How Many Words is a "Book"? Here's How to Answer the Enigma

SissyBrandi19

Daddy's Little Sissy
Joined
Feb 19, 2025
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As someone who has just completed their [REDACTED] decade of life as a free human (minus a smattering of ever-so-brief periods where institutionalization was gently urged suggested mandated by the courts), I realize that there are many young people out there, wondering. I would like to give back by stamping out that wonder and turning it into a disgusting puddle of lost innocence, thereby helping guide the youth of today down the path of developing a hardened heart. I cannot be selfish and hoard the Earth’s supply of cynicism, despair and abject hopelessness. I need to be better; I need to share. We’ve all heard ‘sharing is caring’ and I’m here to tell you that rhyming grants an idea no validity, whatsoever. Seriously, stop it, you look foolish. Still, I would like to provide my unsolicited advice, as solicitation is at least a misdemeanor in most jurisdictions.

Both individuals reading this essay have the goal of writing a book. I had a similar goal which I met a decade ago. A not-as-stupid-as-my-typical question occurred to me: How many words are contained in the average book-length book? As one can imagine, if one was born prior to the internet, an invention that has killed the brain’s ability to imagine, this question can be answered in multiple ways. One could ask the experts – those who have authored novel-length novels. Because I prefer grace over condemnation, I forgive such idiocy. While this question has many possible approaches, it has but one correct approach, the quantitative approach. Duh. I am an analyst, a person for whom quantitative reasoning is akin to an old, tattered but beloved security blanket. In a word, I am 'very weird'. Yes, I know - I said 'a word' and wrote two - it's called 'margin of error' my friend - welcome to the analytical world, a world in which I preside and you are but a casual and confused tourist. Let’s explore my world, shall we? Come on – follow me!

I asked myself this question prior to penning a single word of what became my first book, which, since its 2015 debut, has sold. I determined to start my project correctly, as the perfectionist I enjoy telling others I am. It is, after all, the optimal self-applied adjective to effectively elicit faux admiration. I also realized that in order to finish this project, I would be required to bring it to completion. Achieving completion would require my project remain a secret.

Psychology informs us that revealing a goal can lower the likelihood of meeting said goal. This is due to the faux validation one receives resulting in dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens - stuff we all learned about in kindergarten. [Side note: I still remember the rhyme "Roses are red, Violets are blue, the dopaminergic reward path involves the nucleus accumbens, something-something Anhedonia"].

My vow of secrecy was aided by the fact that I am sans family, friends, acquaintances, well-wishers or anyone interested in any aspect of my life, with the sole exception of correspondence that is 'an attempt to collect on a debt'. Who needs others for validation when you have Excel 2016 and are gifted, i.e. born with the proverbial ‘Big Brian’? This led to me creating an Excel-based ‘Project Progress Tracker’. This mouthful of DIY dork genius had one goal – follow (i.e. track) the process of completion (i.e. progress) of my endeavor (i.e. project). Look, you can envy me but do not hate me. Or hate me, if you suffer from Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). It is not my fault that you are the one who is ODD.

One issue - how do you track progress to a goal if you have not defined that goal? Defining my goal thus became my pre-goal – I considered creating a second Project Tracker but quickly realized I was a moron which, though beside the point, gave me pause. Then I built some statistical models because that's what I do. Anecdote: I was once asked by a female human what I did for a living. Being the honest albeit homely person I am, I responded: "I model". This caused the inquiring human to laugh so intensely it caused what is known as an 'adverse medical event' - specifically, Incredulity-Induced Oxygen Deprivation Syndrome. I realized my response lacked the precision necessary to prevent possible choking for the person inquiring, so I now add 'statistical'.

A good statistical analyst might say "according to my model a book averages (M = x) words". I am not a good analyst; I am an amazing AF analyst, so my average includes a 95% confidence interval, because who wants to be caught with anything less than 95% confidence? You might as well be pants-less. More confidence? Arrogant prick. My model came up with a goal of 68,500 (74,500 UL; 62,500 LL) words. This was a shocking result nearly causing me to abandon my project altogether, until further research informed me that using the same word more than once is perfectly acceptable. Girded with the Sword of Knowing Stuff, I proceeded confidently. You now can, as well. You're welcome.
 
