Welcome to our quick guide for word count! If you’re about to query or submit your work, word count is something you should include in your query letter. Word count is a general rubric to show that you’re putting in the work to make sure you’re developing your story enough without being overly wordy or including unnecessary details. It also shows you’ve done your research to know what the word count is for a given category and genre. Now, of course, these are just guidelines and not hard and fast rules. Some stories (even debuts) do fall outside of these ranges, but there needs to be a really good reason for it.

Adult

Adult Fiction: 75,000 – 100,000

In adult fiction, it’s usually more contemporary or quieter (e.g. no speculative elements). Therefore, while it can run up to 100,000 words it’s usually not more as it relies on an already existing world/setting and relationship dynamics.

Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative: 90,000 – 125,000

Adult speculative fictions can be epic with huge worlds and whole magic systems. In order to allow for descriptions of these news worlds, the word count allowances are generally higher.

Young Adult

Contemporary: 50,000 – 75,000

Just like adult fiction, YA contemporary is set in a modern world with relatable relationship dynamics and quick references that are easily recognized by the reader. Therefore, it doesn’t require as much exposition to set up the world.

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative: 60,000 – 100,000

Also like Adult, the speculative genres of YA involves a lot of world building and setting up systems of societies or magic that might not be immediately recognizable. This is why the word count can be higher for these novels.

Middle Grade

Lower Middle Grade: 25,000 – 40,000

These stories are often quicker and deal with themes of childhood and adventure. Because of their quick pacing they are often told with less words. Characters are closer to 4th grade age than 7th grade.

Upper Middle Grade: 40,000 – 60,000

Upper Middle Grade is a bridge between childhood and coming of age. It also includes many adventure themes, but it can have more complex systems and worlds which would require more descriptions. Characters are closer to the upper-range of MG (around 7th grade)

(Note: For Middle Grade please also assume that speculative genres do warrant higher word count)

The general internet consensus for other forms of fiction (Just a note, I do not normally write in these fiction formats):

Novella: 17,500 to 39,999 words

Short Story: < 7,500 words

And because I always have videos on these topics, here’s my word count video: