How Long Should An Enovel Be?
Posted by AxelPrice on April 20th, 2014
Anyone who has been even remotely associated with writing would be familiar with word count given the fact that it is one of the factors that plays an instrumental role in determining the outcome. That said there are experienced authors who say that at times the word count should be simply hurled out of the window and kept there unless specifically instructed to follow. But for authors who write enovels, it is imperative to keep the word count in mind if the sale of the book is to be encouraged. In such a situation wherein pay by word count plays a seminal role, is there a guideline that the author should adhere to?
Fiction writers suggest that the word count of a particular enovel must vary as per its genre. Therefore, when you choose to write a work of fiction and are hoping to earn as per pay by word count then it becomes imperative to first settle on a particular niche so that the upper limit in terms of words as also the length of the book is pre-determined. For example, a book based on the subject of fantasy can stretch up to almost 200,000 words and can even have several sequels owing to the nature of the subject. Comparatively novels on the romance genre are a little shorter and in this case the word count fluctuates as per subgenres too.
History and research are popular themes amongst enovel writers and usually allow for a lot of width where word count is concerned. Such a work of fiction is a saga wherein real life events are interwoven with fictitious characters and it can continue till the entire era is covered. A commonly used strategy used by authors of this genre entails clubbing together chapters of a single time frame so that each can then serve as a pull-out. Pay by word count pertaining to this genre is usually high owing to the nature of the subject, extent of information available on it and the quantum of research required.
Mystery is also a popular yet specialized genre that is enjoyed by people who possess a particular mindset and sub-genres under this subject are plenty. An enovel belonging to the mystery genre could stretch up to 100,000 words and at the same time there could be a cozy plot too that finds conclusion in about half the number of pages. Pay by word count in this genre is variable and the same rule is applicable to thrillers as well that thrive on suspense and plot creation. Pacing and characters play an instrumental role in determining the success of a thriller and if these are creative then a thriller could extend well beyond the stipulated word count.
Some of the other themes that enovel could be based on are horror, western classics and young adult themes and since these hold appeal as per the age-group of the reader, word count considerations should also be governed by the same logic. Amongst these it is a horror book which is the lengthiest followed by western classics and young adult themes. Return on investment as per pay by word count on these themes depends on whether the novel has reached its target audience and this calls for specialized and well-thought-out marketing strategy.
If you are keen on writing an enovel with the intention of accruing an income from it, it is imperative to be aware of various genres and sub-genres that characterize this niche. This would also determine the pay by word count that the writer can hope for since every genre has a different word count limitation.