Oh God, raising an autistic kid with ODD is a nightmare! Especially when their therapist tells you to stop using reverse psychology.😵‍💫

Other than that, I found this post witty and informative.
 
As someone who has just completed their [REDACTED] decade of life as a free human (minus a smattering of ever-so-brief periods where institutionalization was gently urged suggested mandated by the courts), I realize that there are many young people out there, wondering. I would like to give back by stamping out that wonder and turning it into a disgusting puddle of lost innocence, thereby helping guide the youth of today down the path of developing a hardened heart. I cannot be selfish and hoard the Earth’s supply of cynicism, despair and abject hopelessness. I need to be better; I need to share. We’ve all heard ‘sharing is caring’ and I’m here to tell you that rhyming grants an idea no validity, whatsoever. Seriously, stop it, you look foolish. Still, I would like to provide my unsolicited advice, as solicitation is at least a misdemeanor in most jurisdictions.

Both individuals reading this essay have the goal of writing a book. I had a similar goal which I met a decade ago. A not-as-stupid-as-my-typical question occurred to me: How many words are contained in the average book-length book? As one can imagine, if one was born prior to the internet, an invention that has killed the brain’s ability to imagine, this question can be answered in multiple ways. One could ask the experts – those who have authored novel-length novels. Because I prefer grace over condemnation, I forgive such idiocy. While this question has many possible approaches, it has but one correct approach, the quantitative approach. Duh. I am an analyst, a person for whom quantitative reasoning is akin to an old, tattered but beloved security blanket. In a word, I am 'very weird'. Yes, I know - I said 'a word' and wrote two - it's called 'margin of error' my friend - welcome to the analytical world, a world in which I preside and you are but a casual and confused tourist. Let’s explore my world, shall we? Come on – follow me!

I asked myself this question prior to penning a single word of what became my first book, which, since its 2015 debut, has sold. I determined to start my project correctly, as the perfectionist I enjoy telling others I am. It is, after all, the optimal self-applied adjective to effectively elicit faux admiration. I also realized that in order to finish this project, I would be required to bring it to completion. Achieving completion would require my project remain a secret.

Psychology informs us that revealing a goal can lower the likelihood of meeting said goal. This is due to the faux validation one receives resulting in dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens - stuff we all learned about in kindergarten. [Side note: I still remember the rhyme "Roses are red, Violets are blue, the dopaminergic reward path involves the nucleus accumbens, something-something Anhedonia"].

My vow of secrecy was aided by the fact that I am sans family, friends, acquaintances, well-wishers or anyone interested in any aspect of my life, with the sole exception of correspondence that is 'an attempt to collect on a debt'. Who needs others for validation when you have Excel 2016 and are gifted, i.e. born with the proverbial ‘Big Brian’? This led to me creating an Excel-based ‘Project Progress Tracker’. This mouthful of DIY dork genius had one goal – follow (i.e. track) the process of completion (i.e. progress) of my endeavor (i.e. project). Look, you can envy me but do not hate me. Or hate me, if you suffer from Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). It is not my fault that you are the one who is ODD.

One issue - how do you track progress to a goal if you have not defined that goal? Defining my goal thus became my pre-goal – I considered creating a second Project Tracker but quickly realized I was a moron which, though beside the point, gave me pause. Then I built some statistical models because that's what I do. Anecdote: I was once asked by a female human what I did for a living. Being the honest albeit homely person I am, I responded: "I model". This caused the inquiring human to laugh so intensely it caused what is known as an 'adverse medical event' - specifically, Incredulity-Induced Oxygen Deprivation Syndrome. I realized my response lacked the precision necessary to prevent possible choking for the person inquiring, so I now add 'statistical'.

