I may erase this post in a few hours, but I’m writing it now and I’m writing it mad.
I’ve just come from reading some of the comments on the Amazon.con for Welcome Home/Go Away and I’m hot under the collar.
First off, a short story is anything from three words to 7,499. A novelette covers 7,500 to 14,999. Novellas start from 15,000 words and may go as high as 40,000. Most are a lot shorter.
Welcome home is 21,541 words. That’s solid novella territory. And folks think they got short changed. Some of them seem to think that for $2.99 they deserve a full book. One guy even wondered if I was late delivering the next book and this short got shipped in its place.
I guess he never drops by here.
I’ve written two of these novellas to fill in places that just didn’t fit into the books. I was thinking of filling in something that didn’t get into Furious. I can’t say what it is until you read Furious, but it will be a tough stretch for me if I do. I don’t usually write that kind of story.
Now, I’m seriously thinking of skipping out on the whole novella idea. If it’s only going to cause me grief and get me bad press from folks that don’t bother to check here and find out what’s happening before they start shooting from the hip, maybe I can just save myself the grief.
What do you think?
Mike
Ignore the Amazon reviews. Just ignore them. People have a right to their opinions, but that doesn’t mean that they are right or that those opinions are shared by the majority.
I love your novellas, I love that you can give us things which couldn’t fit into the novels. I honestly wish that more authors would do it.
Mike,
Don’t let people’s one people’s ignorance put you off, the third word in the discription clearly says Novella. If someone is too ignorant to understand what novella means and not realize that for $2.99 you won’t get a full book the fault is their’s not yours. While I generally prefer novels to short stories or novella’s as I prefer the depth that comes with a longer story, I do like short stories or novellas that are associated with a series as they do help provide insight into the universe of the series, and provide a chance for the author to poke into corners that wouldn’t work as a full novel. It also can work as a taste and a teaser for those not familiar with the series, and something to help those of us eagerly awaiting our next Kris Longknife fix.
I preordered the novella knowing what I would get and I enjoyed getting the behind the scene view of what had been happening at home while Kris was galavanting about. It also worked as a reminder of what had happened with the previous book, and now I can’t wait for my order from Uncle Hugo’s to arrive and I can get my next fix.
Dave
Don’t let the commenters get to you. I haven’t picked it up yet – I’m still working my way through the stack of books which I just got from a friend – but I do buy a fair number of books on Amazon, and every last one of them has an approximate page count listed right up at the top so you can figure out how big the thing you’re about to buy is, if you’re awake and paying attention. I don’t imagine that anyone who is looking at reviews to decide if the story is good will pay any attention to someone who is just bemoaning the length of the book.
I understand the frustration though. Every time I write a short for something like a charity project the reviewers complain about wanting to see more of the story, or the side characters, or it was too short. Hello! It’s a collection of short stories. 5-8K. Mine usually come in at around 7995, after I finish scraping off the last few adverbs to get it down to the required wordcount. Why are you acting surprised that it’s not longer? My publisher even puts wordcount on the short stories that they sell as standalone.
I do kind of wish Amazon included wordcount in its specs, but I suppose that wouldn’t be helpful to most of their customers, just the writers.
Dear Mike,
I really enjoyed both of your short stories. I even got a Kindle just to read them. It is great to get a little taste between books. (Or is that a fix?) Please don’t let the stupid people ruin something good. You don’t write the short stories for the money, but for the fans who enjoy your work.
Thank you for your good work, long and short.
Best regards,
Bob J
Well, there’s only so much you can do to combat idiocy. It says “novella” right there on the cover and in the first sentence of the description at retailers. If they were expecting something else… well, that’s their problem.
In older years, stories like these would’ve been told in an anthology, if they were ever told. I like being able to see them on a more frequent basis, even if the price seems a bit high proportionate to a full novel. (I’d feel more comfortable with a $1.99 price point but I understand why Penguin has $2.99 pegged as their minimum.) But I’d rather pay more than not get them at all!
Thanks, Crew,
I really appreciate your input. You give me a more balanced viewpoint on this. Different lengths provide different story options. I like the novella for filling in the holes. Thank you very much for your support.
Mike
Oh bother. I guess I will have to write a police procedural after all. Now that Terrifies me.
it was good and thank for it
There was a whole lot I was going to say, but others are there before me, so just keep writing at whatever length you need for the story. 2.99 is a fair price for a novella, and there’s a lot of variation on the price. I appreciate that you take the time to write those stories that wouldn’t be given a novel… and the time you take to write the novels. Please keep doing so.
And as for that police procedural… well they say the only way to defeat your fear is to face it, and terrors are there to be slain (except maybe for those that stop you from doing the very most dangerous things). I look forward to seeing it
I saw a page count on training daze, but not on Welcome home, go away.
I did like both stories. I am willing to pay $2.99 for a Kris Longknife Tale.
But you often find full novels(only some worth reading). For $.99, $1.99, and $2.99
Remember some of the problem is a certain level of fame for Mike Shepherd. While other is the buyer not doing any research. On one level this is a compliment. Please take it as such. Time will tell if it is more than a minor problem.
