My urge to read a novel is often tempered by two salient factors; time and context.
When I recently picked up the ‘new’ Wilbur Smith novel (he passed away in 2020) in a bookstore, these two factors determined whether it was my next read or not.
Yes, he always had some rather explicit sex scenes. I am a bit past that now. His African adventure stories were close to home and, although a stretch of the imagination, quite intriguing. I put it back on the shelf. Why? At 350-odd pages (180K words), I doubted he could hold my interest for that long.
My own writing style has been influenced by several words of wisdom; never use a big word when a small one suffices; show, don’t tell; provoke the reader’s imagination; allow a reader to engage with your characters; short sentences create tension; and many more. These have led me to an economy of words style. Do we have the time or interest to read a tome?
My aim is to sketch a character or scene with enough detail for the reader to fill in the colour from their own perceptions. Concise, provocative and interesting, if I succeed. Allow me to offer an example from Beyond the Dome as Shane P rises to a higher character level.
“There was no hint of conceit in Shane P’s character. That he was a superb specimen did not enter his mind. He was, in every respect, what he was trained and raised to be, a protector and terminator. His short, dark hair, taut face and lithe body were lost when one looked into those sharp, blue eyes. They created an impression of determination and attention to duty.”
Is this enough, or should I launch into a detailed description? His character grows as the story progresses, but this is just a sketch to hold the reader’s attention. I don’t give away much about his good looks until much later. Many of my scene settings and incidents get the same treatment. Less detail and more attention to what will follow.
The one criticism I do face, is that at 60-80K words, my novels are too short for consideration as serious reading. If my stories are concise, but memorable, I have achieved my purpose. Do you want a tome, or an exciting narrative? Your choice.