Series romances are getting shorter. Across the board, Harlequin has tightened up their word count guidelines in the last year, condensing most of their series by a few thousand words. This is good and bad for authors. On the one hand—maybe I can finish my story faster with a shorter word count! On the other hand—maybe I can’t finish the story any faster because I have to spend extra time figuring out how to crunch down the story to fit a guideline.
In order to write series books, authors have to be skilled in knowing how to pare a story down anyhow. The difference between series romance and single title romance has a lot to do with size and scope. A series story is tightly focused on the hero and heroine while a single title story can afford a larger cast of characters and—my favorite—additional plot lines. So as a series author, it stands to reason that I would already be working with a tight story framework and this shortening of the series I write for shouldn’t be a big deal to me. But let’s look, for a moment, at what I stand to lose in the process if my series books get any shorter.
Secondary hero and heroine
It’s never been easy to weave a full blown secondary romance into a series length story, but I’ve managed it and—I think—managed it pretty well in the past. Two of my best selling Blazes ever, Wild and Willing and Wild and Wicked, feature full secondary romances with characters close to the primary heroes and heroines. These storylines can’t be dropped in just for the heck of it. Each must propel the central romance forward. Not an easy trick, but with 75,000 words, the task is doable. With 65,000 words—maybe not. But here’s the rub—maybe I shouldn’t have been trying to cram so much into the pages of my series story anyhow. Would I have been better off painting a more detailed picture of the central romance anyway? I’ve heard readers come down on both sides of this argument.
The cast
In my “Single in South Beach” series for Blaze, I really enjoyed developing a large cast of characters. A group of women were left holding the bag on a luxury hotel when their embezzling ex husbands/boyfriends absconded with investors’ money. But the women worked hard and pulled together despite some pretty huge conflicts among them– conflicts that were fun to weave across six books. To introduce several friends, their exes and some family members in the course of a book takes space and pages. Space and pages I might not have if series romance scrunches down anymore.
The villain point of view
A fun facet of romances with a little intrigue woven in is that it offers the oh-so-tempting possibility of diving into the villain’s point-of-view. And who doesn’t love walking in the bad guy’s shoes now and then? For the reader, villain scenes up the tension about what will happen next. For the writer, the villain provides a foil for the protagonists, demanding the hero and heroine fight for their happily-ever-after. This is something I won’t give up no matter how many pages I have to tell my stories.
Fine tuning
Overall, extra pages means more room for details. Intriguing hints of backstory, an occasional flashback, conversations with a confidant… these are all options for a writer when given more pages to develop a story. Even the setting is more fully realized when we have more pages. Instead of a quick, down and dirty description to set the scene, more pages means more time to give memorable details that readers won’t forget. We don’t just see a desert and a cactus, we feel the dry air and the dust in our noses. The grit works its way right into readers’ sandals. Of course, if page count ever goes down again, I’ll try to tell myself that the shorter length means I’ll get to the finish line faster. I’ll try to tell myself that the more compact prose will force me to be punchy and succinct. Isn’t it good to trim the fat? But between you and me—I hope I don’t lose any more pages. While I would never want to bore readers with extraneous details, I also don’t want to shortchange anyone of the extra story substance that can make a romance really come alive.
*** Maybe you’ve read the occasional book you thought nattered on about too many peripheral details and didn’t spend enough time on the good stuff– the romance at the heart. Are you in the camp who likes a nice, tight read? With a smaller and smaller percentage of the population reading, lots of people who still do read say they want a faster book. I’m open to this argument and would love to hear about it! But if you enjoy seeing more of the world circling the hero and heroine, please do let me know about that, too. I’m all ears to hear your thoughts on secondary story lines, villain POVs and all the other “extra” ways I’ve put page count to use. One random poster will receive a copy of my new Blaze “Blush” story, GETTING LUCKY.***
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I love HQ’s because their a fast read, but I would rather read a longer more detailed story. I love the secondary romance and the back story that comes along with it. Of course, I have read books that dragged on with descriptions and in turn I would skip paragraphs. Romance is emotional and sometimes a story just can’t be wrapped up in 45-50K words.
The world is so fasted pace right now that when I sit down with a book, I want the escape that it offers and I don’t always need just the bare facts, I want the backstory and emotion that comes along. Of course, in this fast paced world sometimes I only have time for a quick read and that is when the shorter stories become perfect. It’s always interesting to see how an author can make you love/hate a character with only a few words and little fanfare. That is the sign of a great writer, when I sit down and become emotionally attached within the first few chapters.
Okay enough babbling. Can you tell I had to keep starting and stopping? LOL
by Patty L.
on January 29th, 2008 at 8:19 am
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I’ve been faithful, buying books in my favorite lines, but I read so fast that it’s almost irritating to finish the smaller books so quickly. I’ve started branching out and buying more single titles because they make it easier to draw out my reading time. I also read to escape and don’t want to have to buy two to three series books compared to the time it takes me to read a single title.
by Chelle
on January 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am
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I’d rather have the longer, detailed story, too, secondary characters, villain’s POV. Agree with all you say, Joanne. I read anthologies when I’m short on time and want a real quick read, the shorter Harlequins in between longer books when I have less time since I tend to read straight through. Cut them down too short and it’s liable to impact many stories, leaving the reader wishing there had been more, like in many anthology stories.
by Pam P
on January 29th, 2008 at 9:59 am
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I certainly love shorter reads, but I sure love longer ones too — I think there’s room for both, but I would rather hope when it comes to the longer ones, they do know enough that they don’t need chopping down because that *is* why we read the longer ones. 