A good statistical analyst might say "according to my model a book averages (M = x) words". I am not a good analyst; I am an amazing AF analyst, so my average includes a 95% confidence interval, because who wants to be caught with anything less than 95% confidence? You might as well be pants-less. More confidence? Arrogant prick. My model came up with a goal of 68,500 (74,500 UL; 62,500 LL) words. This was a shocking result nearly causing me to abandon my project altogether, until further research informed me that using the same word more than once is perfectly acceptable. Girded with the Sword of Knowing Stuff, I proceeded confidently. You now can, as well. You're welcome.
Hemingway used to tally the pages he wrote in a day. Like he was building a wall and was counting the bricks laid. OTOH, writing a book is a journey not just a project. Like all good journeys, comma, it includes deviance, in many senses of the word. A healthy practice is to have a tight idea of your destination, maybe Rio, but no hard and fast obligation to get there on a given day, just before carnivale. OTOH, some discipline gets it done, so pack your rucksack right and keep moving. I have a simple yardstick. A page of print in a book is often around 350 words. Stick with that. Tiny type? Maybe 500. A quickie book might be 250 pages. Do the math. But my grandfather wrote a book of 1500 pages which his wife and daughter cut down to about a thousand after his untimely death. And then there is the old 'look at what others in the genre have written'. Why not? Are you the only person on the planet? I know, that's the way you feel, but really, who is going to read your book? Somebody else, right? Oops, time to hop back on the squirrel wheel. Enjoy the confusion. LK
 
Oh God, raising an autistic kid with ODD is a nightmare! Especially when their therapist tells you to stop using reverse psychology.😵‍💫

Other than that, I found this post witty and informative.
I often attempt wit and inevitably find my success rate hovering around the 50% mark.

Because I...get it....half-wit?...because the 50...(sigh)...No, I...I can see myself out the door....No, I'll be careful...I won't let it hit me in the ass, why did you just paint it? Oh. (shuffles away, muttering)...
 
Hemingway used to tally the pages he wrote in a day. Like he was building a wall and was counting the bricks laid. OTOH, writing a book is a journey not just a project. Like all good journeys, comma, it includes deviance, in many senses of the word. A healthy practice is to have a tight idea of your destination, maybe Rio, but no hard and fast obligation to get there on a given day, just before carnivale. OTOH, some discipline gets it done, so pack your rucksack right and keep moving. I have a simple yardstick. A page of print in a book is often around 350 words. Stick with that. Tiny type? Maybe 500. A quickie book might be 250 pages. Do the math. But my grandfather wrote a book of 1500 pages which his wife and daughter cut down to about a thousand after his untimely death. And then there is the old 'look at what others in the genre have written'. Why not? Are you the only person on the planet? I know, that's the way you feel, but really, who is going to read your book? Somebody else, right? Oops, time to hop back on the squirrel wheel. Enjoy the confusion.


Comment duly noted. Factually, I know that in "really", nobody is going to read my book for which I am quite prou....um...

Aw crap.

Dammit.

Actually, you gave me an idea. The issue is my book title. I was not happy with what I had thought up, and now...an epiphany. How is this for a book title? "NYT Best Seller!"
 
A good statistical analyst might say "according to my model a book averages (M = x) words". I am not a good analyst; I am an amazing AF analyst, so my average includes a 95% confidence interval, because who wants to be caught with anything less than 95% confidence? You might as well be pants-less. More confidence? Arrogant prick. My model came up with a goal of 68,500 (74,500 UL; 62,500 LL) words. This was a shocking result nearly causing me to abandon my project altogether, until further research informed me that using the same word more than once is perfectly acceptable. Girded with the Sword of Knowing Stuff, I proceeded confidently. You now can, as well. You're welcome.

What is your source for word counts here?

The mean/CI numbers here imply a symmetric distribution. It would surprise me if that were the case. Are you just assuming symmetry e.g. a normal distribution, or have you considered alternatives e.g. lognormal distribution?
 
Actually, you gave me an idea. The issue is my book title. I was not happy with what I had thought up, and now...an epiphany. How is this for a book title? "NYT Best Seller!"
Faith No More released Album of the Year in 1997. It was almost universally acclaimed as their worst effort, with one reviewer remarking that listening to it was the equivalent of waking up and finding last night's used condom: you are reminded of the good time you had, but what's left now is just gross, and you definitely don't want it in your CD player.

The band proceeded to fire one member, and then break up entirely. You may be treading on dangerous ground with this idea. :)
 
Comment duly noted. Factually, I know that in "really", nobody is going to read my book for which I am quite prou....um...

Aw crap.

Dammit.

