasure of being inside the heart and mind of Ivan, a low-land gorilla. He's a silver-back, and he's magnificent! The author weaves a heartfelt story of companionship and promises, of truth and imagination not to be missed. It's a book you'll not want to stop reading when the day wanes. It's a forever story that you'll want to share with everyone you know - especially children. Although it's not a children's book, per se; it has a message every man, woman and child should read, understand and take into their hearts

The Accidental Alchemist (An Accidental Alchemist Mystery #1) by Gigi Pandian

12/19/2018

This is a extraordinary story with surprises at nearly every turn. There is a lovely spice of wonderment when a french gargoyle chef and a disenfranchised alchemist must join forces to solve mysteries in Oregon. This is a fantastic read, very strong in both imagery and word play. The main characters are real and believable - even the gargoyle. The subtext characters make the story more rich and add to the depth of the emotional connection as you read each chapter. A pure delight. Discovering author, Gigi Pandian is a true delight! I'm looking forward to my next adventure with this talented wordsmith.

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