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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Assignment 2 > HELP!!! I'm stuck on assignment 2
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WriterPrincess
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« on: February 13, 2009, 11:28:16 PM »
My protagonist has turned from a sailor boy into a GIRL!! I don't know if I can write a short story without doing justice to my original idea! This idea feels like a novel not a short story. Should I scrap it and start a new story or what?

I posted this on the wrong chat area so if you've read this elsewhere, I apologize. Please Help!  Huh?
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Lori
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« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2009, 11:35:17 PM »
I answered your other post about this before I saw that you'd put it here. Good luck with it!

Kate
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Angelia Almos
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« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2009, 12:02:23 AM »
It's really up to you and what you want to do. You can go ahead and write it out how you envision it. Then in another copy start cutting till you reach the assignment word count. Depending on how big your story ends up being this might work or it might not. If you are fairly certain you can't shorten the story (or pick a certain part of the story to focus on) to meet the word count then you might want to pick something else to work on.

I know I kind of did that with one of my assignments. i got an idea and then found as I was writing that the story kept going past my original vision. It did work as I sent it in (within word count) and did my best to have it end at the end, but also made a note to my instructor that I felt it was more of a novella and had a continuing story past what I wrote. I felt the short story was really only a scene from a much larger story.

Angelia
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Young adult fantasy, space opera and horsey nonfiction.http://www.angeliaalmos.com
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WriterPrincess
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« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2009, 12:46:26 AM »
Thanks Angelia! Do you know how many pages add up to 1000 words?

Lori
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Angelia Almos
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« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2009, 01:15:56 AM »
Industry standard is 250 words per page. Of course, that is just an average as it varies depending on how much dialogue, description, etc. Some book publishers want computer word count while others want page count. I've heard that most are going to computer word count as the word count programs are getting better.

Angelia
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Young adult fantasy, space opera and horsey nonfiction.http://www.angeliaalmos.com
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« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2009, 03:02:52 AM »
Working on Angelias word count, you should have approximately 5 pages for 1000 words then Writerprincess. Smiley
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« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2009, 06:51:03 PM »
I, too, answered this on another post. First of all, breathe! I psyched myself out on Assignment 3 and I vowed never again. I was putting too much pressure on myself to be "perfect" with my homework. Don't do this to yourself. You're a student. You're here to learn. No one is going to be judgmental around here. Nope! They don't do it. How do we learn? From our mistakes. Your instructor is there for you and offers wonderful advice for you. Now, inhale.....and exhale!

Second-don't make things too difficult for yourself. Remember the phrase, "KISS-Keep It Simple, Silly" (I don't like the word 'Stupid'. I use 'Silly' instead). You can use your wonderful ideas on your shorter, writing assignments. The main thing you want to capture are scenes. You're showing us a picture using words. Maybe you could do a piece in first person seeing the ship for the first time. Doesn't mean you have to do it that way. It's your writing, not mine. Just a suggestion.

Third-keep this idea alive and write it! Write it down and work on it as often as you can. It's outside the norm. You seem passionate about it. Have you done research on female sailors/pirates? What inspired you to write this unique story? Good luck with your writing! And keep us posted on your progress!  Kim    Smiley
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« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2009, 03:47:02 PM »
Where did you find the industry standards 250 words per page? I assume you mean in the kids industry?
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Angelia Almos
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« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2009, 11:26:59 PM »
Industry standards as in books in general (or manuscript pages). Courier New 12 pt font double space. Here are some articles on word count standard - http://www.write101.com/lethamcount.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_count, http://www.writersservices.com/wps/p_word_count.htm.

Angelia
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Young adult fantasy, space opera and horsey nonfiction.http://www.angeliaalmos.com
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« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2009, 11:25:57 AM »
thanks Ange Grin
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