Actually, you gave me an idea. The issue is my book title. I was not happy with what I had thought up, and now...an epiphany. How is this for a book title? "NYT Best Seller!"
Ack shlly, NYT Bestseller, exclamation point. is a pretty good title, especially if your protagonist is a sex worker, or, better, selling its ass as a 'special case' in in the Big Apple in order to achieve some long-yearned-for-goal. Since you have a twist for wry humor (purchased at Zabar's. Chapter title "Ham On Wry") What kind of half-witty New York times does your character enjoy or endure?
 
What is your source for word counts here?

The mean/CI numbers here imply a symmetric distribution. It would surprise me if that were the case. Are you just assuming symmetry e.g. a normal distribution, or have you considered alternatives e.g. lognormal distribution?
Well, first of all, my eager statistical junior analyst in training apprentice person...there are many distributions that are symmetric yet do not meet the strict, STRICT domineering, animalistic and not entirely lacking in kink, criteria of the normal distribution. I mean, you've got your t-distributions which, I'm sure readers will quickly interject, are an entire FAMILY of distributions (and quite the family-loving-family type, ifyouknowwhatImeanandIthinkyoudo)...now I say "strict" and you're naturally asking "what do you mean, strict"? to which I say, have you ever MET Old Man Shapiro or Wilk? Damn, those two are OG! But you know, between you and I...and the sheets...do you think for one minute - and I mean, you know me, right? Do you think I even give...a flying fuck...if the distribution is, pffft...leptokurtic? OR...or...and don't even FUCK with me....platykurtic? I mean...c'mon...that's...fucking bullshit.

Still, I am crapping you negatory when I had...omg...this cracks me up...a client asking me...ME...if it was "ok" if she used, you know, a t-test and she's worried about you-know-what - yep, skew! Well, you and only everybody who knows ANYTHING...can guess what I said, right? Right? OK...I mean, it's like, biatch, you have the skew...you have the standard error of the skew, soooo.....? And nothing. And I was getting kind of, you know....annoyed cuz I didn't say this but she caught me on the crapper, which is where I go to...you know...have a little one-on-one with my two favorite gals, Crystal and Methany, ifyouknowwhatImeanandIthinkyoudo! So I'm hittin' the bubble and tryin' not to cough and I just kinda let out..."why don't you just calculate the standardized skew and...you know...if it's under 1.96...right? But stupid me, stupid stupid STUPID STUPID me, I forgot she was doing a one-tail test so IMMEDIATELY I call her back and screamed DO NOT USE 1.96 FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THIS HOLY!...USE 1.645 OR IT'S ALL LOST - ALL OF IT! THERE'S NO GOING BACK, DAMMIT!

I mean, yeah that's maybe a bit of an....over-react but I mean...the shit I have is Fire! Straight up from Old Mexico by way of New Mexico, eh!?

So to answer your question? Um.....no! But it's an interesting thought and I say...hmmm...well I mean it is pages....so it's ratio-level data....and there's millions of books so you're talking large sample which boom, I know what EVERYONE thinks with large sample, Let's say it all together people! Central Limit Theorem, ahahaahhahahahhahahah! Got-DAMN this shit hits like a mother-fucker! So giving it a bit more thought, you'd have to be quite the numb-nuts to even think log-linear OR, or or or....new! I'm sorry, you're not a numb-nuts - look, I get it. You're new and uh.... you want to impress this...sissy cock-whore....I get it. It's ok. You're alright. You're MORE than alright, I'm spun you're cute and....and...is that...? Are you....getting hard? For....moi? Let's go talk more about this, my newest most favorite eager statistical junior analyst in training apprentice person! You uh...party?
 
Faith No More released Album of the Year in 1997. It was almost universally acclaimed as their worst effort, with one reviewer remarking that listening to it was the equivalent of waking up and finding last night's used condom: you are reminded of the good time you had, but what's left now is just gross, and you definitely don't want it in your CD player.

The band proceeded to fire one member, and then break up entirely. You may be treading on dangerous ground with this idea. :)
You're right....you're right! Plus, the NYT...fucking rag....my upcoming book is not a sequel but in the same genre as my 2015 debut book which sold.

Anyway, it's just...well, OK, I cheat. I write "books" that are really collections of somewhat independent though not strictly orthogonal, essays. This avoids the whole "story-arch" and "character development" that separates true literature from what I do, which has been described as "doggerel" and...that's pretty cool, I don't strictly honestly know what that means but...gotta think it's pretty awesome.

