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Short and Sweet

Oct 6th 2007Sabrina Jeffries
Sabrina JeffriesOn Writing!

Hot bathI like certain of my things long—hot baths, research books, men’s … er … equipment. But just as often, I’m in the mood for something short—short ribs, short speeches, my short husband … and yes, short stories and novellas. Plenty of readers don’t like novellas (and will tell you so very vocally). That’s partly because of the bad ones they’ve read—some novelists don’t recognize that a novella isn’t just a short novel. You can’t squeeze a novel-sized tale down to fit.

SnackBut I love novellas when they’re done well. They’re like a snack cake—nothing I’d want for dinner, but yummy when I’m not in the mood for steak and potatoes. Plus, they allow me to sample authors I might not take the time to try in a longer format.

Let Sleeping Rogues LieIn fact, I love ’em so much that I’m now writing a Christmas one, due out in an anthology with Jane Feather and fellow goddess Julia London in November 2008. I’m doing it because I enjoy writing novellas … and because it will give me something else out in 2008 to assuage the readers who complain about the fact that Let Sleeping Rogues Lie is coming out Feb. 19th, and my next two novels won’t be out until mid-2009 (back-to-back).

Here’s some of the other reasons writers agree to the occasional novella:

a. They’re a great palate-cleanser between books.
b. Sometimes the stories we want to tell aren’t all novel-length.
c. We can try things in a novella that we might not be ready to attempt in a novel. That’s why you’ll see historical writers writing a paranormal story or contemporary romance writers trying their hand at romantic suspense for an anthology.
d. They can introduce us to a whole new readership.
e. They take less than half the time of a novel to write.
f. They’re fun! For me, anyway.

So what about you? Do you read novellas at all? Do you like them? If you do like them, why? If you don’t, why not?

29 Comments »

29 Responses to “Short and Sweet”

  1. gillian on 06 Oct 2007 at 6:10 am #

    I love anthologies, especially holiday stories. But at any time, they are a great break from a bigger book, especially at a busy time in a reader’s life, and they are also a good way to learn about new authors.

  2. Sabrina Jeffries on 06 Oct 2007 at 7:42 am #

    Thanks, Gillian, for reminding me that I also wanted to ask–does the theme matter? I mean, will a Christmas anthology or a paranormal anthology get your attention more than say, an anthology with a theme like “gossip”?

  3. doglady on 06 Oct 2007 at 8:26 am #

    I agree with my fellow Passion’s Slave, Gillian. For those of us who work full-time and may be reading during our lunch hour and breaks novellas can be a great thing. The make it or break it thing for me is the names on the anthology. If it is an anthology with the names of people I already read I will definitely pick it up. If it has a novella by one or two authors I have not read yet, even better. It gives me a chance to read, discover if the new author’s voice appeals and then I am more likely to go out and buy their full-length novels. I love the holiday anthologies - Valentine’s, Christmas. I also love the ones with a theme, like gossip.

  4. Claudia Dain on 06 Oct 2007 at 8:27 am #

    I love anthologies, both reading and writing them. I have found so many authors that way! It’s like the sampler box of chocolates; you get to try the nougat, the lemon creme, the peanut cluster. How else to find out that lemon creme tastes better than it sounds!

    I like anthologies around a theme, but I don’t miss it if a theme isn’t present.

    Congrats to both of our goddesses for yet another sale!

  5. JackieToo on 06 Oct 2007 at 9:16 am #

    I enjoy anthologies mainly because it introduces me to authors I may have not picked up on otherwise. I’ve found a lot of great ones that way!

  6. Cookiedough on 06 Oct 2007 at 9:31 am #

    I’ll pick up an anthology usually if there is at least one author in it I read. I get introduced to other authors this way. As for themes, as long as one thread flows through the stories, I’m happy. I really enjoyed the Lady Whistledown anthologies; it was how I was introduced to some of the authors I’ve come to adore!

  7. Meg on 06 Oct 2007 at 9:36 am #

    I have read a few anthologies. I have several in my tbr pile. The one thing that draws me to them, though, is an author that I already like. If there are authors that I haven’t read, all the more better. That is how I discovered Karen H! :-)

  8. Cookiedough on 06 Oct 2007 at 10:19 am #

    me too Meg! and Suzanne E

  9. elsiehogarth on 06 Oct 2007 at 10:25 am #

    I love anthologies, be it characters that didn’t get their own books, children doing some matchmaking,the ones with animals(cats or dogs), Western and the Christmas ones. I loved the ones that were from Signet and Zebra Regency line: they were mostly kittens, children and the holidays.

