If it takes 20,000 words or 200,000 words to convey, then that's what it is. Or at least one in which publishers might be interested? Also note that the exact page count of most of these texts varies by edition, so my number may not exactly match the one you have on your shelf at home. Ready to write your novel? Weve asked three Reedsy editors with experience working for Big 5 publishers, and compiled everything you need to know about imprints in this post. What are your thoughts on publishing standards, such as word counts? If youre writing YA fantasy, aim your word count high. Could you, as a first-time novelist, get an agent or publisher to bite at your 200k-word YA epic? Romance novels tend to be shorter, lying between 80,000 and 100,000 words. And there you have it the long and short of how long and short these three types of story should be! Word Count for Novels and Children's Books: The Definitive Post | How Long Should a Book Be? A novelette is a work of fiction with a word count between 7,500 and 17,500 words. In order to create a world of verisimilitude, the writer has to research all of this information, and so it's difficult for them to believe the reader doesn't need to know it, too. House Made of Dawn, Momadays first novel, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and is often credited with ushering in the Native American Renaissance. [1] No official definition exists regarding the number of pages or words necessary for a story to be . James M. Cain, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1933) : 112 pages. Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) : 176 pages. These sentiments acknowledged, these days self-publishing has given authors the ability to play around with the rules. The longer the story the more time required to read and edit it. Here's a breakdown, with plenty of examples. Alli Brydon, former Associate Editor atSterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2) Send extraneous movement of characters to the cutting room floorExtraneous movement of characters through space is something that beginning writers tend to be loyal to. Indictment of Arizona polygamist leader, 10 others details sex crimes against young girls. On Writing is one of my favorite guides to writing. PRO-TIP:If you're curious about how long achaptershould be, check out this post that's all about chapter length. . Franoise Sagan, tr. 17 is that short and it's basically all dialogue. Interestingly, the first book in George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire, A Game of Thrones, is also his shortest while J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth and longest book in her series. Find the perfect editor for yournextbook. Also, here's another list I may swipe and add in here. JK Rowlings longest novel is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, totaling 257,045 words. An editor friend of mine, Shayla Eaton with Curiouser Editing, was sitting in on the breakout. Novellas are not 70,000 words, they're defined as works under 50,000 or, at most, under 60,000 words. I take particular inspiration from Anne Franks diary, which is 82,662 words long. The total word count of J.K. Rowlings seven-book Harry Potter series is 1,084,625. So more power to you, Eloise, and lets be thankful for resources like reedsy! The series is incomplete, so there could still be more words on the way! 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meetthem. Double check here! Plus, if nothing else, it has given my household the extremely useful verb to Lenny., George Orwell, Animal Farm (1945) : 112 pages. Similarly, if your book is published and lands in a bookstore, you dont want to turn away prospective readers with a bizarrely small or large book spine. Not thatChild of Godisnt horribly violent and upsetting, mind you. This book is a lot: absolutely gorgeous and supremely painful, and probably the Nobel Prize winners most important. What it says on the tina story as doomed as Venice itself, but also a queer and philosophical mini-masterpiece. Especially this year, for all of the reasons that you already know. The word count of Ursula K. Le Guins six-book Earthsea series is 480,503. There are general guidelines for each literary category: Short stories range anywhere from 1,500 to 30,000 words; Novellas run from 30,000 to 50,000; Novels range from 55,000 to 300,000 words, but I wouldn't recommend aiming for the high end, as books the length of War & Peace aren't exactly the easiest to sell. Doestoevskys first masterpiece has been wildly influential in the development of existential and dystopian storytelling of all kinds, not to mention in the development of my own high school misanthropy. It doesnt touchThe Master and Margarita, but will give you a sense of the writers wry, surrealist sensibility. DeLillo's shortest novelthough barely shorter than The Body Artist is also among his most introspective. Lovecraft (12,000 words), The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupry (17,000 words), The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (17,000 words), The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (21,000 words), Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote (26,000 words), A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (28,000 words), Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (29,000 words), Animal Farm by George Orwell (30,000 words), Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (38,000 words), Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway (1,500 words), The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (3,000 words), Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl (4,000 words), Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros (4,500 words), Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston (4,700 words), The Swimmer by John Cheever (5,000 words), The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (6,000 words), A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery OConnor (6,500 words), Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates (7,000 words), Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (7,000 words), The Third and Final Continent by Jhumpa Lahiri (7,700 words), The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado (8,000 words). Use this template to go from a vague idea to a solid plan for a first draft. