hemingwaywantabes

Recently, an aspiring author in Indiana asked me whether his new book is too short in length. I first said to him, “Well, one of the great books of all time, Old Man and the Sea, was a very short book and yet one of the great literary classics of all time. In fact, when someone said to Mr. Hemingway, ‘The book could have been longer,’ he is reported to have said, ‘Listen, the book is about a fisherman and a fish. Enough said.’”

The length of a book isn’t even close to as important as the content. A compelling story of any length is publishable and there are many examples of such books. Look at Tuesday’s with Morrie, or Marley and Me in the non-fiction area, or even Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, one of my favorites. All these books are not lengthy, but the stories are gripping, true page-turners because of the pacing, the tempo, and the refreshing voice of the writer shining through.

So, Hemingwaywantabes, when you are assessing the viability of your book, first check the story to see if there is a terrific beginning, middle and end. This must be true with every sentence, every paragraph, and every chapter. Then take a good look at your characters, are they exciting, unpredictable, and unusual? Are they realistic, and have you permitted them to move forward, to grow, with drama and surprise as the text moves along. Remember that no book worth publishing may be labeled with the dreaded “B” word – boring! Make your book pages leap out at readers, excite them as they read every word you have written.

These ideas and more are featured in the good writing section of “How to Become A Published Author: A to Z” book that you may download free of charge on this blogsite. Read it when you have time, and then please send along questions so that I may help you. Meanwhile, blessings for your writings and for inspiration’s sake, keep saying “I will be published.”