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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Is there any standard regarding the minimum length of a novel?

Asked by: Jessica Roman

If you’re writing your first novel, the general rule of thumb for novel writing is a word count in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. While anything over 40,000 words can fall into the novel category, 50,000 is considered the minimum novel length.

How many pages are required for a novel?

How many pages should a novel have and how many words per chapter. I see this question a lot so here’s a quick answer: Novels are typically 250 to 350 pages; with about 200 to 300 words per page. This will depend on genre and word count.

How long is a novel normally?

around 50,000-70,000 words

A story that is over 40,000 words is generally considered a novel. However, it will be on the short side, as the average length of a novel hovers around 50,000-70,000 words.

Can a novel be any length?

The average novel is between 80,000-100,000 words.

Technically there’s no maximum length for a novel, but there are guidelines you can follow to determine whether your story is the appropriate length, or too long. These guidelines vary depending on the genre you’re writing in, and the age range of your target audience.

What is the minimum amount of chapters in a novel?

However, there is no exact minimum or standard for how many chapters a novel should have. Because chapters are just places where the author decides to break up the flow of their story, you could go a more traditional route and end up with 12-28 chapters or choose to be more experimental and have as many as 200.

How long is too long for a novel?

If you’re writing your first novel, the general rule of thumb for novel writing is a word count in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. While anything over 40,000 words can fall into the novel category, 50,000 is considered the minimum novel length. Anything over 110,000 words is considered too long for a fiction novel.

How long is a book chapter?

Some will tell you 2,500 words is the average, while others will say that 3,000 to 5,000 word chapters are more likely to be the norm. Most agree that under 1,000 words would be rather short and that over 5,000 might be rather too long. As a general guideline, chapters should be between 3,000 to 5,000 words.

Do novels need chapters?

Unlike the other 3 formats, novels need chapters. They make reading your book easier for the reader, while helping you manage the construction of your story. Novels without chapters are often a little unwieldy, and can put readers off.

How many chapters Can a novel have?

Most novels have between 10 to 12 chapters, but that’s not set in stone. You can have two chapters or 200 — it all depends on how comfortable you are with experimenting. Consider your dear reader. Will the chapter breaks make sense to that reader or will it be a disruption from the story?

Do all chapters have to be the same length?

You also get to decide the typical length of a chapter, but that decision is much more arbitrary. Every chapter has to contain at least one scene, but aside from that, your chapters can be whatever length you feel like.



How many chapters should a novel have?

Most nonfiction books have between 5 and 20 chapters. Any less than 5 and your chapters may be running long or may contain too many ideas. That said, there are plenty of books with 30 or 40 chapters. And some books, usually with very short chapters, can have 50+.

Can a chapter be 1 page?

A: There are no hard-and-fast rules on how long or short a chapter needs to be. It could be three pages. It could be 22.

How many pages is a 100000 word novel?

200 pages

Typical documents that are 100,000 words or more include full-length novels. It will take approximately 333 minutes to read 100,000 words. A 100,000 word count will create about 200 pages with single spacing or 400 pages double-spaced when using normal 1-inch margins, 12 pt.

How many words is Harry Potter?

1,084,170 words



In total, all seven Harry Potter books contain 1,084,170 words. Those 1,084,170 words take up 6,095 pages.

How do I know if my book is worth publishing?

Seven Signs Your Book Idea is Worth Publishing:

  1. Uncontrollable Thoughts. Your book—whatever stage it is in—is always on your mind. …
  2. Constant ideas to note down. You’re ready for ideas to strike at any point in the day. …
  3. Unavoidable Rambling. …
  4. Endless rewriting. …
  5. Hesitant Sharing. …
  6. Unbiased Feedback. …
  7. Unwavering Passion.

How many pages is a 75000 word novel?

75,000 words is 150 pages single-spaced or 300 pages double-spaced. Typical documents that are 75,000 words or more include full-length novels. It will take approximately 250 minutes to read 75,000 words.

How long is a thriller novel?

70,000 to 90,000 words



That includes scenes like “the hero at the mercy of the villain,” but it also includes book length. Because thrillers are about pulse-pounding action and maybe some character development (especially if it’s part of a series), the word count isn’t massive. Thrillers tend to be 70,000 to 90,000 words.

How many pages is a 95000 word novel?

95,000 words is 190 pages single-spaced or 380 pages double-spaced.

How long does it take to write a book?

Based on data from a 2021 survey Reedsy conducted, it takes most authors six months to a year to write a book. A writer’s timeline depends on the genre of the novel, the word count of the story, the amount of research you do, and the time you spend editing the completed draft.

How many hours does JK Rowling write a day?

Pretty much, Rowling writes for six hours a day. That is a good amount of time and acceptable for a writer who is doing this for a living.



Is there money in writing books?

A typical book author barely makes more than minimum wage. You receive an advance and 10% royalties on net profit from each book. If your book retails at $25 per copy, you would need to sell at least 4,000 copies to break even on a $5,000 advance.

How can I publish my novel?

4 Steps for Getting Your Book Published

  1. Edit and proofread. One or two typos won’t sink your career, but a bevy of them will make you look unprofessional. …
  2. Identify a target audience for your book. …
  3. Identify potential agents. …
  4. Submit your book proposal. …
  5. Submit directly to a publisher.

Does it cost money to publish a book?

The average cost to publish a book falls within the $200-$2500 range and includes publishing costs such as cover design, editing, formatting, and book printing. However, it’s important to note that the publishing type you choose will also factor into the overall cost to publish a book.

What to do after writing a book?

6 Things To Do When You Finish Your Book



  1. Put it on hold. Put it away for at least four weeks. …
  2. Keep it as proof of an apprenticeship. You have to write for 10 000 hours before you can write well. …
  3. Send it off for an appraisal. …
  4. Take a writing course. …
  5. Set up an editing timetable. …
  6. Get a professional edit.