Into the Fire

Frequently on this blog I argue (?) in favor of lengthy novels. I understand this argument can be misunderstood. Perhaps some people think a long book of fiction is a sure sign that someone’s editor was an amateur or asleep on the job or was somehow able to snow the pub board into thinking the book was “the next best thing”. Perhaps some people think a large novel is indicative of an author’s self-importance or self-indulgence and a publishing house’s ego to think they can pull off multiple sales of a big book in this speed-happy culture. Perhaps, like Dayle, you enjoy the shorter novels. And maybe whatever length a book is doesn’t bother you one bit as long as the story is good.

Repeated exhaustively by the professionals in the publishing industry is, “Make every word count.” Edit, edit, edit. Crucify that manuscript. Different editors proclaim their prowess at wielding a merciless red pencil in the editing process. “Kill your darlings”, meaning all that unnecessary garble you think is essential to the story. All this to accentuate the economy of words which the pros echo is the supreme objective of a well-written story.

And yet . . . and yet they want extravagant usage of those words, claiming that the search for just the right words will exhibit the skills of a writer.

So, Hemingway gets my vote for the “economy” of words. Extravagant? Never. Plain and sterile would be more like it, even though I concede he told some interesting and entertaining stories.

The problem with word count is for those who can write well and tell a good story, the limit to how many words are preferred by publishers can be an inhibitor for an even better story, possibly a more extravagant story. You’ve seen the large novels—they’re there. They’re not the majority, but they’re there. And some of them have fascinating stories to tell, stories you can’t imagine being as entertaining in a condensed version.

Summed up for the zillionth time—so many I’m almost positive you’d like to mute my opinion button—I like long stories with incredible detail and involved plots which cover all kinds of intricate things about the characters, scenes, etc. If I like them, surely there must be more than me who appreciate them.

What matters to one reader, editor, pub board can differ dramatically. The new bestseller might not interest you or me at all. And while I think a large portion of published authors are very good, a few of them are also very average. Who I think is outstanding, you find mediocre. It’s a game of opinions at a certain level.

So many times we’ve heard story is king, the ultimate. However, how you want a story told to you might differ from how I want to read it. So many tastes and opinions about the economy and extravagance of words.

There are a bundle of editors, agents, and even some publishers who have informative blogs about what they expect and what they do not want to see. I can’t think of one of them who doesn’t desire everything scrapped if it doesn’t contribute to the story. However, that illusive “what contributes to the story” still remains a matter of opinion.

Father, you make our paths straight. You ordain our steps if we wear the righteousness provided by the Blood of Jesus. Thank you for that. It’s so easy to get off track, to be lulled into places you don’t want us to go. Help us stay on the path you’ve designed just for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*PLEASE PRAY FOR KRISTY DYKES*