Before I answer your question, I want to bring everyone up to speed with word counts and the recommended length of a novel :)
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) 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.
The length of your work will 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 ). Less than 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), on average, is 50,000-80,000, any other fiction genre is between 80,000 and 100, 000 with the exception of historical and science fiction that can get up to 120,000 words. Look up your specific genre (once you figure it out).
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) 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.
The length of your work will 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 ). Less than 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), on average, is 50,000-80,000, any other fiction genre is between 80,000 and 100, 000 with the exception of historical and science fiction that can get up to 120,000 words. Look up your specific genre (once you figure it out).
So, you are correct. Your work is a bit long for YA.
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.
My advice
1-Is your novel really done? The first manuscript for An Italian Adventure was 150,000 words long. By the time I read it to my writers’ group and 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). So, is this the first time you think the book is done or is it really done?
My advice
1-Is your novel really done? The first manuscript for An Italian Adventure was 150,000 words long. By the time I read it to my writers’ group and 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). So, is this the first time you think the book is done or is it really done?
2-Is this your first novel? If yes, it will be even more difficult to find an agent and then a publisher. If you are set on the traditional route, you would be better off shortening a bit, but not necessarily. The Lunar Chronicle books are YA and well above the recommended 70/80 K words.
3-If the book is really done and you don’t want to cut it, you could consider indie publishing: publishing the book on your own.
I am about to publish an Indie Author Guide to help other writers publish their own books in a professional manner.
Since I am an indie author and all of my three novels so far were number one releases on Amazon in their genre, I figured I could share a couple of tricks with everyone else. If you want the guide for free subscribe to my monthly newsletter at www.gaiabamman.com ^_^
3-If the book is really done and you don’t want to cut it, you could consider indie publishing: publishing the book on your own.
I am about to publish an Indie Author Guide to help other writers publish their own books in a professional manner.
Since I am an indie author and all of my three novels so far were number one releases on Amazon in their genre, I figured I could share a couple of tricks with everyone else. If you want the guide for free subscribe to my monthly newsletter at www.gaiabamman.com ^_^
Who am I to give you advice?
I am Gaia B Amman, the intrepid author of the Italian Saga, a series of YA novels taking place in Italy and talking about everything I was told it’s impolite to talk about ;) Check my books out here.
I am Gaia B Amman, the intrepid author of the Italian Saga, a series of YA novels taking place in Italy and talking about everything I was told it’s impolite to talk about ;) Check my books out here.
Book 4, Sex-O-S, will be released on November 1st! Cover reveal on September 1st!
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