Most would have probably responded no. The reason is, who has the time for that? A movie of such great length would drive viewers away rather than the other way around. That goes for eBooks as well. When you make an eBook, you have to consider its length or average eBook word count.
Without proper knowledge of the typical book word count, your eBook could fall flat upon launch, so you need to understand how many words to keep in a book. Luckily, this is what we’re going to talk about.
The following blog is the ultimate eBook word count guide you need to know before writing an ebook. We will discuss the reasons why eBook word count matters and the factors that help set your eBook length.
In addition, we will also talk about the time and place the eBook word count matters. So, without further ado, let’s help you set the ideal word count for your upcoming eBook project.
How many words per page in a book is appropriate?
The number of words per page in a book can vary widely depending on various factors, including the book’s genre, target audience, font size, margins, and formatting. On average, however, a typical novel might have around 250 to 350 words per page.
Here are some general guidelines for different types of books:
- Novels and Fiction: Most novels for adults and young adults tend to have around 250 to 350 words per page. However, literary fiction or books with larger font sizes might have fewer words per page, while some genre fiction like thrillers or mysteries may have more.
- Non-Fiction: Non-fiction books can vary widely in terms of word count per page. Academic and scholarly books may have more densely packed text, while self-help or popular non-fiction might have fewer words per page for easier readability.
- Children's Books: Picture books for young children often have very few words per page, sometimes just a sentence or two. Early reader chapter books may have around 100 to 150 words per page, while middle-grade and young adult novels may fall into the same range as adult fiction.
- Textbooks: Textbooks typically have more words per page, with around 400 to 600 words per page or more. The layout and formatting in textbooks are often designed to present educational content in a structured manner.
- Poetry: Poetry books may have varying word counts per page since poetry relies heavily on line breaks and formatting. Some poems may have just a few words on a page, while others may fill an entire page.
Remember that these are general guidelines, and there can be significant variation within each category. Authors and publishers will make choices based on the book’s content, style, and intended audience. Additionally, factors like font size, page size, and line spacing also play a role in determining the number of words per page in a book.
How Long Should an eBook Be in 2024?
Before discussing the reasons why eBook word count matters, let us consider the optimal length particular groups of eBooks should be.
When you’re working on your debut book, it’s generally advised to aim for a word count between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A book can be considered viable with around 40,000 words, but 50,000 words is often seen as the minimum acceptable length. However, for fiction novels, exceeding 110,000 words might be considered too lengthy. To help you determine the ideal word count for your eBook, we have divided books into two factors:
Age:
Think about it: would you expect a child who barely knows how to read and write to be able to complete a 100-page novel? Sounds absurd, right? The reader’s age is a strong determinant of the word count for the eBook and the words per page.
As the age progresses, so does the word amount they can assimilate. If you plan on writing an eBook, then make sure you remember the audience’s age before you get down to it. Here is a simple guide of how many words per page and word count to consider an eBook for different ages.
1. Picture Books (Ages 3-8):
As children typically have short attention spans, simple and easy-to-pronounce words and vibrant imagery help them remember them. These books typically have the lowest word count and words per page. Books aimed at younger children are typically around 500 words long.
2. Early Reader Books (Ages 6-10):
By this age, children become more independent readers. During this age, the child develops an interest in reading. However, being young, you want to ensure the book doesn’t overwhelm them.
The book might still have images, but they would be more to support the text. These books can include chapters to help make the eBook easier to read. eBooks of this category can span around a good 8,000 words.
3. Middle Grade Readers Ages (8-12):
As young minds grow to this age, they are more comfortable reading text-only books.
These children can often read books ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 words without issues. 40,000 is the typical eBook word count for a high-quality eBook suitable for this age.
4. Young Adult Readers and Adult Readers (Ages 12 and Up):
Young adult and adult readers are indistinguishable as far as the word count is concerned. Till this age, they have far better memory and vocabulary than any age group. Did you know that in this age group, a person has a working vocabulary of around 20,000 words and above?
Young adult and adult readers have the least chance of getting overwhelmed, so you can consider a higher word count for your eBook. A typical eBook for an adult can go above and beyond 60,000.
Pro Tip: While writing on a document editor like Microsoft Word, type your manuscript using a 12-point font with single spacing. With this, you can have a 500-word count per page.
Genre:
Did you know that certain genres can also influence the eBook word count? Yep, that is right. Genre-specific books can have a specific word length. The pacing of the story and audience expectations are among the most common reasons for the average eBook word count length. Let us take a look at the genre and the acceptable word count.
1. Thriller EBooks:
Thriller books focus on the elements of suspense to keep the story going. In addition, these stories maintain a brisk pace. This helps maintain tension and keep the reader engaged. The typical eBook word count for a thriller can be around 70,000–90,000 words long, which is more on the lower end of the word count spectrum.
2. Science Fiction or Fantasy Books:
Science fiction and fantasy books are all about world-building and intricate storylines. As they focus on developing new ideas, they are more descriptive than other genres. The eBook word count for a science fiction book can be around 90,000-120,000.
Did you know that the Legendary science fiction book series, “The Lord of the Rings”, made by J.R.R Tolkien, has a complete word count of 450,000?
3. Historical Fiction Books:
Historical fiction has to maintain a strong balance between narrative and historical detail. Writers must ensure that they maintain enough book-length to help immerse the readers. They usually have a standard word count of around 80,000-100,000 words.
4. Romance Books:
Just good things come in small packages; the same goes for romance. This loved-filled genre focuses on shorter and compact stories to engage the audience. This is why the average eBook word count for the romance genre is around 50,000 to 100,000 words.
5. Non-Fiction Books:
Non-fiction books can either be quite descriptive or really compact. For instance, an autobiography may require more pages compared to a concise guide. The word count can range anywhere between 30,000-100,000 words.