  10. anneriailin on 06 Oct 2007 at 11:56 am #

    I love anthologies and it doesn’t matter the theme or holiday or whatever. If there is at least one author there that I’ve read, I’ll pick it up. I love ‘em mostly because I can read a novella quickly when I am short on time. I have been introduced to some wonderful authors by reading their novellas.

    –dorothy

  11. Sabrina Jeffries on 06 Oct 2007 at 1:11 pm #

    So are y’all saying you wouldn’t pick up an anthology with all authors you haven’t read? Because I’ll do that, just so I can try them.

    Do you find that authors write differently for anthologies than for novels? Maybe not in every instance, but sometimes? The whole anthology thing fascinates me.

  12. Ronlyn on 06 Oct 2007 at 1:40 pm #

    well, cripes. I KNOW I posted on this blog earlier today. where in the world is my post?? Weird…but goes along with the type of morning I’m having….
    Anyhoo…in a nut shell. I’ve only recently started buying anthologies after avoiding them for no good reason. I’ve come to relaize that I really enjoy them. Especially if they’re a little story that is involved in a series that I’m reading (example the “School for Heiresses”)
    I love that it gives me a taste of new authors so I don’t have to deal with the guilt of buying a book that it turns out I don’t enjoy if I don’t go for their style of writing, etc.
    I don’t really find that authors write all that diff. for anthologies as opposed to their novels. Maybe skimming on some details or the like, but nothing major.

  13. Kay on 06 Oct 2007 at 1:48 pm #

    Oh, Sabrina, I can’t wait to get my hands on it! You and Julia, in one book, Christmas will be early indeed.

    I pick up anthologies all of the time. Usually, they are by authors new to me. That’s how I find new authors. I love short reads, where every scene counts and the words are packed with meaning. I get magazines w/ short stories, too. Most of my SF reading lately has been magazines.

    I just completed YEAR’S BEST SHORT STORIES, edited by Stephan King. Have no fear, there were only two “King-like” stories in the whole book. Not a lot of HEA, but the writing was amazing, and there were several love stories in the bunch. I have reserved books by 3 of the authors at the library. If I like them, my next stop is the bookstore.

    Claudia, I love your chocolate box comparison. :-)

  14. DebMarlowe on 06 Oct 2007 at 1:50 pm #

    I love anthologies too! I especially like it when they are connected to or launch a series, like your last one, Sabrina! The School for Heiresses anthology was terrific.

  15. Ladytink_534 on 06 Oct 2007 at 2:47 pm #

    I like some novellas but I prefer anthologies!

  16. twolilhahas on 06 Oct 2007 at 3:53 pm #

    I really prefer longer stories. I like to invest a lot of time into the characters and get really attached to them. The longer I get to spend with them the better. I always end up feeling cheated if it’s over really quickly.

  17. freshechelle on 06 Oct 2007 at 3:54 pm #

    I like novellas. Some of Edith Wharton’s best stories are in this format (my fave all time author). I only read novellas that have one author I know and use it to discover the others. That’s how I read my first Julia london tale. I prefer a theme but not a common link to all the stories by a variety of authors - that’s too contrived and the authors struggle with plot devices to fit the story criteria. I won’t pick up anthologies that feel too much like marketing/packaging/targeting a demographic - makes me feel like a tool. So Sabrina, I look forward to your next anthology and will venture onto the ‘puter to find any earlier ones you’ve written because you make a good case for them and therefore must be quite good at producing a good novella.

  18. Sabrina Jeffries on 06 Oct 2007 at 6:47 pm #

    Well, freshechelle, you might want to skip the School for Heiresses anthology, since it’s one where the other authors are all writing stories in my world, although they’re very loosely connected. But the other one I wrote as Sabrina Jeffries–in Fantasy–is stand-alone. That antho was an interesting mix of authors, one historical (me), one paranormal historical (Emma Holly), one contemp paranormal (Christine Feehan), and one straight contemp. (Elda Minger). It’s still available and popular.

