What is the Ideal Book Length?
You find yourself sitting in front of your computer one day, ready to write that book that you have been thinking about writing for some time, when suddenly, you come face-to-face with one of the biggest questions… what is the ideal book length for this specific project? Although I am an advocate of writing a book without having a word count in mind, it is important to be aware of the general guidelines for each genre so that you know what the readers expect.
Here is a basic guide about ideal book length for fiction and non-fiction books.
Fiction
When thinking about writing fiction, you must consider four important book length categories: short story, novelette, novella, and novel.
A short story is usually about a single event and it is focused on creating a mood rather than explaining a plot. It is usually under 7,500 words.
A novelette is usually of romantic or sentimental nature. Novelettes are between 7,500 and 17,500 words in length.
A novella is shorter than a novel and usually does not contain chapters. Novellas were very popular in the 19th and 20th centuries and are usually between 17,500 and 40,000 words. Some famous examples are “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.
A novel is usually long, involves different characters and it’s divided into chapters. Any book that contains more than 40,000 words is considered a novel. Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings series fall under this category.
Now that we have discussed the previous four fiction categories, let’s look at the recommended book length for different types of fiction.
Western fiction usually runs between 50,000 and 80,000 words.
Young adult is usually anywhere between 50,000 to 70,000 words.
Romance novels are between 50,000 and 100,000 words.
History fiction can easily be around 100,000 words.
Women’s fiction can be as short as 75,000 but it can reach up to 120,000 words.
Crime and Thrillers tend to be a bit longer; they range from 75,000 to 130,000 words.
Science and Fantasy fiction are the most extensive of them all because of how intricate the settings and the plots are. They can be up to 180,000 words but most do not exceed the 150,000-word mark.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction does not have a word minimum or limit. The book length will depend on what topic is being discussed and how detailed it is. Popular non-fiction goes anywhere between 70,000 and 120,000 words. Other non-fiction such as Memoirs and Biographies tend to go between 70,000 and 100,000 words. But not all non-fiction is this long. There are many How-To books and Manuals that are as short as 7,500 words.
How Long Should a Book Be?
After briefly looking at the different genres and their suggested book length, it is easier to decide how long should a book be. I suggest for you to start writing your book without limitations and without worrying about having to fall within a range. It is important to keep in mind the word range for your genre but it should not be an influencing factor when you are writing.
In the unlikely event that you end up writing your first book as a novel with over 150,000 words, you can always reduce the book length during the editing process. You can also reconsider if the book should stay as a stand-alone book or if you should turn it into a series. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure that your story is of quality, avoid rambling, and provide your reader with a good story that is not rushed or too long.
Happy writing!