Welcome to Twitter Treasure Thursday! For some reason, I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot of talk lately about word counts. Perhaps it’s to do with NaNoWriMo approaching and everyone focusing on that crazy 50K-words-in-one-month goal? I’m not sure. Whatever the reason for the sudden hype, I think discussing the subject of word count is important.
Now, do I think watching your word count every second of every draft is necessary? No. In fact, I strongly urge you against it. The more you focus on your word count, the less you focus on your story. However, watching your word count at certain points during the writing process–particularly editing–is important. Why? Because you don’t want to try and pitch your 140K YA novel to an agent. That’s just begging for rejection.
So what should a YA novel’s word count be? Or a thriller’s? Or another genre’s? Find out in today’s gem, courtesy of literary agent, Janet Reid. She gives us a quick, general breakdown of word count expectations, and what you should aim for when finalizing your manuscript.
The Last, Definitive Word On Word Count
Here’s the rundown:
Sweeping, epic fantasy: 150K at a minimum. You can’t do it right in less.
Sweeping, epic, historical fiction: 120 at a minimum. More is better.Science fiction novels: 75-125K
Romance novels:65-100K
Womens’ fiction: 100K and up
To read the entire article and see all the genres, click here!
For more useful advice, follow Janet Reid on Twitter!
Photo credits:
http://kristiholl.net/writers-blog/2013/10/organization-why-word-count-matters/
Yeah, I know. It shouldn’t be that hard of a question to answer. But asking me what specific genre I like to write is like asking me what my favorite book is–it’s impossible to choose a single one. So, I told my friend that I like to write YA. And she accepted that answer, even though I knew it was a total copout response. YA is an umbrella genre that encompasses multiple sub genres: fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, drama, dystopian, new age, thriller, romance, suspense, historical fiction, horror…The list goes on and on.
A writer’s mind is like a jungle: untamed, tangled and adventurous. Ideas can come in the blink of an eye. Characters announce themselves without warning–some with a shy whisper, others with a victorious scream. Conflicts and solutions sprout up out of nowhere. Vivid scenes creep out of the dark. Brand new, unexplored worlds form, and those worlds come in all shapes and sizes: funny, tragic, terrifying or even confusing. All genres live in the wild mind of a writer, waiting to roar and spring forth!
Now, do I think most writers have a specific genre that they’re strongest at? Yes. And do I think those strengths will be the ones that lead to success? Probably. But, do I think any of that should stop a writer from exploring other genres? No! Writers are creative souls. We don’t just want to stretch our wings. We need to. And none of us should be categorized–not by others, and especially not by ourselves.
Jen's Pen Den 