How Long Should Your Book Be? A Practical Guide
How Long Should Your Book Be? A Practical Guide
One of the most common questions from first-time authors: "How many words should my book be?"
The honest answer: it depends. But that's not very helpful, so let's get specific.
Word Count by Genre
Here are typical word counts for different types of books:
Non-Fiction Business/Self-Help
- Short: 25,000-35,000 words
- Standard: 40,000-60,000 words
- Comprehensive: 60,000-80,000 words
Memoir
- Standard: 60,000-80,000 words
- Epic memoir: 80,000-100,000 words
Fiction (General)
- Novella: 20,000-40,000 words
- Novel: 70,000-100,000 words
- Epic novel: 100,000+ words
Genre Fiction
- Romance: 50,000-80,000 words
- Mystery/Thriller: 70,000-90,000 words
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi: 90,000-120,000 words
- Literary Fiction: 70,000-100,000 words
The Real Answer: As Long as It Needs to Be
Word counts are guidelines, not rules. Your book should be long enough to:
- Fully deliver on its promise to readers
- Cover your topic or story completely
- Provide genuine value
And short enough to:
- Respect your reader's time
- Stay focused without padding
- Maintain interest throughout
Signs Your Book Is Too Short
- Readers feel the ending is abrupt
- Key concepts aren't fully explained
- There's no depth or nuance
- It feels like a blog post stretched into a book
Signs Your Book Is Too Long
- You're padding with unnecessary examples
- Chapters repeat the same points
- You included everything you know instead of what readers need
- It takes forever to get to the point
Quality Over Quantity
A focused 35,000-word book that solves a specific problem is infinitely more valuable than an 80,000-word book that wanders.
Readers don't care about word count. They care about value. Give them a transformation, solve their problem, or tell them a compelling story—that's what matters.
Practical Tips for Hitting Your Target
For Non-Fiction:
- Aim for 3,000-5,000 words per chapter
- 10-15 chapters is a good target
- Each chapter should have one main idea
For Fiction:
- Aim for 3,000-6,000 words per chapter
- Let scene requirements dictate chapter length
- Don't pad scenes just to hit word counts
What About Page Count?
Word count translates roughly to pages like this:
- 250 words ≈ 1 page (standard formatting)
- 50,000 words ≈ 200 pages
- 75,000 words ≈ 300 pages
This varies based on formatting, font, and trim size.
Start With an Outline
The best way to ensure your book is the right length is to plan it properly:
- Outline your chapters
- Estimate words per chapter
- Total your estimate
- Adjust structure as needed
If your outline suggests 20,000 words but you're targeting 50,000, you need more content or deeper coverage. If it suggests 120,000 words for a business book, you need to cut or split into multiple books.
Don't Stress Too Much
Here's the good news: you can always adjust. If your first draft is too long, you can cut. If it's too short, you can add.
Focus first on writing. Worry about length later.
Ready to plan your book's structure? Try our guided planner to map out your chapters and get a clear sense of your book's scope.