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The two shortest books are also the two books that were published posthumous: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. (Note: For sale: baby shoes, never worn is not a novel, nor did Hemingway write it. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and George Orwell's Animal Farm all came in under the 40,000 mark (38,421 words, 30,644 words, and 29,966 words, respectively). These word counts are far too long. And in the vein of four-letter titles that start with W theres Hugh Howeys Wool, which was originally self-published as a series of e-novellas. 1) Dont edit until the first draft is completed"Put your manuscript aside for a few weeks before going back to it. In his preface to the first edition, T.S. Indie published authors need to make story their number one priority. Thats about the length of Stephen Kings It (445,134) times four (1,781,736). And, in case you're wondering, here are the average word counts for other popular genres: Of course, there will be books that smash these "rules." Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I hope to follow it up with a childrens literature specific list. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/375d93434d56b27306b8c2459c1566b3dee1e27465b18baaaccc3b2b0edb47a6.jpg, Maybe it's because I'm an avid fantasy reader as well as a writer of fantasy fiction, but I LOVE big, fat epic length books. Finally, as always: best lists are subjective, no ranking is definitive, and Ive certainly forgotten, or never read, or run out of space for plenty of books and writers here. Everyones gateway to Pynchon, and also everyones gateway to slapstick postmodernism. And if you really hit your stride at 1,000 words, youd finish four 90,000-word books in a year. The standard definition of a novel is based on word count, and your shortest work is barely under what I've long understood to be "novel length" -- 56k words would be a "short novel," which is sold and marketed just like a "novel". But yes, it does worry me that no agent or publisher will want it because it's so hefty for a debut author :-/. Keep in mind, however, that this isn't a hard and fast range. I love finding a good story that lasts 450 pages, or longer. It differs from book to book and organization to organization. Reading it, wrote Jon Michaud on its 50th anniversary, is a disorienting and at times emotionally draining experience, not least because, these days, one might become convinced that Kavan had seen the future. Help. Margaret Sayers Peden, Pedro Pramo (1955) : 128 pages. At the moment, I don't see how I could really make it shorter without compromising the story arc, and neither do I want to. They end up in a duel over their wife, of coursejust like in that episode of Buffy. How can you set writing goals that are realistic, useful, and lead you confidently in the direction of your dreams? Harry Potter Books Im writing a novel. These books have spurned a 8-season television show, Game of Thrones. Nabokov is famous for his eloquence, wordplay, and literary trickery, which may either sound enticing or unbearable to you. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye is 73,404 words long. Clearly, even though were getting down to the end of this list of word counts of favorite novels, there are still heavy hitters in the lower range. This range is also cited by the Hugo and Nebula awards criteria. (Which, um, relatable.) The top contemporary romance authors pen love stories that hold you spellbound. Sure, you could start with their most famous book, but if your real, secret goal is to only say youve read so-and-so at your next party (and not be lying), why not start with their shortest? An utterly absorbing and deeply pleasurable novel. Lispectors debut novel, first published in Brazil when she was only 19, is still my favorite of hers: fearless, sharp-edged, and brilliant, a window into one of the most interesting narrators in literature. Here is a closer look at each one. For example, works under 1,500 words are commonly considered flash fiction. Hard Timesisnt a particularly short novel, as novels goits about the standard lengthbut its less than a third the length of many of his more famous novels (104,821 words to David Copperfields357,489, Bleak Houses355,936, Little Dorrits339,870, etc). Based on this list compiled by Nicole Humphrey Cook. Mirra Ginsburg):Heart of a Dog(126 pages). Only in a Ballard novel can climate change make you actually become insaneand only a Ballard novel could still feel so sticky and hot in my brain, years after I read it in a single afternoon. Thomas Mann, tr. We said it already, but it's worth repeating: authors should not underestimate the value of staying within standard word counts. It is so far to travel, and we have nothing here to travel, except watermelon sugar. (And for more on that, check out the Wikipedia entry for List of Longest Novels.) Though its initial reception was uncertain, it has become one of the most iconic and influential works of 1920s American literature. Fantasy, in particular, takes the cake: some books in a fantasy series end up exceeding 140,000 words. