"with 30 pages per line (relatively large print)"

11 words per line, makes that 1/3rd of a word per page.

That is a pretty big print :)

 

Perhaps there's a way to restructure the storyline to make each chapter into a stand-alone book with some kind of adventure to create an end-yet-not-end stopping point.

Then again, maybe it's good enough to be printed mostly as is. I remember the novel Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo - for a topic that might be considered a not very profitable risk - it's a HUGE stand-alone novel. The print is definitely not large, either.

Have you considered sending an outline and a couple chapters to an agent just to see what their reaction/advice might be?

Never know!

 

Oops sorry, I swear I put in a name and said 'other'...the above was by me. :P

 

Plans to send out an outline and sample "chapters" (or some reasonable fascimile thereof, given the size/length of them) are on for later this summer, once I've gotten at least halfway through. I'd like to do a chapter a month, and in theory they'll speed up, since each chapter (since the infinite journey that was chapter 2) has required much less reworking and rewriting.

The thing is, I can't see it being published all as one novel, since it would be 2000 pages. Or at least 1500, even with many cuts (assuming I don't have to gut it completely to get some publishing cash). So it would have to be published in 2 or 3 books, with an easy parallel to the Lord of the Rings, which the publisher broke up against Tolkien's wishes. Unfortunately, the way it's structured now I can't see where it would divide up very well. Possibly in half would work, since chapter 5 is going to end with sort of a cliff hanger and it's sort of half the book, in terms of introducing almost all of the main characters. If i cut half the length off of chapter 2, 1-5 and 6-10 would even work out pretty well, in terms of being equal length. Hypothetically speaking of course, since 6-10 exist only in my brief outline, though I do know pretty well what's going to happen all through them.

I'm mostly curious to see how my writing style plays with professionals; if they'll think it's horrible since it's so different and so much longer/more detailed than how most other authors write, or if they'll embrace it as something new and different and not try to smash my square peg into their round Salvatore-shaped "quick fight scene cliched hero saves the world" hole.

I should send it to Martin's agent, or at least publisher; they'd realize that there's a market for adult-targeted fantasy with mature themes and complex plots that take some time to unfold. Not that my plot is 1/50th as complicated and intricate as Song of Ice and Fire, but just for instance...

 

Sacajawea was 1400 pages and published as one volume. There's always hope.

Although I agree 2000 pages as one book is, alas, unlikely to occur. The publishing costs vs. retail price they can charge becomes too prohibitive.

I'll be eager to hear what kind responses/suggestions come back from agents/publishers - assuming of course, that you feel like sharing them at the time. :)

 

I think it'll be more like, "assuming, of course, that I am legally allowed to share them/able to share them without irreparably damaging my prospects for future publication." But anyway...