How long should my novel be?
This is a question I’m often asked, and it’s certainly not the same answer as how long a piece of string is! So, how long should your book actually be?
If we work backwards, from a production department point of view, a book of approximately 100,000 words will come in somewhere between 300 to 400 pages.
Shorter texts are less daunting (使人气馁的) for an agent to submit rather than a block of manuscript so aim to make your publication path easier. There’s an implication that a standard book length should have a tighter handle on pacing, with the reader more readily drawn in. In turn, an overlong novel often indicates to a publisher that there’s potentially extensive editing work to be done by them.
More commonly, issues over length tend to highlight that pacing is an issue, be it too long or too short. Overwriting, in particular, can be an issue for many authors, who might struggle to express their ideas clearly, using complex language that play down the flow of the book. Successful writing contains a clarity of thought that enables the writer to connect with the reader for maximum impact, allowing the story, characters and setting to shine through.
In terms of content, it’s important for an author to prioritise the key themes in the book.
Work intuitively, from the heart, keeping secrets for as long as possible so the reader is forced to read on. In this way, a reader will readily connect with your words.
| A．Books do have different thresholds (门槛) according to genre. |
| B．This is plenty for a typical author’s book, particularly the first one. |
| C．Yes, there are exceptions to every genre but these are generally rare. |
| D．Is everything of equal importance and does everything need to be included? |
| E．Longer books are more expensive to produce and harder to sell in, so it increases their risk. |
| F．With a firm handle on length, your novel will have increased its chances of commercial publication. |
