Approximate word count ranges for major categories are:
General Adult/Women's Fiction: 60-90K
Thrillers: 80-100K
Fantasy/SciFi: 80-low 100K
Young Adult: 60-85K (more for the scifi/fantasy/paranormal brethren)
Middle Grade: 40-60K (ditto)
I wonder if, with media being constantly condensed (shorter blog posts, headlines in lieu of full news reports, 140-character updates), readers will start to be less tolerant of longer books?
I've heard some rumblings about this, and I think there is definitely some trend here toward bite-sized media in all forms. But then I hear about all of the cool additions being made to books these days (like soundtracks), and I wonder if the changing face of media isn't going to make for richer multi-sensory experiences, even as some things, like word count, change.
Then I wonder if I'm really going to like all the add-ons all that much. So, you know.
What do you think?
When I'm choosing a book to read, I appreciate a longer one - that's why I was so in raptures over Justin Cronin's THE PASSAGE. I was obsessed with the book and I could spend longer in its world.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer, I try to keep my word counts very tame. Especially since I'm unagented, I'm terrified of scaring anyone off.
I'll still pick up a Stephen King book (well, on my Kindle...his books are almost too heavy in hardback), but I must admit I look at the pages of a book and think "how much time do I have to devote to it?" I love reading but time is a factor. Shorter books almost always win out for me to read first. It takes a skilled writer to churn out long books where you don't think about the book's length.
ReplyDeleteI think people still look at "big books" as a better value when compared to a shorter one at the same price. It's a fluke of perception, as there's no baseline from story to story, but it still makes the buyer feel like they've gotten more for their money.
ReplyDeleteSince I'm always a little sad when I finish a good book, I generally like the ones that take longer to finish.
ReplyDeleteThe substantial word counts in the Twilight series hasn't seemed to scare anyone.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it until you mentioned it, but I'm less aware of book length with ebooks on my Kindle. I adjust the font to make it easier for me to read anyway, so all I really have to go by is the "23%" or whatever at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Angelica, great point! Maybe it's more about changing the format and the hardware. A thick printed book is heavy and hard to carry around, whereas a thick book in e-book format is still just the size/weight of your Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThe longer the book the better. I want to really get to know the characters and root for them!
ReplyDeleteI like something I can dig into or that takes me somewhere and does a good job of keeping me there. Sometimes I need a longer book, and sometimes I don't :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I feel much better about my YA historical ghost story bloating up to 114,000 words in this last revision. I'm not saying every single one of those words is staying, but it least it might not be quite the same issue with the ebook revolution.
ReplyDeleteAngelica, totally!! I read a 130+K submission last night because the premise reminded me of a book I love. Agents will totally still check out work outside of these ranges--but we can also tell within a few pages if the word count is high bc it needs to be or because of loose/overwrought writing.
ReplyDeleteI usually write too concisely...see?
ReplyDeleteI've cut my women's fiction manuscript from 157,000 to 122,000 words. I don't think I can cut much more without taking it from lean to anorexic. So I'm working to make the query enticing enough that a few agents will be willing to consider it in spite of the length. :)
ReplyDeleteI grew up reading the classic long books, and many of my own manuscripts are extremely long. In general, books that are only a few hundred pages (at least books intended for grownups as opposed to younger people) feel really short and unsatisfying. I'd love to see a return to 1,000+ page books and away from books that are all of 300 pages long.
ReplyDeleteI like my books short and satisfying...and the more "media" attached, the cooler the experience.
ReplyDeleteI dislike media attached. Why? It's all mostly linear ... you have to commit to the whole thing. No skimming past sections is possible.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think length is made more manageable through frequent chapter breaks. I often look ahead and say to myself, "I only have five more pages til the chapter break, I can get through this difficult section." And then if there's a good hook at the end of the chapter, then I'll continue on to the next one. Hook, hook, hook to the end. But if the chapters are too long, I might quit in the middle of a particularly difficult section and never get back to it.