How Many Words In A Novel? Average Word Count by Genre

One of the first questions writers have when starting their first novel is: ‘How long should this be?’ ‘How many words in a novel?’ While every story is unique, word count can play a significant role in shaping your book’s structure, pacing and the reader’s engagement.

Learn the average word count across various genres, how word count impacts your story, and some tips to help you determine the right length for your novel.

Why Does Word Count Matter?

Word count is more than just a writing goal or number of pages. It affects how publishers and readers view your novel, how the story unfolds and even how it fits within its genre. An expansive epic fantasy with only 50,000 words might feel rushed, while a romance novel with the same number of words might be overly drawn out. The average length of your story also impacts readability and pacing – shorter books tend to move faster, while longer novels allow for deeper development of characters, plot and worldbuilding.

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Average Word Count According To Genre

Here is a list of the typical word count range for specific genres but remember that stories can still succeed at shorter or longer lengths as long as the story is well-paced and feels complete.

Modern Fiction: 70,000-100,000 Words

Many of today’s novels are in this this range because it gives enough room to tell a good story and build strong characters, but remains tight enough to keep readers hooked. Modern readers tend to prefer books that don’t drag on too long.

“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig (75,000 words)
“Normal People” by Sally Rooney (76,000 words)
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens (96,000 words)

Mystery and Crime: 75,000-95,000 Words

These books need to be long enough to set up the crime, drop clues, and keep readers guessing. But they can’t be so long that they give away the ending too soon or lose the tension.

“Sharp Objects” by Gillian Flynn (81,000 words)
“Murder On The Orient Express” by Stieg Larsson (84,000 words)
“Heartsick” by Chelsea Cain (82,000 words)

Science Fiction and Fantasy: 100,000-190,000 words

These books run longer because writers need extra pages to build their unique worlds. Whether it’s a magical kingdom or a future planet, readers want to feel like they’re really there. “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss (255,000 words)

“Dune” by Frank Herbert (188,000 words)
“The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien (178,000 words)
“The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman (112,000 words)

Memoir: 70,000-90,000 Words

Memoirs need space to tell a life story, but they shouldn’t include every single detail. The best ones focus on the most important moments and keep moving forward.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelour (90,000 words)
“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed (85,000 words)
“Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (80,000 words)

Young Adult: 60,000-100,000 Words

These books are usually shorter and faster-paced to keep teen readers interested. They cut out the extra stuff and stick to the main story. Notable Examples:

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins (99,000 words)
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas (95,000 words)
“The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan (87,000 words)

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Questions About Word The Ideal Word Count

1. How many words per page should be in a novel?

This depends on the font, size, spacing, and formatting, but a standard estimate is around 250-300 words per page for a typical, double-spaced manuscript in 12-point Times New Roman font.

2. How long is a short story?

These range from 1,000 to 7,500 words, though they can sometimes be as brief as 500 words (flash fiction) or as long as 10,000 words. Short stories focus on concise storytelling, usually with a single plot or character arc, and are meant to be read in one sitting.

3. How long should a novella be?

A novella usually falls between 20,000 and 50,000 words. Novellas are longer than short stories, allowing for more character development and plot complexity, but they’re shorter than novels. This length works well for stories that are more focused than a novel but need more room than a short story to develop.

4. How long should a picture book be?

Picture books are typically 500 to 1,000 words, with many for younger readers leaning closer to the 500-word mark. These books rely heavily on illustrations to convey the story, so the text is concise and complements the visuals.

Follow These Word Count Guidelines For Your Story

If you’re ready to write a novel, understanding word count can give you a strong guideline for structuring your story. While there’s no exact formula, knowing the expected range – whether you’re working on a contemporary story, a mystery, or a fantasy novel – can guide your pacing and help you meet reader and publisher expectations.

At the end of the day, don’t fixate too much on how many pages or how many words long your novel is – the most important part is that you create a story that captivates readers from start to finish!