tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post8770908546080473282..comments2023-11-06T13:07:23.645-05:00Comments on The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment: Michael Offutt's Slipstream Blog TourMatthew MacNishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-26950954457264450542012-05-17T00:41:21.842-04:002012-05-17T00:41:21.842-04:00This is the largest image I've seen of the cov...This is the largest image I've seen of the cover. It's spectacular. I love the green.<br /><br /><br />Lee <br />An A to Z Co-Host <br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-47330863707443031192012-05-15T09:04:42.431-04:002012-05-15T09:04:42.431-04:00Howdy to both of you. Mike does say exactly what h...Howdy to both of you. Mike does say exactly what he thinks, which is refreshing. <br /><br />When I hear about a humongous word count, I immediately think SF or Fantasy. These days, I seem to be coming in under the count in my own work. When it's time to edit, I do manage to bump things up a bit. <br /><br />Wishing you success with the book, Mike.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-58516743526869347352012-05-15T07:48:57.090-04:002012-05-15T07:48:57.090-04:00I admire people who have deep pockets filled with ...I admire people who have deep pockets filled with word currency, in fact considering converting the wips into novellas...even my short stories are a struggle with word count, never going beyond 3000 words, funny since I love well done descriptions in other's works.<br />Maybe that's the reason I fell in love with flash fiction (less then 1000 words) when I rediscovered them two years ago.<br />Good luck with the book and the editing.Rek Seshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13484322426994645221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-30533098991510515972012-05-15T01:31:16.404-04:002012-05-15T01:31:16.404-04:00In my humble opinion it's easier to cut back f...In my humble opinion it's easier to cut back from a high word count than to fill in from a low word count ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-27889078049307385372012-05-14T17:19:08.510-04:002012-05-14T17:19:08.510-04:00You are so much better at editing down than I am. ...You are so much better at editing down than I am. I've kind 've got a new manuscript underway (I've been working on it only sporadically) and I'm determined to keep this new book short. Like under 100,000.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-3238230658146365352012-05-14T17:04:40.544-04:002012-05-14T17:04:40.544-04:00I'm with you...I had to cut a bit and still en...I'm with you...I had to cut a bit and still ended up with 100,000 wds :)Demitriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597317699857591880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-38508241146152474222012-05-14T16:48:23.891-04:002012-05-14T16:48:23.891-04:00I'm the person who has to add words. Lots of w...I'm the person who has to add words. Lots of words.Brindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09809660700359597836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-50948026990514919372012-05-14T16:27:35.107-04:002012-05-14T16:27:35.107-04:00Congrats on the release. I wish you nothing but su...Congrats on the release. I wish you nothing but success. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17224020063530611285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-62109403971890689342012-05-14T16:26:45.088-04:002012-05-14T16:26:45.088-04:00Congratulations, Michael! Regarding word count ......Congratulations, Michael! Regarding word count ... well, my debut was rejected from at least one publisher for being too long (a debut YA at 99k), but it wasn't too much of an issue for most. YA in general is shorter, so there are a few more constraints. It hasn't yet been a big issue for me. I just write the story and edit it like crazy.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636585111057799728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-81174176091122151462012-05-14T15:58:23.757-04:002012-05-14T15:58:23.757-04:00@Christina: I love my cover! Thank you for saying ...@Christina: I love my cover! Thank you for saying so :)<br /><br />@Old Kitty: alex thinks the spider is creepy, but I'm glad you like it.<br /><br />@Belle: You could win a $5 Amazon card for another book, Belle. Not necessarily mine. I think you probably don't realize that so I'll leave you in.<br /><br />@Stella: I agree. It sucks to cut cut cut.<br /><br />@diamond: Not me.<br /><br />@Cherie: Hmmm. A lot of people have commented with the same sentiment today. Maybe it's more "me" and less "you". *giggles<br /><br />@Tonja: Thank you Tonja.<br /><br />@Andrew: I think you have a good chance of getting one Andrew.<br /><br />@Alyson: I don't have that issue at all.<br /><br />@Rob and Lisa: Not I said the fly.<br /><br />@Rick: I'm working with an editor now that may be able to pare it down some.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-45328196300963294092012-05-14T15:53:27.091-04:002012-05-14T15:53:27.091-04:00Congrats and good luck!!!
