Lately I’ve noticed a real trend toward publishing novellas or novelettes. Often these are basically short stories of about 40 to 60 pages, sometimes “bonus content” and sometimes episodic content for a longer work.
Most of the time these novelettes are offered by indies or small presses to tempt readers to give a new or unknown author a try. However, some of the larger publishers are bringing out the shorter bonus content in between the release of longer works in a series.
Yes, it’s a marketing tool—and personally, I think it’s smart.
But.
**Start Rant**
Sometimes, it’s also irritating. Especially when I see self-pubbers doing it as a serialization or episodic work which is then later polished (sometimes completely rewritten) and then republished under one cover. When this happens, I feel like I’m being ripped off. For example, I paid 99¢ for each of the separate episodes, and then the author hits me up to repurchase the entire book—because it’s now been edited and republished based on feedback given for the episodic versions.
Wait. So instead of hiring a real editor, you’re making me pay for your rough draft and hoping I’ll give feedback that will add value to the finished product?!?
That is seriously wrong.
And also, it gets really confusing to readers. I hate it when I buy the full book, thinking it’s something new, when it’s really just the episodic stuff finally put under one cover (with or without revisions).
Maybe it’s just me…
**End Rant**
My policy has been not to post the episodic novellas/novelettes on NewLDSFiction.com. But I want to know your opinion. Do you want to see spotlight posts on the website for these novellas/novelettes? I’ll do whatever the majority wants.
Click the link below to go to the Facebook poll.
https://www.facebook.com/questions/455358904561563/
I can’t get into facebook right now, but I just wanted to let you know that I completely agree with you. That makes me feel ripped off. I would be fine if you did not include spotlight posts for novellas/novelettes.