Hey Gud, I agree with the compression over 2 book idea. I get a lot of manuscripts that are too long and could do with that attitude, even if it doesn't work (in that it doesn't make it short enough but does make it tighter) and you end up with two books. You might consider figuring out where you'd cut it into two books, send it out as one on your agent/publication search, and then explain (either then or after a nibble... I'm not sure which is best; personally prefer after a nibble when I'm receiving the submission) that it can be cut into two books; but that the first book will stand alone. That way if someone's looking for a doorstop, they've got it; but if they're looking for something with more longevity, repeat readers, more sales, they've got that.

It sounds like your chapters are pretty short. Have you considered doing a scene break between POV shifts rather than a chapter break? I don't know the story, so I don't know if that would work in any instance, but it's something you might think about.

it's the only chapter from the POV of perhaps the most interesting character in the story

This concerns me. If I were reading it, I might cry foul here, because chapter 40 seems a long way in to be getting to know a character from his or her POV. Hearing about it, it sounds like a solution to letting the reader know something you don't want someone in the book to know, which implies to me that the author/mechanics will intrude on the story.

I hope that makes sense, and of course if it doesn't work for you or doesn't apply, that's cool. Just thought of it and figured it wouldn't hurt to mention it.

This concerns me. If I were reading it, I might cry foul here, because chapter 40 seems a long way in to be getting to know a character from his or her POV. Hearing about it, it sounds like a solution to letting the reader know something you don't want someone in the book to know, which implies to me that the author/mechanics will intrude on the story.

Well, the characters separated in chapter 29 and 40 is the story of what happened to the other character and how she managed to show up seemingly out of nowhere in 41. Something about the character gets revealed in 40 (which I hint at, but I don't know how well), but it's revealed to the other character in 41, so I don't know how much that applies. The main purpose of the POV chapter is the story of the journey the character took to get from the end of 34 to the beginning of 41.

That sounds so complicated, it's just that loads of stuff happens in story from 29 through 41.

Thanks for the one vs. two advice.

Chapter length maybe something to ask betas about. I sort of like the smaller chapters, but that's just me. Things are still pretty malleable, though.

Your explanation makes sense.

Well, the characters separated in chapter 29 and 40

It's good that there's foreshadowing for her.

I think it's probably a personal taste thing. I prefer one or two POV characters per book. There are some very popular series, though, that have a sort of ensemble cast (Jim Butcher's Codex Alera springs to mind) with multiple PsOV, and they seem to be doing quite well.

I have no real opinion on chapter length (especially not having read the book), it was just something I wondered about.

By the way, Deena, I'm not going to have a story for you for that Trafficking project. I've got characters, a hook, a universe. What I don't have is a plot. It makes me weep, my inability to put anything coherent on paper anymore.

I understand Connie. I haven't been able to do much in that line myself.

I need to do some minor cleaning of 39 and then it'll be in the bag. I've started 40 as well. Things are chugging along.

I think I'm going to have to do some cutting in the first part of the book, things may go a little too slow in places.

I felt sort of like a dork as I was getting misty writing the end (well, not the very end) of 38 and the beginning of 40. It's not that the writing is so moving it's just that I can see it in my head so well. Now, if I get could just get the vivid image on paper.

I hope the constant updates aren't annoying. I'm still a long ways from being done.

Aww, it's not dorky to love what you write! It rocks that it evokes that strong a reaction from you.

Not annoyed at all by the updates. I'm glad to see you working.

Anyone interested in a drabble topic? Snow, or White, or any combination thereof

Entertaining, not annoying.