Writing a Book: Here’s How Many Words It Should Contain

If you are going to write a book, you should know the number of words it should contain. This is because the writing process is like a marathon. You can’t do it in a sprint, and it always helps to know the number of words you are expected to write. 

By knowing how many words you should write, you will have something to strive for. It will also make your writing sessions more structured because you know how many words your book should contain, and you could coordinate your writing sessions according to this word count. 

Here are some things you should know about word count:

  • Word count usually depend on the genre

If you’re wondering how many words your book should contain, you should first take a look at the genre you are writing in. Each genre has a specific word count. 

Here is a rough estimate of word count per genre:


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  • You should also pay attention to your word-per-page count

As it was stated earlier, writing a book is like a marathon. There will be times where you will be more than motivated to write, and there will be times where you won’t have any motivation at all.

For example, you are writing a science fiction novel. This genre usually averages from 60,000 to 150,000 words. It can be very daunting to write a book with a 150,000-word count. 

This is why you should take it one step at a time. When you write your manuscript, just write on a per-page basis. 

Most pages contain around 300 to 500 words, depending on other factors such as font size, spacing, etc. By writing on a per-page basis, you won’t feel so overwhelmed.

  • Take the time to cut out unnecessary words

Aside from writing on a per-page basis, you should also take the time to cut out unnecessary words. When you’re writing a book it can be very easy to use fillers and flowery wordplay. 

Some writers seem to think that the more words your work has, the more effective it will be. This is a total misconception of course. 

If you want your work to be more concise and effective, you should aim for short and straightforward sentences.

  • It’s ok to bend the word count rule every once in a while

When it comes to using word count you should use them as a guide. But they should never be considered as a be-all-end-all. 

When you write your book, it is ok to go over the set word count. It is also ok to fall behind the estimated word count, just as long as it’s not too much. 

What’s important is that your work has clarity and you are able to finish your book according to your own specifications.


Conclusion:

Now that you know the word count of different genres, you can now get started on a book of your very own.

Writing a book of your very own can be quite difficult. There are so many things that you have to take into account of and it can be difficult to find affordable publishing help. Don’t worry though, if you take the time to read Writers Republic’s reviews, you’ll see that it is a trustworthy self-publishing company. Sign up and get access to Writers Republic’s publishing packages now!


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