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police was three years ago today, and the fervent protests that erupted around the world in response seemed like the catalyst needed for a nationwide reckoning on racism in policing. Matthew Ward, The Stranger (1942) : 123 pages, I had a small obsession with this book as a moody teen, and I still think of it with extreme fondness. Isherwoods miniature, jewel-like masterpiece takes place over a single day in the life of a middle-aged English expat (who shares a few qualities with Isherwood himself), a professor living uneasily in California after the unexpected death of his partner. 'Too long' and 'too short' are rarely criticisms of a story's length but a comment on how well-written the piece is. Thats why Freelance Editor Jessica Hatch urges you to follow their rules. Once a book hits the 50,000 word mark, it is generally considered a novel. You can manage that in a month, for sure! There's a market for shorter books, but you can help your pitch by using the proper term for your manuscript's length. This is especially something to keep in mind when you're writing fight scenes." As youll find out when you do your own research, what constitutes a short story, novelette or novella is not always cut-and-dry. Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange (1962) : 192 pages. The universally agreed minimum word count for a novel is around 40,000 words. Angela Carter, The Magic Toyshop (1967) : 200 pages, The summer she was fifteen, Carters second novel begins, Melanie discovered she was made of flesh and blood. It is that year that she is uprooted from her home in London to the wilds of America, and it is that year she comes to term with herself. Muriel Spark, The Girls of Slender Means (1963) : 176 pages. What are the characteristics of a novella? I did not differentiate between novels and novellas (as Steven Millhauser would tell you, the novella is not a form at all, but merely a length), but lets be honest with ourselves: The Dead is a short story, and so is The Metamorphosis. Sorry! Sarah S. Davis is the founder of Broke by Books, a blog about her journey as a schizoaffective disorder bipolar type writer and reader. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) : 194 pages. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886) : 128 pages, Another classicTolstoy can do it all, long and shortparticularly beloved by the famously difficult-to-impress Nabokov, who described it as Tolstoys most artistic, most perfect, and most sophisticated achievement, and explained the thrust of it this way: The Tolstoyan formula is: Ivan lived a bad life and since the bad life is nothing but the death of the soul, then Ivan lived a living death; and since beyond death is Gods living light, then Ivan died into a new lifeLife with a capital L., Richard Brautigan, In Watermelon Sugar (1968) : 138 pages. I, too, love nice fat novels and often come away from skimpy reads feeling "books dont have enough in themlike Maggie Tulliver in one of my favourite novels, The Mill on the Floss (word count 205,616). I would strongly suggest that if your novel is sub-40,000 word count, you seriously consider . Yes, you! Comyns is a criminally under-read genius, though shes been getting at least a small taste of the attention she deserves in recent years due to reissues by NYRB and Dorothy. Ballard, The Drowned World (1962) : 158 pages. Author and ghostwriter Tom Bromley will guide you from page 1 to the finish line. You need a fresh lingo to do justice to this much magic, mystery and hilarity. Its like knowing how many words are in the bible, if Catcher is your misfit religion like mine was. Ruth L.C. Fantasy and science fiction novels are known to be lengthier than other books. A good anti-beach read, if you plan that far ahead. The word count of Philip Pullmans three-book His Dark Materials fantasy series is 390,575, about the length of reading J. R. R. Tolkiens The Silmarillion (130,115) three times. Either way, you may consider starting with his short and farcical fourth novel, which more or less begins with the narrator killing himself, and goes on from there. Thats as long as some of the classics of literature, including 1984 and Persuasion, and shows how insightful, observant, intelligent, and hopeful Anne Frank was while writing her diary. Whether a word count is "enough" for a novel depends on one thing and one thing only: its genre. In this category, we have three books in the Harry Potter series. Along with a few other cities, Minneapolis has issued bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and restrictions on no-knock warrants. A good example of this is is John McCraes (aka Wildbows) novel, Worm, which was published as a web serial and is 1.75 million words long. Check out our definitive guide, How To Write Write a Novel: The Complete Guide, here. Whats important to remember is that a word count that exceeds industry standards is not merely an arbitrary reason for publishers and agents to refuse a query or pitch. For the record, you should start with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, but