Novel Writing

15 Comments so far »

1. by Coco, on January 14 2009 @ 1:21 am

   

   As long as the story is good, it doesn't matter how many words there are! No one ever counts them!
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2. by Nessa, on January 14 2009 @ 1:32 am

   

   Well, if it's short, it's normally called a novella. Also, you shouldn't worry about the length. It's the content that people are after most of the time.
   References :

3. by MI5, on January 14 2009 @ 2:02 am

   

   Not as many as Thomas Hardy put in Far From the Madding Crowd unless its not about sheep. That was far too long. About as long as the first Harry Potter one so that people can't wait for the next one!! Can't wait to read it!
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4. by lucy_nash, on January 14 2009 @ 2:20 am

   

   A young-adult novel will run between 20,000 and 40,000 words.
   A mass-market western, mystery or SF novel used to run to 60,000-70,000 words. Now they're more likely to hit 90,000 words. Fantasy novels seem to be about 125,000 words—per volume, with some series going on and on. Mainstream fiction can be anywhere from 55,000 words…
   I'm writing one too but I have been for last 3 year…but work always get in my way! Agrrr
   References :
   http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/fiction/2004/12/how_many_pages_.html

5. by zion, on January 14 2009 @ 2:46 am

   

   gone with the wind was a first novel count that
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6. by dukefenton, on January 14 2009 @ 3:10 am

   

   As many as you need to tell the story you want to the way you want to, but no more.
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7. by mary, on January 14 2009 @ 3:50 am

   

   I agree with coco
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8. by Rose D, on January 14 2009 @ 3:55 am

   

   Don't focus too much on word count. Publishers generally look for around 50,000 words or more, but you don't want to pad it too much or it'll be boring. Use the number of words that you need to tell your story, and then work with an editor or friend to polish it up.
   References :

9. by Jessie P, on January 14 2009 @ 4:07 am

   

   The publishers don't want to see a novel that is too short, 80,000 words or less. They also don't want to see a novel that would be too long for a first timer. 110,000 would be too long for a first timer, because they don't know if your book will sell. Shoot for around 90-95,000 words.
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10. by silverside, on January 14 2009 @ 4:28 am

    

    I've been shopping a first novel of 52,000 and at least one agent has told me that it's too short.
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11. by Ms. Switch, on January 14 2009 @ 4:41 am

    

    One of the pitfalls that first-time novelists are often warned against is the temptation to put everything they want to say into a first novel. This can result in a very long and scattered story, and in "using up" all of your ideas in one book.

    IMO, better to be a little short. If necessary, you can then add descriptions of places and people, and background info on characters.

    There are lots of great novellas and shortish novels out there.
    References :

12. by bored writer, on January 14 2009 @ 5:30 am

    

    Dunno about words but, 2-400 pages.
    References :

13. by Sup, on February 7 2009 @ 5:33 am

    

    Basically, you are looking at 100,000 words. This is publisher is going to say. No more - no less…. your 52000 word story is a novella. It is not a novel and the person who told you it is to short is correct. If the story is complete and you are happy with it, I would write another one about the same length. Combine the two into a book and you will have a novel. I would get an opionion in the first story. If they say it is great! Write the second one. It will be VERY hard to pad 48000 words into a completed story.

14. by first time writer, major reader, on March 2 2009 @ 4:26 pm

    

    i see that most of you are saying generally 60-90 thousand words is good and that 120,000+ is too big. but i have to say i read alot hence my “name” and generally i read a whole 200,000-500,000 word book (although its online and fan fiction) in like 3-4 days. now im not sure average reading speed i may read alot faster than normal.anyway ive also read alot shorter books around 100,000 and less words that are still great. but i prefer long books anway

    so i would say 100,000 - 200,000 generally would be good

15. by Camley, on March 10 2009 @ 1:52 am

    

    I have been writing for two years and so far, in all my research, almost everyone, author or not, has told me different statements about how long a story should be. They all have their own personal opinions. The best way is: “is to write what you need to write”. Then you can concentrate how many words you want. As long as you don’t delete anything valuable in the deleting process. But, to humor you, the best for young-adult books is 20,000 to 40,000 words.

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