  Fantasy
This week: The Single Fantasy Novel Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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An Elf (written) Fantasy Newsletter
While a fantasy series is great for both reading and writing, sometimes one can really appreciate a single book fantasy or science fiction novel. Even as a writer known for longer word counts and series, I still talk about my appreciation for the stand-alone. |
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Don't get me wrong. I am neither known for short fantasy/sci-fi or single books. I'm the one who says "hmm this novel will be around 80,000 words first draft" and by the time I get done with that draft it's almost 180,000 words. I take a story that isn't supposed to have anything beyond a flash fiction piece, hear the right song on my walk and now it's 2+ books. However, I have to admit that as a reader and even as a writer, I do appreciate a story that doesn't take more than one book.
In fact, reading over the past couple of years has involved me starting many stories within the genre including a few young adult and middle grade ones and I never make it past book one in the series. There is a reason though for that since series are a popular item lately and with my reading habits.
The truth is: I like to read many different authors. So I read one book but instead of reading the rest in that series, I try out a different author because I have so many that I want to read. It becomes a problem though because I have started so many series but I never get the entire story because it takes me a long time to pick up that second book, if I ever do.
A stand-alone, however, is a story that is done after book one. I really can appreciate that due to my erratic reading. I get to enjoy a story, maybe find a new author, and after that book ends I don't have to keep reading to find out more. I can read others by the author if I want or I can read one from someone else. Plus, no waiting since I don't have to worry when the sequel will come out.
Not that there isn't obvious merit to the series. Every story has it's upsides and downsides, no matter the length or how many books it takes to tell. And readers vary in their preferences within every genre. Still, while we can develop stories to amazing lengths, sometimes it's good to hold back and let a story just be within one book.
And believe it or not... even I have a few stand-alone stories. The one I talked about last newsletter based off Snow White? That is a single book story. Surprising, I know. It isn't the only one either. So, if someone like me can write a single novel story, I know others can too. The question now is: what do you prefer to read or write when it comes to a series versus a single book?
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Do you prefer to read/write series or stand alone novels?
Last time I wrote about how to give the same story a different spin, using tales like Snow White as an example. Here are the two that sent in comments:
Comment by brom21 
I actually found that I was unknowingly writing a spin of of The Lord of The Rings. Its’ called “The Heart of Zealous.” It’s about a magical stone that a mage must take to a place where the evil antagonist cannot find. Owning the stone gives one power over the four elements. I started it a long time ago and wrote quite a lot, but I have never finished it. I may just get the motivation to revisit that story and complete it. Thanks for the newsletter!
- Interesting. I do wonder if some do them by accident (twilight and others connected with Beauty and the Beast comes to mind for example) or if more do it on purpose that way.
Comment by Osirantinous 
Thank you so much for mentioning my story, big surprise! And I agree that there are so many ways we can tell a single story that people shouldn't be afraid to go out and do so. Your Snow White one sounds fascinating (well, I do love a good m/m). I'm of the m/m rank too and I've got the bare bones of a Little Mermaid type story set in modern day (my city as it happens, since it's on a harbour). The merman can get around as a human occasionally and is in this 'state' when he's helped by the young university student. It gets vague after that first meeting! Is there a group for rewriting fairy tales and other such stories??
- Nice. The mermaid one sounds interesting. A few YA mermaid tales came out a couple of years ago but I haven't read any of them yet. I don't know if there is a specific group for that since it could fit in almost any genre/age range.
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Fantasy: May 27, 2015 Issue [#7016]
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