This will be a hilarious, biting commentary on culture with the running theme that being offended is not at all the same as being correct. In fact, one HAS to be exposed to offensive ideas in order to develop resilience, which one builds by being at first, offended, only to realize hey, that's pretty fucking hilarious! And men perfected the Art of the Offensive and named it "Humor". But civilization has taken a dark turn evidenced by the slow death of humor, thus enter my book.

And I kind of couch it in a "He vs She" type thing because men...we call each other "mother fucker" and "cock sucker" and to humans sporting vaginas, they might think that's offensive but a guy would be offended to NOT be called those things, as this is how a valued member of the pack is treated. So given this he/she juxtaposition (no idea what that word means but...seems like a good place for it) I'm tentatively titling my book...and you can give HONEST feedback here...MEN-Tality: A Book for Men (To Remind Some & Trigger Others). But then, I thought...that kind of cuts out half the market, maybe, so the other thing is just the offense vs correct thing so these tentative titles include You're Offended? I'm Laughing! I Guess I'm the 'Bad Guy' or one I like but also I know is death for sales The Orthogonality of Outrage & Correctness: A Primer or taking a more silly approach People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Have Glass Toilets (Unless You're Into That) or, last one I promise Two Wrongs Do Make a Right: Debunking the Lies Told by Your Mom, the Town Bicycle.
And I have a question for anyone, especially if you are writing - is there a resource on this site for recruiting beta readers? You know, someone to read your stuff and not edit but just give a general impression? And I would totally reciprocate or offer my time/expertise in the 2-3 things I'm decently good at? If anyone is interested I would reciprocate and acknowledge in the book my readers...this book will be (I hope) very funny, not deep...so a light read. And I would highly value honest feedback - this isn't at all about flattery or good effort, I genuinely seek critique...brutal critique.
 
So to answer your question? Um.....no! But it's an interesting thought and I say...hmmm...well I mean it is pages....so it's ratio-level data....and there's millions of books so you're talking large sample which boom, I know what EVERYONE thinks with large sample, Let's say it all together people! Central Limit Theorem, ahahaahhahahahhahahah!

Something doesn't add up there.

If you have a margin of 6000 words at 95% confidence, that implies a standard error in the mean of about 3000 words.

Since SEM = SD/sqrt(n), that implies population SD = SEM * sqrt(n). If you're claiming your n is "millions of books", that implies a standard deviation on the order of three million words or higher, which seems implausible.

Got-DAMN this shit hits like a mother-fucker! So giving it a bit more thought, you'd have to be quite the numb-nuts to even think log-linear OR, or or or....new! I'm sorry, you're not a numb-nuts - look, I get it. You're new and uh.... you want to impress this...sissy cock-whore....I get it. It's ok. You're alright. You're MORE than alright, I'm spun you're cute and....and...is that...? Are you....getting hard? For....moi? Let's go talk more about this, my newest most favorite eager statistical junior analyst in training apprentice person! You uh...party?

You're not really making it look appealing.
 
Something doesn't add up there.

If you have a margin of 6000 words at 95% confidence, that implies a standard error in the mean of about 3000 words.

Since SEM = SD/sqrt(n), that implies population SD = SEM * sqrt(n). If you're claiming your n is "millions of books", that implies a standard deviation on the order of three million words or higher, which seems implausible.



You're not really making it look appeal
Well, if there any errors in the addition I fully blame my solar powered calculator - which is the last solar-powered calculator I will ever buy from Temu. You really REALLY have to examine their products with a fine-tooth comb...I mean, only when I got it in the mail did I notice it was a Texas Instrumints which...I was suspicious upon opening the packaging and getting an overwhelming whiff of spearmint, which is the red-headed stepchild of the mint family. I have...no idea what that means.
 
which is the red-headed stepchild of the mint family. I have...no idea what that means.
Well once upon a time red-heads were considered of the devil, and stepchildren were considered not real family and therefore not to be trusted. Your own red-headed child might get up to devility against other people, but a step-child will be the downfall of your own children.

Of course we all know better now. Blood doesn't flow as well as water and so the devilish stepchild is more likely to favor their stepparent than the one who made a deal with the devil to birth them in the first place.
 
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