How long should a book be?

[Notus]

I've been writing a book for a while now and its about 19k words, but it's just getting started storyline-wise, in fact I've been saving the actual storyline for a huge twist but I think it will end up getting less and less catching the longer I keep these twists from happening, my chapters are roughly 1 1/2 pages long each though I have a few that are 3 or 4 pages long. Anyways, how long, on average, should a book be? It's a mix between fantasy and sci-fi.

[Pamster]

It depends really on the kind of novel it is, you could aim for 50,000 but most I think are more like 70-80,000 with many going up to 120,000. If it's aimed at children it might be in the realm of 20,000 just about the length you've got now. It just depends really on the book and the genre might matter a bit, I don't know how long romance or scifi novels are but the first one I wrote was 140,000 but I have edited it some down to 134,000.

My children's stories are about 20,000 words each, any longer then that I am afraid wouldn't sell. I am interested in what other's think of this topic as well Notus, so thank you for posting this here. Welcome to the Cooler, it's nice to meet you. I think the answer to your question might be between 80,000-110,000, maybe 120K. :)

[ChaosTitan]

You are 19k into it, and the story is just getting started? The story should start on page one, not page 100.

But to answer your question, novels can range anywhere from 75k to 100k.

[J. Weiland]

As Pamster said, at least 80,000 words, unless of course you are writing for young adults, which might be slightly shorter.

[scribbler1382]

At least 5.5 inches for a paperback, otherwise it will look weird on your shelf.

[Notus]

You are 19k into it, and the story is just getting started? The story should start on page one, not page 100.


It's not that the story hasn't started it's more that it hasn't fully emerged, i've been trying to hold the reader's attention till now and soon i will try to bring in the storyline

Anyways thanks for the numbers, that will help me plan a lot ^.^

[jennifer75]

I'm writing a memoir, I'm about half way through my story and I'm only at 26,000 words. I doubt I'll get more than 50K once I'm finished. Is that too short? I'm guessing a 200 page memoir.

[J.S Greer]

It's not that the story hasn't started it's more that it hasn't fully emerged, i've been trying to hold the reader's attention till now and soon i will try to bring in the storyline

Anyways thanks for the numbers, that will help me plan a lot ^.^

If you have 19k words already, the storyline should have been "Brought in" already.

Start with the action, always.

My current WIP is standing at about 150K, and will most likely drop to about the 120K range after the first edit. Fantasy books can be slightly longer than the standard 100K from what Ive heard agents and editors say.