Calculating the length of my cookie

[Jobie BaldwinParticipant]

I’ve been thinking about how long my cookie will be based on my current mystery related idea…

In Brandon Sanderson’s BYU, Mary Robinette Kowal explains how to work out how long your story should be using the MICE Quotient. It’s fabulous and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blehVIDyuXk&t=2239s

The equation is basically (((c+s)*750) x m)/1.5 = L

where L = length, c = number of characters, s = scenic locations, and m = number of mice threads.

So, here are my initial thoughts on my cookie (which is a before story of my main character’s first (unofficial) case).

characters = 7 (too many but I need some suspects).
scenic locations = 3 (onstage of theatre, backstage of theatre, catwalk of theatre)
mice threads = 2 (inquiry and character)

(7+3)750 x 2)/1.5 = 10,000 word story

Ta da!

ps. I’m really not sure this is going to help me much but I do love to wander off on tangents…

[TammiKeymaster]

OMG I LOVE STORY MATH.

This is nice because it gives you hard numbers instead of estimating, which has been my method. I like it so much! Will definitely be looking at this going forward. Thank you so much for sharing!

[Jobie BaldwinParticipant]

You’re welcome. It’s great isn’t it.

[Izzy JamesParticipant]

I love story math too. It goes to the fences idea. I find it so helpful to know the boundaries–even though they are ultimately flexible to my story needs. 🙂

[TammiKeymaster]

Oh man, I’m watching this now and I LOVE her.

[Jobie BaldwinParticipant]

She’s amazing isn’t she? I bet she’s so much fun to hang out with. I want one of my very own.

Ps I’m not loving the tag I chose for this thread 😱

[TammiKeymaster]

Romance writers everywhere agree with you. 😂

[Jessica HaltiwangerParticipant]

I am DEAD, Tammi!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Jessica HaltiwangerParticipant]

There is no way on this planet or the next or the other 6 planets (or 7 if you count Pluto #RIPPluto) that I, Jessica Megan Haltiwanger, am going to be able to write this story in only 13,000 words. I’m thinking I’m gonna need ***at least*** 20,000 but okay. 13,000 is the goal (and now my tummy hurts–but that have more to do with this nasty shrimp pasta I made that really just should not exist)

Also, this thread should’ve been named something to do with mice and cookies. I feel like an opportunity was missed. LOL

[Katje van LoonParticipant]

If you give a mouse a cookie…? 😀

[Isla ElrickParticipant]

This is very interesting! In a lot of ways, writing short stories is harder than writing a novel … she said as she looked sadly at her 100-150k urban fantasy… (I rant; what can I say, I love Victor Hugo.)

[Katje van LoonParticipant]

*looks at her 250K epic fantasy*

*cough* Yeah. I feel that on a spiritual level. XD

(I did the story math for my Cookie A and came up with 15K and was like…no. No way. It’s going to take at LEAST 25K to tell this story. But I set my goal at 15K and am going to TRY to aim for that, though if it runs over I’ll forgive myself as Cookie A is for the epic fantasy. 25K is, what, 10% the size of the first book? So.)

(Also I’ve realized I’m a discovery writer — I think that’s the term — I can plan and think things out and even create a SUPER robust outline, but writing ALWAYS creates more discovery of what’s actually happening, which often alters my plans and thus word count estimates. C’est la vie.)

[Isla ElrickParticipant]

I’m the same way! I always try to under-outline because I know more bullshit is inevitably gonna come up. LMAO

[Stephanie FlintParticipant]

Ooo, boy. Using the MICE quotient calculator and my current outline, I’m looking at 28,000 words. (My stories always do seem to go long…)

I think I’ll go ahead and mark my goal at 15k, plan for 20k, and try to adjust my outline to keep it under 20k.

I absolutely love this video, though. Super useful. 😀

Characters = 4
Scenes = 10 (they kind of blend together, though, so I’m hoping that helps cut the word count)
MICE Threads = 4 (2 events, 1 milieu, 1 inquiry)

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