Okay the novel I am writing at the moment is my first novel, probably have another 2 years until it is completed, the problem is, is that it is likely to be over 400,000 words. It is split into two parts, like George R.R. Martin's a storm of swords, and a dance with dragons. The first part of my book will likely just be over 200,000 words. The problem is I know this is going to be a nightmare to try and get published, so is there any point in me trying? Or should I go into self-publishing?
The novel is not finished when you write the last sentence. That's when the first draft is finished. If you want to get it published, you'd better then revise it several times, let it lie for a while, revise again... You'll probably rewrite a lot of it because if it is your first novel, you'll have improved a lot while writing it. And while doing all that, you'll probably find out there are sentences, even scenes that do not need to be there, and trim the manuscript down to a more concise story. What I mean to say: if you haven't even finished the first draft, don't worry about its length. It's likely to change. How much, that can't be said at the moment. When you finally have a finished, polished manuscript, then look at its length and see if it is a problem.