Love the Kris Longknife stories please keep them coming.
I prefer paper books to the e-format but I do have a kindle and bought both your stories. I enjoyed both of them and like previous posters feel they give a behind the scenes view of what’s going on in the novels. They also keep me hooked into the Kris Longknife saga between books.
I guess I don’t understand why someone would complain about paying $2.99 for a well written story no matter what its’ length.
Tim
Again, I want to thank everyone for bucking me up.
I realize some folks are selling stuff for a lot less than $2.99. However, it’s the minimum price point that New York publishers will go for. It allows Amazon to make $.90, ACE to get its $1.57 that it needs to survive these changing times and me to get my $.52. If it sells for $2.98 or less, Amazon takes 70% and Ace and I split the 30% 3 and 1. Not a good deal for us.
And yes, I will write the police procedural. I’m kind of looking forward to the stretch.
Oh, and you can get Furious in just 9 more days.
Hello, Mike!
I’m not yet sold on the idea of reading anything lengthy on an e-book reader or tablet. It’s just too hard on the eyes.
And I hate the thought of $2.99 mini-charges on my credit card. Not too mention that I’m not very fond of Amazon right now.
So, I’ll ask you and your publisher a favor instead: when you have enough Longknife novellas to make up a full-sized book, would you please publish an omnibus collection in paperback?
I’m looking forward to Furious.
Cheers!
I think you’ll find there are plenty of … well, I’ll be polite and call them ignorant and uninformed, out there (or some folks who deliberately ‘troll’ other people’s creativity… guess they have nothing better to do with their time?). Rest assured, we all loved both Novellas and the entirety of the Kris Longknife series and will keep reading them if you keep writing them!
Looking forward to Furious!!!
I realize that I am joining a long list of individuals all with the same viewpoint on this subject but really I have to add my two cents worth. Just because there is a negative comment on Amazon doesn’t make it any more valid then the positives. In fact, from the positive tone of all these responses I don’t feel you have any need for concern.
I enjoyed the Novella, I knew exactly what I was buying so for me there was no surprise at the length, and really I enjoyed it so much I wanted to start on Furious immediately.
While there are books that sell for $2.99 or less those I looked at were not new. New books do not sell at that price (at least for any author I read regularly).
–Hi, Folks,
I’m heading for the coast today to finish the first draft of KL – Tenacious, your ’14 read. I’d like to thank all of you who dropped by Amazon.com and put your 2 cents worth, (or $2.99 worth) in. Thanks.
Mike
Mike
I would not worry about it. People have gotten to used to wanting things for nothing. But they will spend more than 3 dollars on a comic book. So they spend 3 dollars for a background piece for your epic story line that would not fit into the books as you want, but you want to give it to them so they can have a chance to fully understand your story. There loss!!!
My 2 cents worth
What you have encountered is the good and bad of the “participation web”. The fact that it is so easy for anyone despite age, education, etc. can publish comments that are circulated almost instantly without any level of accountability has opened the door to anyone becoming a critic. This will pass due to the value of these comment pages being “watered down” over time due to the range of unqualified comments.
You should continue to write, get publish, and the people who actually read and appreciate the authors efforts will continue to support you (in buying your books).
Mike,
I’m coming to this late, but I still think:
Do what you want. Ignore the reviews. People lose their filters online and it ain’t pretty. I’ve been online since 1987 and it’s never been pretty. Come to think of it, I think *you’ve* been online at least that long. Ah, for the civilized days of Compuserve and QuantumLink… all at $9/hour. Sure kept the hoi polloi out… mmmmm….
Nah, I like it better now.
price would be worth it if i owned a kindle . i prefer books in hand though, any chance of putting these stories out as short story collection in paperbook form ? ( get Moon and others to contribute )
new to your blog , is Vicky series going to be similar, more ground based adventure , or more mishap type … could definately see her as type to lose clothes at least once per book , yes definitely at least once ( hey , you gave her the build )
oh and thanks for explaining names in your FAQ , eagerly awaiting reprints.
Kyle, you have Vicky right. She, like Mr. Bond, has a tendency to loose her cloths once, twice, maybe three times a book. She’s also hard on the men in her life. Vicky has no experience commanding a ship, but she is a Grand Duchess and if she wants to stay one step ahead of her loving stepmom’s assassins, she better learn things fast. Too bad she doesn’t have a Grampa Ray to guide her career or a Grampa Trouble to offer advice.
For those of you coming in late, I will ignore the croakers and just enjoy telling the stories.
1. One Kris Longknife book a year is too slow.
2. The pricing structure of ebooks makes no sense. I can get a paperback at WallyWorld for less than an ebook.
3. I’m glad to have the option of a novella whose price is clearly displayed, providing it is a good novella. Both novellas were helpful and worth reading. And worth the price.
Hi, Allen, one Kris book a year is about the best I can do and keep the series at the level you like. But I’ve got some other books for you. In 2014 you’ll have a Vicky Peterwald-Target book to read as well as Hounds of War, the 4th book in the earlier Ray Longknife gooks. Depending on how productive I am this year, in 2015 you’ll have a Kris, a Vicky and an Iteeche war book, I hope. By the way, the Kris book, Tenacious is almost up to 100,000 words today and likely to be finished before you can read Furious next week. Wee.
