Novel Word Count by Genre: A Guide for Writers
Typical word counts for novels, novellas and short stories, plus genre ranges publishers commonly expect from debut authors.
Publishers and literary agents often look at word count before they read a single page. A manuscript that is far outside the usual range for its genre can be harder to sell, especially for a debut author.
Fiction length categories
Many writing organizations, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for its awards, use these bands:
| Category | Word count |
|---|---|
| Short story | Under 7,500 words |
| Novelette | 7,500 to 17,499 words |
| Novella | 17,500 to 39,999 words |
| Novel | 40,000 words and above |
Typical ranges by genre
These are common industry expectations for debut novels, not strict rules:
- Adult literary and general fiction: about 70,000 to 100,000 words.
- Romance: often 50,000 to 90,000 words, with category romance shorter.
- Mystery and thriller: about 70,000 to 90,000 words.
- Science fiction and fantasy: about 90,000 to 120,000 words; epic fantasy can run longer.
- Young adult (YA): about 50,000 to 80,000 words.
- Middle grade: about 30,000 to 55,000 words.
Why length matters to publishers
Longer books cost more to print and ship, and a very long debut suggests the story may need tighter editing. A very short novel may feel thin to readers paying a full price. Established authors have more freedom.
Tracking your progress
Set a target in the middle of your genre's range and break it into chapters. Paste each finished chapter into the word counter to track running totals and reading time. Many writers aim for chapters of 2,000 to 5,000 words, though pacing should decide chapter length, not a number.
Revision often changes the count
First drafts commonly shrink by 10 to 20 percent during editing, or grow when subplots need development. Finish the draft first, then shape the length during revision.
Frequently asked questions
How many words in a novel?
Most adult novels are 70,000 to 100,000 words. Anything over 40,000 words is generally considered a novel, and debut authors are usually advised to stay inside their genre's typical range.
How many words in a short story?
A short story is usually under 7,500 words, and many magazines prefer 1,000 to 5,000. How many words in a novella? Typically 17,500 to 40,000.
What is a typical young adult novel word count?
Young adult novel word count usually falls between 50,000 and 80,000 words. Fantasy novel word count runs longer, often 90,000 to 120,000 words, because world-building takes space.
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