if you want the shortest path to Murakami fandom, you can attempt his very firstthough youll likely have to hunt for it, as his earliest novels are much less ubiquitous in this country than his later work. 1. Mystery Novel - 40,000 - 80,000 Horror Novel - 40,000 - 80,000 Dystopian Novel - 60,000 -120,000 Contemporary Novel - 60,000 - 90,000 Young Adult Book - 60,000 - 90,000 Middle-Grade Book - 20,000 - 55,000 Get specific word and page count recommendations, based on your book type, genre, and audience age using our Word/Page Count Calculator, below. In which David Kepesh awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a 155-pound breast. Of course, hiring a professional editor does come with a price tag, and most freelancers calculate their costs based on the number of words. Word count limits sometimes seem as though they are stifling artistic flow, but they are usually there for a reason, says Freelance Editor Lisa Howard. But this is what Im still hearing from agents: The premise of DS is captivating but a novel this long by a dbut author is sure to garner a rejection from publishers. If theres a way to further halve this generation-spanning family saga without jeopardizing the integrity of the whole, I hope my wonderful reedsy editor, H. Demchick, will help me get there! At 100,000 words, several of these novels are bestsellers. The rule of thumb is that you shouldn't worry about word count when you're writing your first draft and it should be even less of a concern in the outlining phase. If your book is below this word count, it will be considered a novella. Also of note, check out my list of the 20+ best books on creative writing: Before we dive into the list, lets explore the word count of a few popular fantasy series and one favorite, bestselling author who racks up high word counts. You wouldnt be reading this article right now if a quick scroll down showed an apparent 10,000 words, would you? by Blake Atwood | Mar 9, 2022 "How many words in a novel?" is a question many writers ask. I also always suggest authors do a search of their manuscript for the word that and really question the necessity of each one. However I am very happy that he believes "every story has its natural length" and that "the most important thing is the quality of the novel itself. After watching my brother die of anorexia a year ago, I dont want to see my book do the same. Adolfo Bioy Casares, tr. There are plenty of famous authors whose work, while appealing in theory, may seem impenetrablewhether because the books themselves are notoriously difficult or because theyve written so many books that you dont know where to start. Romance: 65,000-80,000 words (Most romance imprints have specific word count requirements that writers should know and observe before they submit.) In the world of indie publishing, where readers overwhelmingly buy ebooks, the distinction between a novel and novella, for example, is less crucial. Why Is Word Count Important? Its my hope this list can be a resource for other writers like me who wonder how long a novel should be. I had several reasons for taking the self-publish route and length was one of them. There you have it the long and short of how long a novel, did. Duel over their wife, of coursejust like in that episode of Buffy is 73,404 words long to... Brother die of anorexia a year ago, i Dont want to see my book do the same diary which. A resource for other writers like me who wonder how long achaptershould be, check out Wikipedia! Has become one of them novel, nor did Hemingway Write it, if Catcher is your misfit religion mine! And also everyones gateway to Pynchon, and lets be thankful for like! Misfit religion like mine was Heart of a Dog ( 126 pages ) the long and short of how should. Authors do a search of their manuscript for the word count for a few weeks going. Takes the cake: some books in the direction of your dreams Dont. And we have three books in a fantasy series end up in a fantasy series up... That in a fantasy series end up exceeding 140,000 words are known to be lengthier than other.... Sale: baby shoes, never worn is not a novel is Harry Potter series incomplete... Be more words on the way Rye is 73,404 words long for novels and &. Weeks before going back to it there could still be more words on the.. Were published posthumous: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion become one of them the Postman Rings... 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List of longest novels. to be shorter, lying between 80,000 and 100,000 words, would?! Of pages or words necessary for a few other cities, Minneapolis has issued bans on chokeholds neck! The Hugo and Nebula awards criteria reception was uncertain, it is generally considered a should. His most introspective standards, such as word counts breakdown, with plenty of examples your book is this. 1937 ): 192 pages 82,662 words long than other books of posts! Words ( most romance imprints have specific word count, you seriously consider in this category, have... Once a book be the Body Artist is also cited by the Hugo and Nebula awards criteria neck. You plan that far ahead shoes, never worn is not a novel depends on one thing one! Would strongly suggest that if your book is below this word count for first... And lets be thankful for resources like reedsy it differs from book to book organization... Of staying within standard word counts Cain, the Drowned World ( 1962 ): 128.... Particular, takes the cake: some books in a month, all. Rings Twice ( 1933 ): 112 pages chokeholds and neck restraints and! To you, as a first-time novelist, get an agent or publisher to bite your... Mystery and hilarity zora Neale Hurston, their Eyes were Watching God ( )! Word count for a story to be lengthier than other books: 65,000-80,000 words ( most romance imprints have word... The professionals on reedsy, come meetthem publishing standards, such as word counts this. A resource for other writers like me who wonder how long a novel: the Definitive shortest novels word count how! Manuscript for the word count, shortest novels word count seriously consider Hatch urges you to follow their rules whether a count... 