As for the pricing structure of anything, I have no idea and no control, so I’ll say less. However, if you can find Furious at Walmart, I’d like to know because last I checked they weren’t carrying me.
I look forward to your books. I have not read the shorts. $2.99 does seem high but as you say it is what the costs require.
If the reviews are about content of your writing I would say take note and search for the real issue. If someone complains it could mean a personnel issue they have that affects their reading. If enough have the same opinion is still does not mean you off but that you might need to change directions to fit your books into the reader’s paths. It is basically writing to the market.
I had an art instructor tell a story of a well known artist who was criticized by his fellow artist for listening to common people talk about his paintings in museums. This artist defended himself in saying everyone can see and that in every opinion there is some truth. I follow this as well. Not always is there much truth but there is always something there you can take away.
The one thing I would ask and encourage is never let others make your decisions for you. Just because you get bad review don’t stop writing. I for one am greatly looking forward to not only the next books but to the movie as well. Don’t let Hollywood mess up your books!!!
Hi, Mike,
I learned long ago that some folks don’t like that you didn’t write the book they’d write, it they just had the time, knew how, etc. I’ve learned to ignore their comments. Some folks do give me good stuff. One fellow pointed out that you don’t “juggle” and elbow. You joggle it. Me bad. Won’t make that mistake again. Others give me insight I didn’t see in a character that I was writing. If it rings true to me, I know it’s good. If it falls flat. Nope. I know my Kris and her buddies. You don’t have to worry about me taking a wrong turn ’cause someone said I should.
Enjoy the fun.
Oh, and folks, where the novellas sales fall to less than 500 a year, I get them back. That may be a while, but we’ll see what happens. Also, Ace has in the contact that they can make them, into a book once there’s enough of them.
Oh, and as I said, I have one based on Furious, and I think I have one from Defender as well. That would be Penny’s story.
I love the novellas, I know it means the next novel is right around the corner and gets me back in the mood to read about Kris! (p.s. my wife’s name is Kris)
oh and if people are having trouble finding you here consider removing this old web site which has a page on new releases updated in 2009, i got to the blog from it but if you don’t care to update it, at least remove it…
http://www.mikeshepherd.org/New_Releases.html
Do the novella…I find that a lot people gripe just to hear themselves. The novellas to me are EXTREMELY important to fill in some the blanks. Please don’t let a few, who probably couldn’t put two sentence together any, keep from entertaining the majority.
I know I’m coming to this a bit late but please don’t give up on the short stories, I really enjoy them and I think they offer a different view point in many ways to what is going on in the books,behind the scenes of the main story lines.
I love the Longknife stories and am really looking forward to reading the next installment (when it eventually gets released as an e-book in the UK that is) as well as awating the re-release of the older stories, pre-Kris, next year.
Please keep it up, I too was annoyed by the amazon reviews, but I guess there are always people out there who will moan about anythng, just ignore them and carry on with what you enjoy.
Mike,
Love your work. Both as Mike Shepherd, and Mike Moscoe. I haven’t read the the Lost Millennium though.
Anytime an author can give additional information about a character or the Universe they inhabit, it’s a good thing. I was unaware of the e-book novellas until I visited your website and will definitly get them. Please continue to write these back stories.
I also like the direction your August 14th blog shows you going with the Longknife universe. The reissues will be great for people who haven’t read those stories yet. If you ever need a proofreader…..
Keep up the great work, and don’t let a few naysayers ruin it for the dedicated fans.
You should not make your decisions based on the outlook of clueless persons. Thay are allways with us and their opinion is worth slightly less than you pay for it.
I very much like the Kris Longknife series and several of your other books and hope for a lot more.
I saw you at LOSCon last year . Hope you will be back this year.
Mike,
Sometimes folks just don’t understand complicated words like Novella. Maybe calling it a short story might help get the message across. I am hoping that you will someday be able to collect them together into an anthology and release them. I’ll admit I am a bit of a luddite when it comes to reading, as I really prefer reading a book than reading from an E-reader.
Really enjoying the story you are weaving and look forward to the next chapter!
I’ll be at LosCon. I already have my panel assignements. See you there at my signing.
Please just keep them coming Please! Ignoramus’s are just background clutter.
Just on the last pages of Furious, I have saved it as long as I could, looking forward to the story is part of the fun.
regards
steen
Hi Mike! I have read all of the Longknife books and have liked them all – some better than others. The novellas not so much. I have the same problem with novellas and short stories by David Weber and Bernard Cornwell. But then, with the Grantville Collections based on the 1632 by Eric Flint are mostly fulfilling though not as much as a novel.
BillF
Ignore the idiots. For people who claim a love of reading, they obviously don’t understand what they are reading. These are the kind of people who get arrested because even though the sign said NO TRESPASSING, they will use the excuse that the sign didn’t give specifics so they shouldn’t be punished. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of your Kris Longknife series, full books and novellas. I look forward to reading many more, long and short! Thank you for hours of enjoyable entertainment and contributing to my love of reading.