Word Count: A Numbers Game You Can Win!

Every writer struggles with it. From young adult sagas to historical trilogies to romance one nighters and erotic phenoms like Fifty Shades of Gray - every author has a love/hate relationship with their word count.

Not enough. Too much. Or worst of all...zero.

The blinking cursor hovers with it's mocking sense of purpose. It keeps us going and terrorizes along the way.

But there are some basic facts about word count that EVERY writer needs to consider:

• Blog Posts are typically 400-1000 words long. This is for ease of reading but depends on the material. There is no set rule.

• The standard board book has a count of 0-50 words and picture books from 50 – 1,000, depending on the type of picture book.

• The typical middle grade novel is between 35,000-45,000 words long.

• The normal young adult novel is between 55,000 – 75,000 words long.

• Most standard adult novels are between 80,000-100,000 words long.

• First time novelists should try to keep their manuscripts shorter than these industry standards. It costs money to publish more pages - a first time writer is already an investment (aka a gamble) so they are less likely to look at lengthy novels.

• Genre fiction, like science fiction and fantasy, will allow for higher word counts but it would still be best to do some research before you elevate your word count.

Word count is important however, you should always think quality over quantity. Don't use four  sentences when one will suffice.

Besides, repeating or reiterating yourself will actually make your message less powerful.

Go for powerful!