Novel length

[RonnyJane]

What is considered to be the minimum length of a novel in general? Such as number of words (preferred) or number of pages? I am starting my own personal novel (not Lit novel) and have no idea how long one should be. I have always wanted to write one and had a major brainstorm Saturday night on a title and plot and characters...it all flowed out of me too easily for me to ignore it. Does anyone know? Thanks in advance!

RonnyJane

 

[oggbashan]

Minimum

I have always understood that the absolute minimum length for a novel written for adults (not an "adult" novel) is 20,000 to 25,000 words and from that minimum to any length although over 150,000 gets unwieldy to print.

I hope that helps.

Og

 

[RonnyJane]

Thank you Ogg,

That's a large swing from high to low. What would be considered the "average" length? Thanks again!

RonnyJane

 

[oggbashan]

"Average"

Depends on the market.

In the US 40,000 to 50,000.

In the UK 30,000 to 35,000

In Germany where novellas are still popular the average can be lower than in the UK.

Og.

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Just as movies seem to be getting longer, the same seems to be true of books (best-sellers and mass market paperback, anyway).

I think of 300 - 400 pages (paperback) as the average, with a great deal of variation. Three hundred double-spaced manuscript pages would end up being around 75,000 words, although that would normally only equate to about 225+/- printed book pages, so I think 90k - 100k would be more of an average.

Depends a lot on the genre, I think, and obviously the length should be a function of the complexity and scope of the story. Anything under 60k would seem more like a novella to me.


sarah

 

[Sabledrake]

Most genre publishers (fantasy, horror, romance) look for novels from first-time authors in the 80,000 to 100,000 word category. Leisure books in particular will take up to 115,000.

Unless you're Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Jean Auel, or J.K. Rowling, better break those monstrous 300,000+ epics into trilogies

Sabledrake
longest novel to date: "Black Roses," a tale of demonic sexual obsession (137,000 words). Coming this summer!

 

[Guest]

There is a very wide variance, especially among the scores of genres. I normally see these things quoted in ranges.

The average novel length is between 60,000 and 120,000 words (the median falling somewhere between 90,000 to 100,000 words).

Assuming about 250 typed words as an average length for a page in a book, this results in roughly 250 to 500 pages per novel (the median falling somewhere between 375 to 400 pages).

 

[KillerMuffin]

Exactly, In New Courier 12 point font. Your wordprocessor count doesn't accurately count.

 

[MathGirl]

Unless you're Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Jean Auel, or J.K. Rowling, better break those monstrous 300,000+ epics into trilogies

James Michener was great for tomes, too.
MG

 

[Riven___Caulfield]

I thought the standard length for a novella was 60,000 words.

 

[KillerMuffin]

According to my writer's market, most publishers begin at 55,000 words. Beginning writers should shoot for smaller works, according to several big house editors, because houses are reluctant to spend the money on unknowns and a smaller book is less of a risk than a thicker one.

Novellas are about 15,000 to 50,000 words. Depends on the publisher.

Publishers set their own standards for what a novel is. There is no one standard.

 

[snooper]

E-books tend to be shorter.

My publisher charges $5.45 for about 30-45,000 words up to $8.95 for 60,000+.

 

[RonnyJane]

Excellent!

Thanks guys and gals. This helps tremendously. I have one page down and many many more to go. I'm mainly doing this for fun and to say I wrote a novel. The story line is also strong and interesting. If I get it published or make a penny on it that'll just be a bonus. Thanks!

RonnyJane

(Today's fantasy: Get abducted by two men in a Budweiser truck)

 

[BlackSnake]

E-books tend to be shorter.

My publisher charges $5.45 for about 30-45,000 words up to $8.95 for 60,000+.

I've been doing tests, creating E-Book using Acrobat and PageMarker for Adobe E-Book reader. Who's your publisher? I would like to see what technology is being used.

 

[snooper]

Who's your publisher?

Sending this privately - no advertising, of which I wholeheartedly approve. I get enough spam without the Lit Forum being inundated with it.

I would like to see what technology is being used.

The books are available as .pdf or as Microsoft Reader (so you can listen to them being read by a Dalek*). Also there is a special service for morons like me who can get .txt.


* Dalek: A semi-robotic character controlled by an on board BEM inthe cult SF series "Dr.Who" on UK television.

 

[MathGirl]

Almost done!

I have one page down and many many more to go.