I don't usually bat...Congrats and good luck!!!<br /><br />I don't usually battle word count on the high end, but I have in the past. I've found that the best way to trim is to re-write. It's the most time consuming and hardest way to go about it, but it's least likely to leave holes in the plot. Excising text is surgical, and depending on what you pull, it can be systemic and affect small lines throughout the entirety of a novel.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-8314150165750460462012-05-14T14:47:39.882-04:002012-05-14T14:47:39.882-04:00I usually have the opposite problem, not enough wo...I usually have the opposite problem, not enough words. I don't add enough description in my first draft usually.Rob and Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00125016435324061019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-41183867132711821702012-05-14T13:51:11.976-04:002012-05-14T13:51:11.976-04:00I also have the opposite problem. I'm always s...I also have the opposite problem. I'm always searching for ways to flesh my stuff out.Alyson Burdettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16916059117572619004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-71602388618233434682012-05-14T13:35:43.280-04:002012-05-14T13:35:43.280-04:00You know, if you ignore the word count monster, he...You know, if you ignore the word count monster, he often gets upset and just goes away.<br /><br />Actually, word count is one of those things that annoys the crap out of me. People don't mind reading long works if it's something they want to read. It's only agents and editors and publishers that really have an issue with the word count thing.<br /><br />And, Matt, tell Michael to give me that spider!<br />I wants it...Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-34054518567338416522012-05-14T13:26:00.555-04:002012-05-14T13:26:00.555-04:00I just write the basic story and then fill it out ...I just write the basic story and then fill it out when I edit. Congratulations again on the release of your book.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-31614500353708483932012-05-14T13:23:25.498-04:002012-05-14T13:23:25.498-04:00I usually have the opposite problem. I always find...I usually have the opposite problem. I always find I need to bulk up my novels. It's interesting how that works.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-26935976256606550202012-05-14T13:06:21.781-04:002012-05-14T13:06:21.781-04:00I tend to be too sparse with words and have to add...I tend to be too sparse with words and have to add...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-78386023810546183792012-05-14T12:19:26.306-04:002012-05-14T12:19:26.306-04:00Story of my life!!! :S
My first draft was up to 1...Story of my life!!! :S <br />My first draft was up to 150,000 words at one point. I've got it down to 125,000 now, but I'm embarking on another revision where I hope to trim another 10,000 to bring it in at 115,000. Then a good friend/betta reader suggested that we should get it under 100,000 since it's my first novel and it would make it more sellable. AHHHHHHHH! The torture!!! Make it stop!Stella Telleriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11990643131467271476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-57750889568508850762012-05-14T12:11:05.104-04:002012-05-14T12:11:05.104-04:00I'm part way through Slipstream and finding it...I'm part way through Slipstream and finding it fascinating. You can leave me out of the contest since I already have it. Good luck on your blog tour!Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14175778756449339363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-84392009496183707612012-05-14T12:09:40.270-04:002012-05-14T12:09:40.270-04:00Oh it's that gorgeous jeweled spider! I love i...Oh it's that gorgeous jeweled spider! I love it!! Yay!<br /><br />As for word count - I think that's why I like writing flash fiction - I tend to run out of things to say and just want to end the story! LOL! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-42238722293787118742012-05-14T11:48:37.673-04:002012-05-14T11:48:37.673-04:00Hey Matt, can you correct the spelling of my last ...Hey Matt, can you correct the spelling of my last name? It's spelled "Offutt" with two "t's" and not one in the title. :) *hugs you are fantastic!<br /><br />@Jessica: Thanks Jessica. I appreciate the support.<br /><br />@Ciara: Thank you oh writer of the coolest angel stories.<br /><br />@Creepy: Thank you. I hate the word count monster. <br /><br />@becca: Thanks becca :)<br /><br />@SA Larsen: I try to. I just don't succeed.<br /><br />@Alex: If that approach works, don't fix it.<br /><br />@Ted: Well you have Hollywood to fall back on, Ted<br /><br />@Faraway: LOL<br /><br />@Laura: cutting words is like cutting skin...painful.<br /><br />@Natalie: How big is MG supposed to be?<br /><br />@Donna: I think the spider is cool too.<br /><br />@Elise: Yeah. It's important for newbies to understand word count.<br /><br />@P.T.: I don't know if I agree.<br /><br />@Emily: I wish that I had your issue. LOL<br /><br />@LTM: Thank you<br /><br />@Stina: Best of luck to you<br /><br />@Jay: Thank you sir!<br /><br />@Falen: Thank you miss.<br /><br />@Carolyn: Thank you.<br /><br />@Nancy: I appreciate your kind words :)<br /><br />@Briane: Spoken like a pro sir!<br /><br />@Libby: I kinda wish I had that problem.<br /><br />@Samantha: I love my book cover.<br /><br />@LynNerd: Yeah. It's brutal cutting that kind of word count.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-5699636051537844072012-05-14T11:48:24.832-04:002012-05-14T11:48:24.832-04:00Hi Michael! That cover ROCKS, and ooooh the pretty...Hi Michael! That cover ROCKS, and ooooh the pretty jeweled spider!! As a person who underwrites my novels, those numbers blow my mind! :DChristina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-77183880088544027862012-05-14T11:32:42.938-04:002012-05-14T11:32:42.938-04:00Wow, cutting 60,000 words is a heck of a lot. I do...Wow, cutting 60,000 words is a heck of a lot. I don't usually worry about word count. At least, not yet!LynNerdKelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04167392990015741278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-41232468828285541362012-05-14T11:01:31.041-04:002012-05-14T11:01:31.041-04:00I'm struggling with my word count now too. For...I'm struggling with my word count now too. For my genre, the average should be between 80K and 120K, but I've heard it's prefered to be around the 100K mark. I've gotten it down to 106K (16K removed) and still have more to cut, so maybe I'll hit my mark. I knew I wasn't the only one out there with this issue, but it is still reassuring to have others confess to the same problem. Thanks for your post. The book cover is beautiful btw.<br />mr.boardgame AT yahoo DOT comSamantha Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193467123499224688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-33512006679010600482012-05-14T10:31:04.326-04:002012-05-14T10:31:04.326-04:00I do have a word count problem, but mine's jus...I do have a word count problem, but mine's just the opposite. I write too quickly and it's a fight to get the amount of words I need to make a work novel length.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14323538213636795216noreply@blogger.com