6 Reasons Why EBook Word Count Matters:
1. Shorter Books Have Better Chances of Selling:
Believe it or not, the eBook word count has much to do with whether your book will be published. If you are a new writer, you need to understand that you will face a lot of hardships during traditional publishing.
Most literary agents and publishers avoid long novels, especially for novice writers. Rather than going for an excessively long eBook to make it appear unique, consider going for the average book length for the genre to boost your chances of getting noticed.
2. The More Pages, the More Publishing will Cost:
Without publishing, you cannot expect to market your eBook. However, publishing can be expensive, especially if you go for a traditional publisher. They consider a lot to determine the publishing price, including the book-length. The more pages your manuscript, the more printing will cost.
So, if you wish to publish long eBooks or books, ensure you either have the budget for it or go for the self-publishing route to sell it yourself. Self-publishing is comparatively cheaper than traditional publishing.
3. Audience Have Their Expectation:
Your audience’s expectation is also the reason why the typical eBook word count matters. Think about it: the general interest is the reason they continue to read books. If they find it out of the ordinary, they may avoid it.
For instance, an avid reader of bite-sized horror stories may find it difficult to complete a 500-page horror eBook. So, it’s crucial that you know your audience well before setting your word count.
4. Helps with Pacing:
Your eBook purpose is also a major determinant of the word count. Anyone can make an eBook for several reasons. Some may find it a way to fame, while others would use it as a lead magnet in their marketing efforts. The purpose can also be how long you want to keep your eBook length.
For instance, if you are writing what you believe is the next best seller, you would want to have a book-length that can balance the story. You would want the character dialogue and plot to have the right pacing, for which you may consider the average eBook word count of the genre. However, a few pages may suffice if you aim to make a lead magnet.
5. Readers Engagement and Attention Span:
Although the rise of technology and machines has made our work easier, it has also made it more hectic. With so little time and much to do, you can find it hard to spend quality time with a good book. This is why eBooks were created, as they can be read on the go.
Today, readers have little time to spend even an hour with a book. Most can only give it around 15 minutes from the total day. So, determining the ideal eBook word count is necessary to ensure that the few minutes they give to reading, they give it to your book.
6. Genre Convention:
Genres also play a part in determining the eBook length. Each genre has an audience it caters to. This target audience has certain expectations. So, depending on the genre you consider, it will have a typical eBook word count range it follows.
Rather than just writing your eBook, regardless of how many words are in a book, first understand the book genre your eBook will be a part of and the average book length most books of that genre usually follow.
When Should You Consider Your eBook Word Count?
Now, even though having an idea about your eBook word count is essential, it should never be considered at the time of writing. Writing is all about letting your creativity flow and get those ideas on paper. Thinking about whether your word count is falling too short or is longer than the ideal word count you expected can hinder your writing process, especially for new writers.
The first thing you write is the draft. It is not the final manuscript that you publish but the first step you took to create your eBook. After you are done finishing the draft, you want to start editing it. Here is where you want to consider the word count. Take the time to expand and contract where necessary. Replace words to make your eBook more impactful.
However, remember, even if you do not meet the eBook word count standards, do not worry. There is no hard and fast rule in word count, and your eBook length can be shorter or longer than the average book length of that genre.
How to Fix an Excessively Long Book?
After you are done writing, chances are you will find that your eBook has exceeded the expected word count by a mile. If you wish to fix this issue, then here are some easy solutions to help you reduce the word count from your manuscript:
1. Conduct Ruthless Edits:
Read your manuscript again and explore the characters, plot and themes carefully. Observe what parts of the plot are unnecessary. If you believe they do not make an overall impact on the story, then consider removing them. A similar can be said for extra characters and dialogues.
2. Evaluate Subplots:
Read your manuscript again and explore the characters, plot and themes carefully. Observe what parts of the plot are unnecessary. If you believe they do not make an overall impact on the story, then consider removing them. A similar can be said for extra characters and dialogues.
3. Tighten Dialogue and Descriptions:
Next, you need to review the dialogue and description you offered in the eBook. Remove redundancy or excessive detail that doesn’t contribute much to the story. If you find it impossible to eliminate dialogues and descriptions, consider rewriting them to shorten them.
4. Break It Down:
If the problem still persists, then consider breaking down your eBook into a series. This not only addresses the length issue but also offers natural stopping points for readers that help them keep their focus.
5. Seek External Feedback:
Does Word Count Matter During Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is another popular means of getting your eBook in the market. In this method, you are solely responsible for publishing your eBook. However, does the word count matter during self-publishing? Well, the answer is both a yes and no. What we mean by that is although there is no standard word count rule for self-publishing, and it is totally up to you on how many words you keep in our eBook, you should still consider the average eBook word count.
No one will hold you accountable for either going below or above the expected word count, but it can impact the reader’s decision to give your book a read or not.
Final Note:
In conclusion, understanding the average eBook word count matters. Readers have certain expectations about the eBook’s length, and understanding it can help you draw readers in. Before you consider the eBook word count, consider the age of your target audience and the genre you hope to write for. This can help assist you with setting the ideal word count that you need to set. By following this eBook word count guide, you are on your way to writing the optimal length eBook for your readers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Considering the eBook has a single-spaced 12 font size format, you can expect a 200-page book to have at least 100,000 words.
Considering the eBook has a single-spaced 12 font size format, you can expect a 100,000-word count eBook to span over 200 pages.
Considering the eBook has a single-spaced 12 font size format, you can expect a 300-page book to have at least 150,000 words.
Considering the eBook has a single-spaced 12 font size format, you can expect a 50,000-word count eBook to span over 100 pages.