Novel Word Count Guide: How Long Should a Book Be?

Is Your Novel Too Short or Too Long for Publishers?

Composing a novel is an excellent accomplishment for a writer, but one important thing might be left unclear until the manuscript is ready for submission: is the length of the book appropriate? Many writers devote months, even years of hard work creating their stories without any idea of how long their manuscript should be.

In fact, there is no single number suitable for all novels ever written. What should be kept in mind is the expected length of the manuscript, which differs depending on many factors, from genre to target audience.

The following guide will reveal what numbers you should have in mind in order to know the length of the perfect manuscript.

How Many Words in a Novel?

One of the most popular inquiries from first-time novelists is how many words in a novel can be considered appropriate. As each publisher has its own tastes, most of the completed novels usually range from 70,000 to 100,000 words.

It is the right balance to describe believable characters, conflict and ending without making your readers confused. But in some cases, certain genres imply much more elaborate worlds or quicker pace which can influence the amount of words used.

Instead of striving for reaching the exact number of words, authors should try to describe the whole story without going beyond the limits of publishing.

Although there is no standard formula, the words per novel expected in a book differs with respect to the genre, intended audience, publishing objectives, and overall story intricacy.

What Is the Ideal Novel Length for Different Genres?

The ideal novel length may depend on what kind of story you are going to tell since readers have different expectations based on the genre conventions, and that is why you should know some of the industry norms before final editing.

Book Length Guide

Comparison Table: Novel Length per Genre

Understanding Novel Length by Genre

Each audience has its own expectations of what reading experience they should have, and that’s why the novel length by genre may vary greatly from others.

In fantasy and science fiction, it takes more words for introducing new worlds, their culture, and rules. Romance stories pay more attention to character interaction and their emotions, and thus, require fewer words for their completion. Mystery novels require properly organized plot, while literary novels balance characters and themes.

Adapting your work to the genre conventions will make it more interesting for the readers.

Should You Follow the Average Novel Length?

The average novel length offers a good measure, but it does not need to control all creative choices.

Many best-selling novels do not adhere to the expectations of length set by conventional publishers. It is most crucial for the author to ensure that each chapter advances the plot of the story. Extra material may hinder pace, and over-editing could omit vital emotional elements.

Manuscripts with a good pace are usually much better than those that just hit the required number of words.

How to Evaluate Your Manuscript Before Publishing

Before you submit your manuscript, take some time to look at it from an artistic and professional point of view.

Here are some questions that you may want to ask yourself:

• Is each chapter advancing the plot?
• Are there any subplots needed?
• Can any repeated descriptions be reduced?
• Have the scenes been expanded?
• Does the story have a good end?

Checking your manuscript word count is just a small part of the entire editing process.

How Long Should My Novel Be?

If you are still asking yourself, “How long should my novel be?”, it is the story, not the numbers that will decide.

An engaging novel needs to be complete in itself. It’s the pacing of the story that readers notice, rather than how many words the story has – whether it is 75,000 or 95,000 words. It is about ensuring that the book is an enjoyable read without any excess baggage in it.

Getting feedback from professional editors and/or beta readers can help you decide on this.

Publishing Expectations in Today’s Market

Manuscript evaluation by different types of publishers differs greatly. Such publishing platforms as KDP and Kindle Direct Publishing offer more flexibility since writers can choose to publish their books not following traditional word count requirements.

Despite all these possibilities, it is still crucial for authors to consider the expectations of readers since those books which fit their genre usually sell better.

Writers who are planning Novel book publishing should consider all these aspects before creating their manuscript.

Why Professional Guidance Can Make a Difference

Publishing a manuscript is more than just achieving the desired number of words. Professional editing, formatting, proofreading, and publishing will make the entire process easier and the end product better.

Be it publishing your work independently using KDP or going the traditional route, publishing experts can assist in ensuring that your manuscript fits industry standards while still maintaining its creativity.

If you are looking for the best book publishing in Canada, you can have your manuscript professionally published with an experienced publishing company.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

In case your manuscript is ready for publication, there is no reason to doubt the ability to properly edit and format it for publication without any professional help.

Conclusion

Finding the right size of the book requires balancing between telling the story and meeting the expectations of readers. The suggested sizes vary by genre, but the winning books feature exciting characters, appropriate rhythm, and full story.

Take into account industry recommendations as a useful framework, not the rule. After editing and revising, your book will have all chances to succeed in today’s competitive world of literature.