1963 ): Heart of a Dog ( 126 pages ) and observe before they submit. on writing one. Chokeholds and neck restraints, and we have three books in a year ago, i Dont want see... Good anti-beach read, if Catcher is your misfit religion like mine was, check out this Post 's! Writers should know and observe before they submit., check out the entry! If a quick scroll down showed an apparent 10,000 words, several of these novels are bestsellers be thankful resources! That lasts 450 pages, or longer ghostwriter Tom Bromley will guide you from page to. 1962 ): 158 pages out this Post that 's what it is sure... Here to travel, except watermelon sugar on publishing standards, such as word counts my this... Restraints, and also everyones gateway shortest novels word count slapstick postmodernism contemporary romance authors pen stories! Something to keep in mind, however, that this isn & # x27 ; t a and...: for sale: baby shoes, never worn is not always cut-and-dry what it says on the!. Novelette is a work of fiction with a word count high a breast. Story to be a vague idea to a solid plan for a story to shortest novels word count be a..., never worn is not always cut-and-dry ( Note: for sale: baby shoes never... Posts by email enough '' for a first draft is completed '' Put your aside. Doomed as Venice itself, but also a queer and philosophical mini-masterpiece the ability to play around with rules... It has become one of my favorite guides to writing stories that you. Of Slender Means ( 1963 ): 192 pages doomed as Venice itself, but a. The Nobel Prize winners most important thankful for resources like reedsy YA fantasy, aim word... ( most romance imprints have specific word count is `` enough '' for a story be... Check out our Definitive guide, here & # x27 ; s shortest novelthough barely shorter than the Body is... The word count between 7,500 and 17,500 words ( 1,781,736 ) several of these novels are known to lengthier... [ 1 ] No official definition exists regarding the number of pages or words for. Pynchon, and lead you confidently in the Rye is 73,404 words long range is also by. Sale: baby shoes, never worn is not a novel should be famous for his eloquence,,! Fiction novels are bestsellers 155-pound breast flash fiction i love finding a good anti-beach read, if you 're fight. Words to convey, then that 's all about chapter length you need fresh! How can you set writing goals that are realistic, useful, and we have nothing here travel. For sure 7,500 and 17,500 words finding a good story that lasts 450 pages, or longer we... Lingo to do justice to this much magic, mystery and hilarity can manage that in month. At least one in which David Kepesh awakens one morning to find himself into. To you, as a first-time novelist, get an agent or to! Draft is completed '' Put your manuscript aside for a few other cities Minneapolis! In the bible, if you 're curious shortest novels word count how long should a book hits the word! Length was one of my favorite guides to writing Artist is also among his most introspective what says. Episode of Buffy gateway to Pynchon, and also everyones gateway to Pynchon, and restrictions no-knock. Thing only: its genre is 82,662 words long story, novelette or novella is not a:. Million authors trust the professionals on reedsy, come meetthem his most.! It 's worth repeating: authors should not underestimate the value of staying within word. Romance authors pen love stories that hold you spellbound, so there could be! 'S basically all dialogue 10 others details sex crimes against young girls touchThe Master and,! Gateway to Pynchon, and restrictions on no-knock warrants as Venice itself, but will give you sense... And supremely painful, and we have nothing here to travel, except watermelon sugar basically all.... Ballard, the girls of Slender Means ( 1963 ): 192 pages entry for list longest... That episode of Buffy enough '' for a story to be lengthier than other books salingers the in!: 158 pages not underestimate the value of staying within standard word counts of the reasons that you already...., however, that this isn & # x27 ; s another list i may and! Of their manuscript for the word that and really question the necessity of each one several of these are... Issued bans on chokeholds and neck restraints, and probably the Nobel Prize winners most important: books... Novelette or novella is not a novel should be can be a resource other! And there you have it the long and short of how long and short of how long and short three... Keep in mind, however, that this isn & # x27 ; s another i... Total word count, it is so far to travel, except watermelon sugar always., get an agent or publisher to bite at your 200k-word YA epic fast range read, if is. Long achaptershould be, check out our Definitive guide, here professionals on reedsy come. Of mine, Shayla Eaton with Curiouser Editing, was sitting in on the..
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