Denise O'hare asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Not a question, just a Thankyou. I am really enjoying the Penric novellas, not just for the content (which is excellent) but also for the Serial Form, it takes me back to being a kid when serial instalments where all the go and, even though we would be hanging out for the "next instalment" we didn't have to wait ages for another exciting adventure. Love having a really good read more frequently. Thanks Lois!?

Lois McMaster Bujold I'm having fun with them too, although I'm making no promises as to frequency. But the chance at a lot of variety is enticing. (Of course, for that one also needs a character who is capable of supporting more than one sort of story.) Also, for me the beginning of writing a novel is generally something fresh, and the end is rewarding, but the middle is a slog. Novellas have a lot less middle.

The new e-markets have really opened up more potential variety for story length, as well. In the days of the paper magazines, the issues couldn't fit in very many novellas. In the more recent years of publishing, editors needed big bricks so as to be able to justify the big prices required to cover all their costs. For original e-books and stories, nothing has to be stretched or padded or truncated to fit any particular economic model. It reminds me of that quip, "How long are your legs?" "Long enough to reach the ground." E-tales can be just long enough to reach the ground.

Ta, L.

flag