How Long Should My Book Be? (Word Count by Genre)
TL;DR:Word count expectations vary significantly by genre. Literary fiction runs 70,000–100,000 words. Romance is 50,000–90,000. Fantasy and science fiction can run 90,000–120,000+. Young adult is 55,000–80,000. Memoir is 70,000–90,000. Nonfiction varies widely from 30,000–80,000. These ranges reflect agent, publisher, and reader expectations.
Word count is largely driven by genre expectations. Readers, agents, and publishers all have established norms, and staying within them helps your book feel “right” in the market.
General fiction guidelines:
- Literary & commercial fiction: 70,000–100,000 words
- Below 60,000 can feel too short; above 110,000 may feel excessive for a debut
Romance:
- Contemporary: 50,000–80,000 words
- Historical / suspense: 70,000–90,000 words
- Category romance: 40,000–55,000 words
Mystery & thriller:
- Typically 70,000–90,000 words
- Pacing is critical — unnecessary length hurts engagement
Fantasy & science fiction:
- Fantasy: 90,000–120,000+ words (epic fantasy often longer)
- Sci-fi: 80,000–110,000 words
Young readers:
- Young Adult (YA): 55,000–80,000 words
- Middle Grade: 25,000–50,000 words
Nonfiction:
- Memoir: 70,000–90,000 words
- Self-help / business: 30,000–80,000+ words depending on depth
Why word count matters:
- Reader expectations (what feels “complete”)
- Marketability (agents, retailers, positioning)
- Production cost (longer books cost more to print)
Bottom line: Write to the expectations of your genre first, then refine for pacing and clarity. A well-paced 75,000-word book will outperform a bloated 110,000-word one almost every time.
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