I recently hit 37k (so I’m pretty far ahead) and I’m realizing just how close to over I am. But I also keep seeing people say, “Sci-fi books have to be at least 50k (or in some cases 80k). It’s probably 40% Sci-fi, 10% romance, 20% realistic fiction and 30% action adventure. But since Sci-fi has the highest percentage, I usually say Sci-fi. *shrug*
Here’s the synopsis (to help y’all out with answering this question but it’s not completely proofread yet so bear with me):
Alec Eaton has had a tough life in his short 15 years, with abusive parents and most of his relatives treating him like a slave. Then a move shakes things up. With very few belongings (the clothes on his back and a few extra sets of clothing), he and his father moved to a city and search up a better life. once there, Alec integrates really well into his new life, even making new friends. However, who can you trust? Meanwhile, his uncle is working on a new brain chip that could revolutionize the world, but not everything is as it seems. Will be able to figure out what is going on here? find out the sci-fi action adventure about following Jesus to the end, forgiveness, trust and love
If I need more words/pages, can you give me tips on increasing the plot? Page count is 75 currently just fyi. It’ll probably end up being 80-90 in the end.
Hey Sara. You’re right, at 40k words we would typically classify it as a novella. There really isn’t a great market for novellas among traditional publishers, what small market exists is typically reserved for literary fiction.
If you want to self-publish, I think there’s a lot of potential for novellas to work. You could consider that. But from your question, it sounds like you want to go the traditional route.
With just the teaser you’ve provided here, it’s hard to say how you might build out the plot. The Novel Matrix has a lot to say on the topic. Here are two things you might consider:
- Does the protagonist do an Impossible Thing or does he just make a decision? If he only makes a decision, then you have a whole new act to write, which will answer the question “now what?” Now that the character has made the decision to be a hero, follow Christ, or rise to the challenge, what are they going to do with that?
- Subplots. If you do have a complete three-act story arc already, and the protagonist accomplishes an Impossible Thing, then what else is also happening in the universe of this story? What else does the Protagonist want to accomplish, and what’s going on in the lives of your secondary characters?
Again, it’s tough to diagnose with just the information we have in the question there. Feel free to repost the question and include the ending of the story in your synopsis, rather than a back-of-book type teaser. But these are the first two places I would look if the story isn’t long enough.
I hope that helps!
Actually my plot took a total sharp left turn on me and it’s looking like I might hit 80k in the end. Definitely gonna rewrite the blurb because it’s crazy! I did pants this novel to start so I’m trying to smooth the rough edges.
The 90 day novel challenge has been super helpful. I’m going to start using the novel matrix plan from now on but I don’t want to dump my 40k+ words just because I didn’t use the plan on it. 🙃