Some publishers have clear guidelines on novel length. For instance, as an editor in publishing, I generally look for novels of around 75,000 – 90,000 words. Naturally, this can be frustrating to someone who’s written a novel of 50,000 words…or for someone who’s written a novel of 150,000 words or more. That’s why I wanted to write a post to explain! (Share it on Pinterest if you think it’s useful information!)

Many people will say, understandably enough, that the answer to “how long should a novel be” is however long it takes to tell the story. By having a preferred word count, a publisher isn’t arguing with this. As an editor, I don’t want stories that are rushed, and I don’t enjoy stories with a bunch of unnecessary padding. I’m looking for stories that are a good fit for that length.

Writers often point out famous short novels and famous long novels. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (surely one of the least enticing titles in the history of famous novels) is 56,695 words. The Great Gatsby word count is even shorter: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous novel is 47,094 words. Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace word count is a whopping 587,287…and I still stopped in the middle and started at the beginning again, because I loved it and didn’t want it to end.

Why Don’t Some Publishers Want to Publish a 50,000-Word Novel?

Publishers may have a deal with a retailer where they take one or a set number of books from that publisher every month, in the same format and at the same price point—for instance, mass market paperbacks, all at 8.99. If a skimpy 8.99 book is next to a bunch of thick 8.99 books from competitors on the shelf, the skimpy book may not seem like a great value, and it may not sell well.

A skinny novel is at a disadvantage when displayed in a bookstore. In most cases, only the spine is visible, so the title is in smaller type and less likely to catch the reader’s eye.

For some fiction genres, there can be reader expectations, conscious or subconscious, for the length of the book…and for the complexity of the plot, the complexity of the characters, the development of a subplot or two, and so on. (You can check out my list of fiction genres, with word counts and examples, for more information about this.)

Authors have their own creative styles, but many publishers and imprints have a house style as well. They want to be known for certain kinds of stories, including stories with that certain level of complexity and detail. When I pick up an Avon historical romance, for instance, I have a very good idea of what to expect, even if it’s my first time reading that particular author. And sometimes, that’s what I’m in the mood for as a reader.

Why Don’t Some Publishers Want to Publish a Novel of 150,000 Words Or More?

A few genres, like fantasy, science fiction, and historical novels, do tend to run longer because of the worldbuilding. Still, a very long novel is a bigger risk for a publisher, unless it’s by an A-list author. It costs a lot more to print—especially now, with paper costs going way up. Because there are fewer books per carton, it also costs a lot more to ship.

The publisher has to charge more for a longer book and hope that enough people will think it’s worth the money. Just as important, enough people have to decide that it’s likely to be worth the commitment of time. Otherwise, the bookstores return lots of unsold books and the publisher pays a refund.

The audiobook version of a longer novel is also more expensive to produce because it’s more hours of studio time. The same concern about readers and time commitment comes into play here.

Do Any Publishers Publish Very Short or Very Long Novels?

Yes. There are lots of publishers out there, and their guidelines vary quite a bit. No matter what length you’re writing, there’s probably a home for it.

You probably noticed that a lot of these concerns are about printed books and brick-and-mortar stores. Many digital publishers are open to a wide range of word counts. Serial fiction apps may be a great option for some projects as well, and of course, many authors opt for self-publishing.

I hope this has shed a little light on this topic, but please let me know if you have any questions or comments—it may take a little time, but I will get to them! Thanks so much for reading, and have a great week!

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