Lois
by Lois
on January 29th, 2008 at 10:53 am
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Hi, Joanne, I do enjoy the shorter books, but not so short that you don’t get to enjoy secondary characters and plot lines, and the richer characterizations and descriptions. I agree that the more you trim, the more likely you’ll end up with too-short stories (as Pam said, sometimes in anthologies) where they aren’t satisfying because too much is missing, or the ending feels a bit forced because there weren’t enough words to develop the plot more naturally. And some writers really excel at the short format, but I do think there’s a limit to how much anyone can do with fewer and fewer words  So, not too short, please!
by Fedora
on January 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
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I like the longer reads but have enjoyed many a shorter book too. I love strong secondary characters - they add so much and there is always an option for their own story. I love the continuing books.
by Pat L.
on January 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
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I don’t think that I really want series romance stories to get shorter. I like the author to have the time to set up the story and give me an idea of who these people are in the story.
by Maureen
on January 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
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I love the longer more detailed story. Books are getting shorter and they cost more money—not fair to the reader.
by Estella
on January 29th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
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I agree with Estella that we get more for our money if the book is longer. I want to read a well-rounded story and hate reading books where it seems the author is rushing through it.
by Jane
on January 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
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I prefer longer stories. I just finished an old one by Deb Smith and I just wallowed in the world she created of a small Southern town with all it’s relationships. It was wonderful. On the other hand, I am not enamored of a book that is long because of all the descriptions of the garden or the house or the clothes the woman wears. I love a long story when it develops the characters - both primary and secondary.
by Laidybyrd
on January 29th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
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Hi Joanne, I’m going to join the camp that likes longer books. I do enjoy anthologies and harlequin books, but oftentimes when I read them now, I feel cheated. Sometimes it feels that huge gaps occur, or unreasonable and unrealistic changes happen because we need the happy ending, but the story ends in a few pages. I love the novels that take the characters- and reader- through a journey of self discovery and change. Where the emotions and setting really develop, and you as the reader can immerse yourself in the “book universe.” Yes, I have read books with extraneous details, or too much description, but I felt that that had more to do with the author/writing style, not pagination. Though, I could be wrong. It have noticed Harlequin books getting shorter - and some of the stories are getting so rushed, I find myself going for author’s backlists, or re-reading older books instead of immediately buying up the new ones. I still enjoy them, don’t get me wrong- but I’d enjoy them just as much if not more with the extra pages.
by JSL
on January 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
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Yes to the “book universe” idea. Isn’t it a treat when you can completely lose yourself? I loved the JR Ward series for this reason… I was completely transported for almost a week when I discovered that series. I stepped into her world and didn’t come out for days.
And Estella, you raise a good point about the cost… we want the story we’re entitled to for the cover price! I feel the same way about movies when you walk out and realize you were in the theater for ninety minutes or less. I guess it’s one thing if the story was so amazing you don’t care. But if you liked the film, you can’t help but mourn the lost chance to hang out in that world a little longer.
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i dont mind etither way, cause i only read blaze books, they way they are now is fine with me.
great top pick for RT for getting lucky. love the sports agent hero, i was wanted taht in a blaze books job. thanks 
by kim h
on January 29th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
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Most definitely the longer reads. I really enjoy characterization which you just don’t get in the shorter books and if I don’t care that much about the characters there isn’t a plot that will keep me interested. I just finished a book that I read in one day. If you asked me about the book in a couple of days I bet I could hardly remember what it was about. I want the stories that I never want to end and that stay with me for a while. And as another consideration, I can’t afford to pay for a book a day - may as well pick up a magazine.
by catslady
on January 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
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I enjoy reading the shorter stories because I don’t usually have a lot of time to sit down and read. Therefore, it can take me days or weeks to finish a book. If it’s short, then it’s a faster read and less likely that I will lose track of what is going on.
by Linda F
on January 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
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Thanks, Kim! I was thrilled to nab a Top Pick at RT… not an easy feat! And I’m glad you mentioned the hero in a sports-related field. It’s my intention to write more sports guys starting the end of 09 after a military guy and rock star  . Should be fun! But my husband worked as a sports editor all over the country and I got to meet athletes at all levels. There’s a certain swagger that’s familiar to me  .
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that is great joanne, cant wait. lvoe all those men in uniform. that is cool about your husband.
by kim h
on January 30th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
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Joanne I will a sports hero. I can’t wait for your new books.
by Patty L.
on January 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
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I love books about athletes - you were so lucky to meet those hunky men. LOL.
SEP, Deirdre Martin and Kate Angell are a few who write great sports romance. (Football, Hockey and Baseball)
by Pat L.
on January 31st, 2008 at 6:22 am
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Joanne, ,I go all over the place with lengths and what I’m looking for to read. I somethimes love a saga read thats full of history and scenery (like some historical that are a romance but going through several books) But too there are evenings on weekends, that I love to pull out a ebook or SD book thats a quick to the relationship read that is so satisfying to that time. So it really all goes down to my mood as a reader.
I will sometimes buy a book for a longer read than I will for a short story (like ebooks especially) Yes i like a quick read but alot of the short stories are not enough for me and those I like to read anywhere online since I don’t always consider them a release (i’ve gotten short stories that less than 10 pages) so I don’t read those much unless they are a favorite author and/or connected to a series i read. Its more of getting worth what I’m paying for in the length. Cuz I’ll go for a novel rather than a short story for a couple dollars more because I know too I’ll get the full background and events that leads to the charcters together. This doesn’t apply to print books tho because I love Anthologies!! I have read so many new to me authors that way that I’m a bookacholic and have so much more favorite authors! Great questions!
by Cathie
on January 31st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
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Thanks for the responses! And Pat, I haven’t read Kate Angell… will have to hunt down some books and check those out.
*** Winner*** Chelle is the thread prize winner. I’ll mail you for an address so I can send you a copy of GETTING LUCKY. Have a great week!
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wtg chelle
by kim h
on February 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
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