Your Novel Is Shorter Than You Think

Summary

The video explores the importance of aligning a story's length with its narrative needs, emphasizing that novels should tell 'bigger' stories, not just longer ones. It highlights how different stories require different lengths and that each word, scene, or character detail should serve the plot, character development, or themes. The speaker advises against padding stories unnecessarily or rushing complex ideas, advocating for deliberate storytelling choices. By keeping each detail purposeful, authors can maintain engagement and control over their narrative, ensuring that every part contributes meaningfully to the whole.

Takeaways

• 📖 Novels aren't about telling a longer story, but a bigger, more complex one.
• 🧐 Writers should ask if they are using too many words to tell a simple story, or cramming a big story into too few words.
• ⏳ Storytelling involves delaying resolutions to allow ideas and emotions to take root in readers' minds.
• ⏲️ Novels benefit from time gaps between readings, allowing readers to process and reinterpret events unconsciously.
• 🔄 A novel's length allows for complexity and deep character development, as well as changes in reader perspective over time.
• 🎯 Every scene, description, and line in a novel should serve a specific purpose, whether for plot, characterization, theme, or mood.
• ✂️ Unnecessary details or padding in a novel make the story bloated and can distract from its core message.
• 🛠️ Writers have complete control over every aspect of the story, and they should use this power to ensure everything is meaningful.
• 🚶 Mundane details (like a character moving between rooms) should be removed unless they contribute to the story in some way.
• 📝 Writers should focus on meaningful details and avoid cramming irrelevant character or world-building information into the story.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a short story and a novel in terms of storytelling?

The main difference is that a novel isn't about telling a longer story but rather a bigger story. Novels provide more space to explore complex ideas, characters, and themes, whereas short stories often focus on more concise narratives.

Why is it important to consider the length of a story while writing?

It's important because every story has an ideal length to be told in. Stretching a short story into a novel or cramming a longer story into fewer words can lead to issues, like unnecessary scenes or a rushed plot.

How does the time a reader spends with a novel affect their perception of the story?

When a reader puts down a novel and returns later, the time spent away allows them to process and reinterpret the story. This marinating effect can change how they view events and characters, giving the story more depth.

What are the risks of writing a novel that is too long or too short?

If a novel is too long, it may contain unnecessary details or scenes that slow down the narrative. If it's too short, the story may feel rushed, and key elements may not be fully explored or developed.

What is the role of 'delay' in storytelling, especially in novels?

Delay in storytelling helps build tension and engagement. Introducing an idea and allowing time before resolving it gives the reader space to reflect and emotionally invest in the narrative. It's akin to comedic timing, where timing is crucial for impact.

How can a writer use the length of a novel to their advantage?

A writer can use the novel's length to explore complex characters, develop intricate plots, and create a richer, more immersive experience. The time a reader spends with a novel gives the story room to breathe and allows for deeper emotional engagement.

What common mistakes do writers make when they don't use a novel's length effectively?

Writers may include unnecessary scenes, overlong dialogue, or irrelevant descriptions that don’t advance the plot or deepen characterization. This leads to bloated narratives or, conversely, to stories that feel rushed and underdeveloped.

What is the key to determining what details to include in a novel?

Every detail should serve the story in some way, either by advancing the plot, revealing character, or enhancing themes and mood. If a detail does not contribute meaningfully to the story, it should be reconsidered.

Why is it important for a writer to control the pacing and structure of a scene?

Controlling pacing and structure ensures that every scene has purpose, whether it moves the plot forward, develops characters, or contributes to the story's mood. Without careful control, scenes can feel like filler or detract from the overall narrative.

How should writers approach world-building and character details in their novels?

Writers should focus on world-building and character details that serve the story, rather than adding elements just for interest. Extraneous details can clutter the narrative, so it’s important to ensure that everything ties back to the core plot and themes.