How Many Words Are in a Book?
Ready to write that book you’ve been thinking about? Let’s do it! When embarking on a writing journey, one of the most common questions writers ask is: How many words should my book have? The answer is both simple and complex. It depends on the genre, target audience, and even the publishing route.
Whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, or something in between, understanding word count targets by genre is helpful to know what you are aiming for. By understanding your genre’s word count, you can create a writing practice that works best for you. Let’s explore the intricacies of word counts across different genres and formats.
Fiction Word Counts
Fiction books often adhere to specific word count ranges based on genre and audience. These guidelines aren’t hard and fast rules, but they do help authors align with industry expectations.
Novels
Literary Fiction: 60,000–110,000 words
Literary fiction leans heavily on character development and prose, often allowing for longer word counts to explore intricate themes.Commercial Fiction: 70,000–100,000 words
Plot-driven and accessible, commercial fiction is typically concise, keeping readers engaged.Fantasy and Science Fiction: 90,000–140,000 words
These genres often require extra length to establish complex worlds, magic systems, and histories. For instance, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring contains over 187,000 words, reflecting the depth of its universe.
Genre-Specific Novels
Romance: 50,000–100,000 words
Romance can range widely, with shorter word counts often seen in category romance for publishers like Harlequin.Mystery/Thriller: 70,000–100,000 words
Pacing is critical here. Authors like Agatha Christie often wrote mysteries under 60,000 words, but contemporary thrillers, like those by James Patterson, hover closer to 90,000 words.
Young Adult (YA)
YA novels generally range from 50,000 to 80,000 words. Popular examples include John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (67,000 words).
Middle Grade (MG)
MG books are tailored for readers aged 8-12 and typically range from 20,000 to 55,000 words, though fantasy MG may extend to 65,000 words. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief contains about 87,000 words, pushing the upper limits.
Nonfiction Word Counts
Nonfiction encompasses a vast array of subjects, and word counts can vary greatly depending on the book’s purpose and audience.
Memoir
Memoirs range from 60,000 to 90,000 words, allowing authors to tell personal stories with depth. Michelle Obama’s Becoming contains over 140,000 words, exemplifying an in-depth memoir.
Self-Help/How-To
These books are often shorter, ranging from 40,000 to 60,000 words, to maintain focus and readability.
Example: James Clear’s Atomic Habits is about 55,000 words.
History and Biography
Historical and biographical works often exceed 70,000 words, with many surpassing 100,000 words depending on their depth.
Example: Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is over 200,000 words, reflecting its exhaustive research.
Essay Collections
Essay collections may range from 40,000 to 70,000 words, depending on the number and length of essays. Joan Didion’s The White Album contains 50,000 words, offering concise but profound insights.
Shorter Formats
Books don’t always need to be full-length tomes. There are several popular, smaller formats.
Novellas
A novella typically ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 words, offering a middle ground between short stories and novels.
Example: George Orwell’s Animal Farm is about 30,000 words.
Short Story Collections
Short story collections can vary widely but often total 40,000 to 80,000 words. Each story may range from 1,000 to 10,000 words.
Flash Fiction
Flash fiction is defined by brevity, with stories typically under 1,000 words. Collections may amount to 10,000 to 50,000 words.
Children’s Books
Children’s literature has its own set of conventions based on age group.
Picture Books
These books are intended for 4 to 8 year old readers and generally contain 500 to 1,000 words and rely heavily on illustrations.
Example: Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are has fewer than 400 words.
Chapter Books
Designed for 8 to 10 year old readers, chapter books range from 5,000 to 15,000 words, with simple prose and engaging illustrations.
The Impact of Publishing Path
The publishing route—traditional, self-publishing, or Hybrid—also influences word count. Traditional publishers adhere to industry norms, while self-publishing offers flexibility, especially for niche genres or experimental formats.
Why Word Count Matters
The word count of your book matters for a number of reasons and helps to set the expectations for publishers and readers alike.
Reader Expectations: Genres often have established norms that guide readers’ expectations.
Publishing Costs: Longer books cost more to produce and may result in higher price points.
Pacing and Engagement: Word count affects pacing. A 50,000-word thriller feels very different from a 100,000-word epic fantasy.
While these word count guidelines are useful, they’re not absolute. Some stories need more room to breathe, while others shine in their brevity. The key is to focus on telling your story authentically and effectively. Word count can always be adjusted during editing to fit your narrative's needs.
So, how many words will your book have? Whether it’s a 500-word picture book or a 200,000-word saga, remember: Your narrative, your way—unapologetically!
Need help to track your word count as you write? Grab the free Word Count Tracker spreadsheet.
