A Comprehensive Guide to Novel Word Count
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Are you an aspiring writer looking to publish your novel? I'm here to share my knowledge and provide you with a comprehensive guide to novel fiction publishing. In this article, I’ll cover everything from character and reader age group, novel word count, page count, and give some best practice advice on keeping your novel within industry standards so you can have a successful literary agent or traditional publisher submission process. So grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in.
Align Novel Word Count and Target Audience
When it comes to novel publishing, it's important to consider your target audience. Your characters should be relatable and engaging for the reader age group you're targeting. If you're writing for Young Adults, for example, your characters should be in their teens, and for New Adult, they will be in their early twenties. On the other hand, if you're writing for Middle Grade readers, your characters should be between eight and thirteen years old.
An appropriate novel word count is crucial when it comes to fitting into your desired traditional publishing category and appealing to publishing gatekeepers. Too few words may not provide enough detail or character development, while too many may turn off readers. As a general rule of thumb, a young adult novel word count should be between 60k to 80k words while middle grade novels should range from 40k to 80k words.
A standard novel word count for adult readers starts at about 60k words and can go all the way up to 120k words, especially if you’re writing in a fantasy, science fiction, or historical genre, as those novels tend to involve more robust and detailed world-building.
Besides novel word count, page count can also vary depending on the genre and target audience of your novel. A middle grade chapter will have shorter chapters and a young adult fantasy epic that requires more detail. However, as a general guidepost, most young adult novels fall between 300-400 pages while middle-grade range from 100-200 pages. This largely depends on formatting, font size, and other considerations that are decided during the publishing process.
Going Beyond Novel Word Count
Now that we've covered character development and novel word count, let's talk about best practice advice when it comes to writing novels. First, focus on creating engaging characters that readers will care about. Second, craft an exciting plot with twists and turns that keep readers turning pages. Third, use vivid descriptions to bring your story to life. Finally, make sure to edit thoroughly for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. If this isn’t your strong suit, consider working with a copy editor or proofreader. The key to writing a successful novel is not just about the words on the page but also about the process of transformational revision. Every time you go back to the page, make sure you’re focusing on structure, character development, cause-and-effect plot logic, and a strong writing voice.
The publishing market for novels can be extremely competitive. It's important to research publishers and literary agents that specialize in your genre and target audience. Submitting a polished manuscript and following submission guidelines can increase your chances of getting published.
Aspiring to publish a novel is an exciting but challenging journey for aspiring writers. By keeping in mind character development, novel word count, best practice advice when writing novels, and submitting polished manuscripts to reputable publishers or literary agents will set you on the right path towards achieving your writing journey goals. Remember that writing is a process of transformational revision—it takes time and effort but with perseverance and dedication, anything is possible.
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