Dear RJ,
Well done. I truly admire someone who can see a project through the long haul. It's when you get into the homestretch on pages... oh .. six or seven that separates the sheep from the goats.
MG

Ps. Please pardon me for using the s-word. I can't seem to write anything lately that doesn't contain sheep or garderobes.

 

[RonnyJane]

Aww shucks MG

Thanks! Considering I wrote that one page Saturday morning around 3 am with a Wild Turkey and Coke buzz, I'm surprised I even got one page completed. By the way MG, I think you are cute as a button and I enjoy reading your posts.

RonnyJane

 

[sweetnpetite]

This thread hasn't been posted to for a while, just thought I'd ask how the novel is coming. Hope you're still working at it.

 

[Jenny _S]

This thread hasn't been posted to for a while, just thought I'd ask how the novel is coming. Hope you're still working at it.

I really wish you would make your sig line longer, sweetnpetite. It seems somewhat "understated".

 

[sweetnpetite]

Anything for you dear

_____________________________

SWEETNPETITE

I look forward to your feedback. Although I enjoy all feedback, I hardly ever hear from woman about my stories and would especially like to encourage response from the females.

I would like to give an idea of the kinds of feedback I am most interested in as when I read a story and feedback is requested, I often wonder, "what do they really want? fan-mail, detailed critique, helpful suggestions, maybe a confession of my own exploits?" I feel uncertain at times in responding and so perhaps others feel that way as well and it prevents them from sending feedback or saying just what they want to.

First and formost, I am not trying to "pick up" anyone for any purpose such as confession sessions or get togethers or whatnot. I'm not too shy or prudish to discuss personal matters in the right context but that is far from my purpose in being here.

Certainly if you enjoyed a story of mine and would like to share your reaction, that is fine. If certain parts make you particularly hot I love to hear that. It lets me know what I am doing right. Similerly if there are things you don't like, that turned you off or that could have been done better, I'd like to hear about that too.I welcome critiques on the writing itself, even flaws and errors pointed out, comments on style, grammer, spelling, plotting, whatever. I just ask that you take into account what I am trying to do with a particular story or scene, and not what you think it *should* be. The second thing I ask, is that any critique on the *form* of the writing also include an oppinion of the story itself. Is the story good, is it told well, was it easy to read, could you "see" what was happening?

If you voted, I would like to know what score you gave a story and why. (if you'd like to share) People only tend to tell you when they give you a five. If my story didn't get a five from you, I would like to know where I missed the mark. What *would* have made it a five? If you felt the story deserved a really low score of say 1 or 2, what would have bumped it up to at least a 3 or 4?

Also, do you have any questions, about the story, future instalments or anything else? Be sure to include your e-mail. You'd be surprised how many feedback letters say, "Will there be a "Stranger Part II?" and don't include anywhere for me to respond. Even if you don't have a question, I enjoy feedback that allows me to respond to what was said, even if its just to say "thanks."

If you have written something similer and would like me to read it, feel free to tell me about it, include a link if you can and let me know what kind of feed-back you would most appreciate.

Please don't ask me to co-write, because I don't like having to turn anyone down, but I just don't have time to commit to any projects in additon to what I'm already working on.Any offers of editing or proof-reading help are appreciated and considered, especially if our styles match and you can demonstrate good spelling and grammer trouble-shooting in relation to my work.

I look forward to your feedback, your glowing praise, and even your critisisms, so go read my stuff now,and let me know what you think!

Be forwarned, I write raw and dirty, no highbrown "erotica" here, just straight up porn from a female perspective. You may be suprised...

 

[RonnyJane]

Thanks Sweetnpetite

Thanks for asking.

Actually I've had major, heavy duty writer's block lately. I wrote my next erotic story today. It should be posted soon on the site so look for it. Maybe the block has been blocked!

As far as my novel, well, between a demanding career, my three year old, and a brand new house, I've had very limited time. I have continued to work on it though but progress is achingly slow. I suppose all novelists have had their share of setbacks.

I do believe I have an easier time writing erotica than nonerotica. Scary huh? lol

Again, thanks for asking and for keeping this post alive. Makes me wonder what's the longest amount of time it took some famous writers to write a novel. I assure you, mine will be longer.

RJ

 

[MathGirl]

I really wish you would make your sig line longer, sweetnpetite. It seems somewhat "understated".

Dear J,
Do I detect the merest soupcon of sarcasm there? I haven't looked in months, but the aformentioned sig was even longer than Earls.
Nonjudgementally,
MG