This has been a question that came to mind when I set my mind to writing a novella in my Seven Realms universe that I would likely release before the second book, Lost In Fire, goes live on Kindle Unlimited. Yes, I have decided to do a novella, if this is something that interests you, be sure to follow my instagram page and check my website for updates on when this will be released.
My first book, Hidden In Darkness, was just over 120K words if I’m remembering correctly (I can’t be the only one with a mind that is a complete jumbled mess, can I?) and my second would be a little lengthier but that had me pausing to think; Okay, how long will a novella be?
To Google I went, because isn’t that where every living person with internet access goes when they have a question? Now, usually Google doesn’t lead me wrong. I type my question, and sure enough the top of the page gives me the exact answer I’ve been looking for— except of course when we are talking word counts. It seems everyone has an opinion for just how long books should be based on genre and type.
Why am I confused? You may be asking yourself.
Well, because as much as everyone has an opinion, nothing seems to be set in stone. Initially, I was under the impression a novella would be between 30K-55K, then I realized 50K can be a novel depending on the genre. That to me feels… unecessarily complicated.
It’s like pointing out a sheep to me, then pointing one out with a sheep with a slightly darker coat and telling me that one is a Shoop. Is a sheep not a shoop? Why is that shoop not a sheep? Just because it’s out in the further paddock? Have I confused you? If you’re sitting there reading this wondering why in the world I have just created a whole other term for sheep, or why I am talking about sheep in general, it’s because I feel it’s only fair we both be thoroughly confused.
Welcome to my world of late.
As self-publishing is becoming more and more popular and traditional publishing seems to be riding the wave of trends, it seems these lines are becoming more and more blurred. Which begs the question, Does word count matter?
If this question was entirely up to me to answer, I would say no.
I’ve heard people in the literary world say things like “250K is way too long, no one is going to sit and read that. No agents will even look at it.” and I will admit it’s true, a lot of agents do have very hard rules of what they will accept during inquiries but I’ve noticed a lot of books, bestselling books even, don’t follow the rules they say new authors have to live by.
I’m not naive and I know a lot of those authors have earned the right to write thier own rules, but it does make you wonder how many amazing books are out there that aren’t even being considered because of word count rules that only really apply to authors waiting outside the gates hoping to slip in.
There are others who will claim there is an unspoken understanding between a reader and the author that dictates wordcount. Readers pick up a thriller and expect it to be between 70K-90K, and other’s pick up a romance and expect a book between 80K-90K, to me this feels untrue. I think these are the same people that are pushing this narrative that traditionally published books are better than self published books. I have read just as many self published books I’ve loved as I’ve read traditionally published, and if I’m being honest, I never even thought to check how the books were published before I became an author myself.
I think if the story is good, word count doesn’t matter. I don’t think readers are checking publishing houses or word counts when they pick up a book. Most readers grab books by their favourite authors no questions asked, or grab a book based on the cover art. A pretty cover has pushed books into the hands of readers without them knowing anything else about it. I myself am so guilty of buying a pretty book without an inkling of what it is about, how it was published, or word count.
Does word count matter?
I think in things like querying it does and as much as it annoys me, it always will. Which I think is why self-publishing is giving traditional publishing a run for their money. Authors are loving the freedom of writing what they want, when they want, with no guidelines or changes pushed onto them, and they are loving not living in these boxes that have been set up and trapping them for so long. Which, in turn, is giving the readers more options.
In all my years as an avid reader I have never seen so many diverse books as I have in the past decade or so. A lot of them books being self published by authors who were tired of being told their stories didn’t fit the mould and stood their ground instead of making changes to make their books fit the shelves. This is a wonderful time to be a reader.
There are a lot of books I’ve read where I wished there was more story, endings that felt rushed or characters that didn’t quite fit. Covers that didn’t do justice to the glory of the book. Publishing houses that didn’t publish a whole series I was so invested in because it wasn’t selling the way they’d hoped. There are so many factors that go into being a traditionally published author, and I applaud them all (well, most of them…) because I know how it can sometimes feel like you’ve been tossed in the deep end when you get published and you can’t tell which way is up.
I’m not really sure if word count matters. I think this is a subject that will be heavily debated based on what’s already out there, the rules of the trade, and what the average reader wants. I will say that we live in a time where self publishing a book is so simple, you as an author can decide if word count matters to the stories you’re writing and go from there.
As for my novella, I am going to write the story until it feels done and hope no one will call me out for my word count.
SJ Stewart Books 