Sorry Mary - it's a sort of in-joke. Not really fair to drop on a new member. Publish America are fairly legendary in their... erm, ways. Avoid. Have you heard of Preditors and Editors? if not, click on this link and take a look. Essential if you're treading in unknown territory - ie the US market. I'm not warning you off sending your stuff overseas because there are lots of good places, but if you are considering it, do a little research. Preditors and Editors is a good starting point.

In fact, go here and look down for Publish America - interesting reading.

Colin M

how long is a novella? i mean there are novels of around 50k words (gatsby fr'instance), and a short story is, what?, 25k words? so is a novella 25-50k? i have no idea... and does it matter in which genre you're writing?

A novella is generally seen as a short novel of adult fiction, anywhere between 10,000 and 40,000 words. A novella tends to feel more like a long short story than a short novel, ie it doesn't have the subplots and complexities that a novel can offer. I say "adult" fiction there simply because the standard novel size is 70,000 and above, but you could write an adult novel that is only 40,000 words and argue that it is a novel and not a novella because it follows a more complex structure (like children's novels, often less than 40,000 words but not novellas).

Right, now that that's as clear as mud I'll have a lie down.

Colin M

Sorry Colin to not acknowledge your response before now ..... only discovered the second page this morning!! I am sure I will get the hang of it one day! Thank you for the comments. I have since done lots of research and concluded, for a variety of reasons, that I will 'Stay British ..... and possibly unpublished!'
Regards
Mary

Oh! Found another message!! I thought your explanation was very clear actually. As a real novice, I didn't even know novellas existed until I submitted my work to 2 of the major publishing houses. (I suppose that's what all us beginners do, submit to the top!!!) It was only when I got back, what I now know to be a really GOOD rejection, that I heard the term novella; both said that was why they had decided to not follow it through. In fact, I think it must have got quite far with one of them as it was returned with editing notes and so I can only presume some muppet at the end had got cold feet!
I now know that novellas are notoriously hard to get off the ground, but after such a positive 'rejection' I think I will stick with it. (Again the stupidity of a begginer?)
regards
Mary

Some independent publishers run novella competitions. Biscuit Publishing run a short story competition where the prize is publication of a longer work, up to 40,000 words - so a novella is ideal.

Colin M

PS I can spell. I just can't type!
M

If you've got a positive rejection you should definitely stick with it: they are a rare thing.

Thanks. Will look at the biscuit ..... at least proving to my family that I can look and not eat!
Your comments on 'Good' rejections are helpful and make me feel better; the other House actually talked to me about it, so fingers crossed.
Mary