Today, whilst working on the outline for The Dummy — with seven chapters outlined, twenty single-spaced pages of notes, and still not quite at the end of the first part (of four) of the novel — it occurred to me that what I actually have here isn’t one novel, but probably two. And I’m not really sure how I feel about that.
On the one hand, the two novel option makes a great deal of sense. The way it’s going, I could quite easily see a single volume edition running to a thousand pages plus — real War and Peace territory. Whilst books of this length are by no means unheard of, it would naturally place it at something of a disadvantage. Financially, from my point of view and from a publisher’s point of view, two books are probably a better idea. Also, the the story could well work better with two very conclusive and well-defined phases. Book One would take Bobby (my central character — the dummy of the title) from birth to middle age, culminating in what I will for now only describe as an epiphany. Book Two would pick up the story, carrying Bobby through a developmental phase in his life and leading to, ultimately, the natural (but nevertheless quite dark, for many reasons!) end of his strange life. The break between the two books would mark a significant change in his character that two books would accentuate appropriately.
On the other hand, however, I have a fondness for large projects, both as a writer and a reader. I like the thought of living with this character for a long, unbroken period of time — and I also enjoy the prospect of sharing this intensity with the reader, without respite! I want it to be a life lived rather than a novel read, and so I’m not yet quite sure which way I want to go with it.
As a reader, which would you prefer?
Did you know that I will always be your biggest fan?…one book or two..I will always follow you…hahahah…maybe I should write a book of poems..nah..never mind!!
LOL — a poet and she didn’t know it 😉
You know, I have this dream/nightmare where all my biggest fans get together for a party (in my honour, naturally 😉 ) and, shock-horror, it turns into this huge fight, with thousands of Annie Wilkeses beating the shit out of each other as they all claim to be my real number one fan!
Well…if a fight broke out then I would be the one to stop it..because NO ONE messes about with my Gary!!!!!!!! Sappy I know…so get over it…or we could pray about it…HAHAHAHAHAH!! AH..go and do one you wanka!!
Actually, this could be quite entertaining… a little mud, a few bikinis… LOL
Okay, which British movie have you been watching this week?! 😀
um..hello..our personal one we made together that one special night…hehehehe..
I really don’t have a preference between one book or two. If you go the two route, just don’t wait forever in between them! I kind of like two books or series books since I get more info, especially if I really get into the characters. So I guess I’m leaning towards two books.
Stephie: Oh, that one… did I mention that I put it on YouTube, by the way? 🙂
Amber: Ideally, I’d like to write them back to back — straight through, really. Write them as one book and publish as two. I think it’d probably be more easily digested, less daunting, as two books… but… I just can’t seem to make up my mind, yet. I suppose I’ll know better once I have the outline completed (in about two or three years time, the size of it! LOL)
Thanks for the input! It all helps, believe me.
Ok, I have a question… could it be 3 books? Trilogies are the shit.
Given that I have twenty single-spaced pages of outlines so far for part one, and its planned in four parts, tetralogy could be a possibility, never mind a trilogy! 🙂 (Actually, given its structure, I’d say a trilogy isn’t really likely. One book, two books or possibly four — but three wouldn’t really work.)
Boo 😦
*goes back to writing porn and wind-up letters to The Daily Mail*
I knew it! You dream about me! 😉
I wouldn’t mind the one book. I tend to grow very attached to characters and feel a little sad when I finish a book (is that weird?) so long novels work for me. Of course, two books could work too. That way when I finish the first one, I know it’s not over, if that makes sense.
That’s my two cents.
David: There was a joke there, wasn’t there? The use of shit the singular threw me, I must admit. There was I thinking that it was the new vernacular and I’d missed it, somehow — “shit” equalling “shit hot”. I therefore completely overlooked the stylish subtlety of your humour 😉
I shall try not to let it happen again. (Though I can’t promise 😉 )
Lottie: Yes, I dream about all my stalkers! 😆
So you’d prefer one book. Or possibly two. Great. I’m so glad Mike married you 😀
Just call me Ms. Decisive. 😆
Are you sure? 😉
Yeah, but… No, but… Yeah, but… Shu’ up! 😉
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