Why Do I Write "Fat" Books Instead of "Thin" Ones?

[Michael J. Webb]

Someone once said, "€œInside every fat book is a thin book trying to get out . . ."€ I can'€™t help myself--€”I write "€œfat"€ books! I'€™ve tried to write books under one hundred thousand words, but no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to lose the weight.

My very first novel started out at over two hundred thousand words--€”and became a trilogy. I'€™ve tried writing short stories and they turn into novellas. I'€™ve tried novellas and they turn into full blown novels. I'€™m a hopeless lover of deep characterization and back story, lots of action, and page-turning plots, something nearly impossible for me to do in less than one hundred thousand words. Plus, I want my readers to feel like they’ve just eaten a ten course meal when they finish one of my thrillers.

Don'™t get me wrong, there is definitely a place in this world for short stories, novellas, and novels under a hundred thousand words. I just won'€™t be writing them anytime soon.