This post is not to argue with anyone, but to prove my point or, more like, to present a truth to reinforce my point. I've been seeing a lot of writer rules--the most offensive, in my opinion, is saying a just-over 50,000-word novel is a novella, or not long enough. Gotta be at least 60K, 80K: perfect!
Of course 80K is the goal, but even Stephen King says the book dictates the length, not you. It's seems nit-picky to me.
And if you're right, then why is my favorite novel, Rosemary's Baby, about 200 pages, and my second-favorite, The Haunting of Hill House, also around 200 pages?
Because it's not true! The novel I'm trying to get published is 55,000 words, but I think it's the most important book I've ever written! Definitely enough story to be worth the cost of admission! Maybe 50K is technically a novella, but I'm talking over 50,000 words.
Thanks for letting me shed light on this annoying rule.