  19. Dot C on 06 Oct 2007 at 7:19 pm #

    I’m gonna side with twolilhahas on this one in that I will read anthologies, especially at Christmas, when they have so many fun themes and pretty covers. But the reality is I’m just not satisfied by reading a novella. The thing with novellas is that they are either really good, or really bad….
    What a novella can be fantastic for is developing characters that maybe lurk in some existing stories, that can be worked up into a full fledged character in their own right…and sometimes those characters stories are novellas….not novels. That can be fun. But when an author isn’t really comfortable with writing novellas, and the sense of compression is overwhelming….that is a bad scene.

  20. Kelly Ann on 06 Oct 2007 at 10:21 pm #

    I love novellas, especially themed ones, like Christmas or even just Knights theme. Ooh, All Hallows Eve, nothing like a little romatic magic. I like to read them when I don’t have time to read a full length novel, like on a plane ride or a beach trip, or even an evening when I have to be in bed early. I usually prefer historicals. I have read a few contemps that I liked, but it was because a favorite author, who normally writes historicals was featured. It depends on the type of story if I read the other authors, too.

    Some of my favorite stories are the short ones. One of my all time favorites featured Jill Barnett and it’s title was A Season in the Highlands. It was hysterical! I think I’ll go right now and re-read it! Thanks for reminding me how much I love them. Oh, and I of coarse loved The School of Heiresses anthology! I’ve re-read that one a couple times too! Can’t wait for Nov. 08.

  21. Karen Hawkins on 06 Oct 2007 at 10:39 pm #

    I love, love, love anthologies! Love reading them. Love writing them. And Meg, that’s so cool you discovered me in an antho! :)

    I love the challenge of trying to write something shorter and yet keeping all of the elements I love within the boundaries of that shorter length. A great challenge and as refreshing to write as to read.

    That said, i just like reading anthos in certain settings. They’re perfect for traveling and taking with me to the dentist, etc. When I’m at home and luxuriating, I want a longer read.

    I also love it when the antho is holiday related. Then I’m in the mood for shorter reads.

    That’s my opinion, anyway.

    Sabrina, can’t wait to read your and Julia’s (and Jane’s) antho when it comes out!!! Bet it’s spectacular!!!

  22. ladydawgfan on 06 Oct 2007 at 11:50 pm #

    I also enjoy reading anthologies. I loved “The School For Heiresses,” and through it was introduced to both Renee Bernard and Julia London. I also loved the “Lady Whistledown” series (both books). However, one of my favorite anthologies is “The True Love Wedding Dress,” with Catherine Anderson, Connie Brockway, Casey Claybourne, and Barbara Metzger. I just loved how they took a common theme (the wedding dress) and wove it through each author’s individual story. It was interesting to see how each author worked the dress into their story, and the whole book was touching and wonderful as a result.

    BTW, Sabrina. I have “Fantasy” in my TBR pile, along with several other anthologies.

  23. cookeemama on 07 Oct 2007 at 12:52 pm #

    Here is the only picture I can find of Justin McBriide in chaps. He is really cuter than this. Square jaw, blue eyes.
    http://www.pbrnow.com/riders/?id=1027#riders

  24. Sabrina Jeffries on 07 Oct 2007 at 3:48 pm #

    ladydawgfan,
    I READ that one about the wedding dress. It was really good, wasn’t it?

  25. ladydawgfan on 07 Oct 2007 at 11:14 pm #

    Sabrina,
    I loved it!! In fact, after I posted the above comment last night, I pulled it out and read it again.

  26. TinaLouiseF on 08 Oct 2007 at 2:22 am #

    I don’t care if the story is long or short provided the story is complete.

  27. Santa on 08 Oct 2007 at 12:49 pm #

    I know this is late but I was at a conference and am only now returning to the land of the living. I ADORE novellas, especially Christmas anthologies. Such treasures and one of my favorite romances is a novella. Sigh….I believe it’s time for me to dig out my anthologies for the holidays.

  28. Sonja Foust on 08 Oct 2007 at 4:06 pm #

    I like novellas. I think they’re fun. I only read about half an hour at a stretch usually, sometimes less, so novellas are a good way for me to get a whole story fast. Plus I like them for all the reasons you said, like discovering new authors, etc.

  29. jj Keller on 09 Oct 2007 at 3:17 pm #

    I love reading and writing novellas. As stated earlier, they are a nice read for short rides on the bus/train/plane.

    Kelly, I agree with you about Barnett’s, A Season in the Highlands..it was a great story.