Word counts; how long should your WIP be?
Writers don’t count pages, but words. Any writing program (scrivener, word, pages) has a function to tell you your word counts. If someone asks for the length of your work and you answer in pages you sound like a rookie. Approximate to the closest 5,000. For example don’t say 83,255 words, around 85,000 is okay (unless you are talking to a publisher, in which case keep it precise to allow them to calculate print costs.)
How do word counts translate into pages? If you’re wondering how many pages is your work, it will depend on how your book is printed, but a good average for YA (young adult, what I write) is 250 words per page. So if your work is 75,000 words you are looking at 75,000 words/250 words per page= 300 pages.
Word counts define the type of work. If your work is below 100 words it’s microfiction (superhard, I love it! For an excellent example check out Objects of Desire by Adam O’Fallon Price ), below a 1,000 words it’s flash fiction, below 30,000 words it’s a short story, below 50,000 a novella, above 50,000 it’s a novel (a fictional book). These ranges vary, but this is a good rule of thumb.
The length of a novel will depend on the genre; YA (young adult) is 50,000-80,000, any other fiction genre between 80,000 and 100, 000 with the exception of historical and science fiction which can get up to 120,000 words. Look up your specific genre (once you figure it out) or feel free to ask :)
Does this matter? Yes, if you are looking for an agent or a publisher. Remember that they are swamped with options and are looking for a reason to move your manuscript from the slush pile to the garbage.
If you are indie, do as you please, but I found with time that those ranges are pretty reasonable. Feel free to break the rules, but respect your readers! Don’t have them pay $4 for a work of fiction that is only a few pages. Don’t bore them to death with an unedited, dragging manuscript.
The first manuscript for AIA was 150,000 words long. By the time I published, the novel was 75,000 words and I had 180,000 words in the garbage. Keep in mind that when you write your first draft you might want to be way over your word count, because a quarter to half of your draft will be pared down (in my experience, but everyone is different).
Who am I to give you advice?
I am the sarcastic author of The Italian Saga (#TIS): an indie series of YA novels taking place in gorgeous Italy, and taking about everything I was told is impolite to talk about. You can check them out here :)
BIG FLASH NEWS! An Italian Adventure will soon be available on ALL e-readers! (Kobo, i-pads, computers…all of them, not just Kindle! Stay tuned ^_^) Woo-hoo!
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