How Long Should My Novel Be?
A novel should be the length it takes to tell the story.
I mean… I say that. Deep down, I believe it. But it’s not really true.
Different genres have different lengths. In Epic Fantasy, we see novels that are thick and heavy. 500+ pages, easily over 110,000 words, 120,000, more. A science fiction novel can reach that length as well. Yet a cozy fantasy might be 75,000. A Romance isn’t usually as long as an Epic Fantasy (excluding Romantasy). In a bookstore, a person can easily find a 300 page Romance. Horror novels are often 100,000 words. Historical fiction is often found on the longer side as well, while mystery/thrillers are often a bit shorter (90,000).
That’s a lot of word counts. Think of it as 100,000 being about 400 pages, while 90,000 is around 360. Can 10,000 words/40 pages make a difference? Yes, at least in terms of an agent or publisher picking up a writer’s book. It can make a difference with readers too. Weekend Publisher and Kindlepreneur have handy reference lists. If someone wants to know the approximate work count of a specific book (to the nearest thousand), the Kobo website displays word count under “About this Book”. (Not that I’m encouraging shopping at any particular website or saying a writer should use one or another to publish their book, but for this purpose, the information they provide is helpful.)
I love a long book; I love short books too, and often less is more. In my writing, I’ve found scenes where I’m being repetitive, and chapters that serve no purpose. Cut those out, even if it hurts. I’ve also read articles that suggest debut authors should aim for the lower end of the word count average. Stephen King can write a 300,000 word horror novel. Jane Smith should aim for 90,000.
I believe all the above is true. However, when a writer is creating that first draft, don’t worry about it. Save it for the edits. When writing, tell the story that needs to be told. Don’t hinder the words by thinking about word count or page count or what editors might want. Tell the story that’s itching to get out. Later, when readers or editors recommend condensing or removing something, give it serious consideration. Does the scene/section they’re talking about move the story forward? Does it contribute anything to the plot or character growth? Maybe I believe in balance. I don’t want to hinder creativity, but I also want a story to have the best possible chance of making it to readers.
Links:
https://www.weekendpublisher.com/how-many-pages-in-a-novel/
https://reedsy.com/studio/resources/how-many-words-in-a-novel
https://kindlepreneur.com/how-many-words-in-a-novel/
https://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/does-word-count-matter/
What I’ve Been Reading:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherworlds, by Heather Fawcett
Edgar Allan Poe short stories
What I’ve Been Watching:
Star Trek: The Next Generation
What I’ve Been Listening To:
Leon, by Leon Bridges
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, by Billie Eillish
Learn about the land on which we reside: