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ChristaCarol raised a query about the size of a manuscript through email and I thought it would be beneficial to answer it for everyone, as this is something that most authors are concerned about. I am somewhat reticent to discuss this topic openly as it can often be contentious, however, I have never let that stop me before.

I’m curious about your thoughts on the appropriate word count for a Young Adult fantasy novel. I had thought that 90,000 words was relatively high, but reasonable. However, an agent offered to review the query for a contest and said she would decline it solely because of the high word count. Is this a common practice? Should I be worried? Should I cut out 10,000 words? What is the usual length for a children’s book? Another writer suggested querying the book at 80,000 words even if it is actually 90,000 words. Would this compromise my integrity in any way?

This is an intriguing query. I’m always keen to hear publishing myths and rumors that I can then verify or dismiss. ChristaCarol is right in suggesting that this might be a subjective issue which can be a source of frustration for all of us, since it is indeed one of those subjective matters that can be so vexing.

What Should My Manuscript Length Be?

I can provide two responses. Firstly, the adorable and fuzzy one: The amount of words that a manuscript and story is comprised of is not as important if each word has been carefully selected and is of vital importance. Rare occasions do arise when I observe a word count in a query that causes me a moment of panic, but then the author is able to persuade me that every word is essential and I am in complete agreement. People, including editors and agents, will read lengthy books if they are persuaded that the content warrants it.

I can relate to the practical reality of the situation: a large number of queries and manuscripts to read. I am aware that this may sound judgemental, but I tend to prefer queries and manuscripts with a lower word count. For instance, I currently have a queue of around 150 queries and 8 manuscripts, all of which I have received in the last few days. When I get a query with a manuscript of over 80,000 words, I must admit that I inwardly groan.

Word Count Can Be Flexible

I get really excited when something sounds interesting, but at the same time I worry that if I love it and decide to take it on, I will have to read the entire 80k words multiple times as edits are made. It’s a huge time commitment and I know this might be a bit arbitrary or lazy, but this is the reality of being a busy agent.

On many occasions, I find that a lengthy word count doesn’t always signify quality work. In fact, it doesn’t have to be amazing, nor should every single word be used.

When Manuscript Length Is an Issue

I usually find that first-time fantasy, paranormal or sci-fi authors are the worst offenders. They craft a redundant manuscript full of lavish description that moves at a snail’s pace (violet proseI read a writing sample that had a large word count of 155k and was the first in a trilogy. When I read it, I noticed that the text was dense and lacked any sort of dialogue or scene breaks. This kind of manuscript can be a challenge, as it often has too many words.

The author has not been through enough revisions and it is evident. If I were to suggest that about half of the words need to be removed, the reaction would likely be extreme.

But, truthfully, if your children’s book length is anything over 100k, it better be higher-than-high YA fantasy. And all those words better be good. Cutting words and scenes and “killing your darlings,” as I like to put it, is one of the most hard-won revision skills any writer can have. And it usually comes after you’ve done lots and lots and lots of revision in your life (check out some revision tools for writersMany novice authors are still figuring out how to accept and even appreciate the need to make compromises with their writing. It is often evident when reading their work.

The Problem With High Word Count Manuscript Length

Now, there’s also a realI often hesitate to take on manuscripts that have a large number of words, mainly due to the amount of work in my inbox and the assumption that manuscripts with high word counts tend to lack finesse and revision. As mentioned earlier, the majority of my longest submissions usually come from debut authors. As an editor, it is thrilling to work with new authors, but it also carries a significant risk. They are unproven when it comes to the market and could end up being costly for the publisher.

The production of a book is directly related to the number of pages it contains; the more pages, the more money the publisher will have to invest in terms of printing and shipping costs, as well as warehouse space. All editors have to assess the costs associated with publishing a book and the potential earnings the book may generate to make an offer. This assessment is known as a Profit and Loss Statement or, as I like to refer to it, The Spreadsheet of Terror.

When I am submitting a manuscript as a debut author, it is important to consider the cost of turning it into a book. The lengthier the manuscript, the more expensive it will be, which can be a problem for editors. In today’s market, there is less of a chance that they will invest in a debut author’s project with a larger manuscript. As a result, I have to be aware of this when I am representing a longer manuscript. My job is to make sure that your words appeal to the public, not just to myself.

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Ideal Children’s Book Length

ChristaCarol has noted that the accepted length of manuscripts varies depending on the genre and intended age group. I am hesitant, but I must provide an estimate of likely word counts for different types of writing projects.

• Board Book — 100 words max
• Early Picture Book — 400 words max
• Picture Book — 600 words max (Seriously. Max.)
• Nonfiction Picture Book — 3,000 words max, but closer to 1,000 to 2,000 words
• Early Reader — 1,500 words is the max
• Chapter Book — This varies widely, depending on grade and reader level, usually starting at 4,000 words and 15,000 words max
• Young Middle Grade or MG — 15,000 to 25,000 words
• Middle Grade or MG — 45,000 words max for contemporary, mystery, humor
• Upper Middle Grade — 65,000 words max for fantasy/sci-fi, adventure and historical
• Young Adult or YA — 85,000 words max for contemporary, humor, mystery, historical, romance, etc. 95,000 words max for fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, etc.
• New Adult — 65,000 to 85,000 words

In my experience, the length of manuscripts should not exceed the maximum amount that editors typically handle. Unless there is an exceptional justification, this should be avoided.

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The Problem With Early Middle Grade and Tween

Let me also address right now that I’ve been seeing some queries for “Early Middle Grade” in the 7,000 word range. No, no, no. That’s too tiny. The categories below middle grade are chapter book and early reader, and you can read about them in a different article. Middle Grade, even Early Middle Grade, beings at around 15,000 words minimumIt is clear that there are many shades of gray when it comes to categorizing a book by its word count. There are Upper Middle Grade, Lower YA, and the sometimes-ridiculed “tween” label. For authors concerned that their book is too lengthy and weary of going through another revision, the best advice is to simply cut it down.

And know that some agents do automatically reject manuscripts because of their lengthIf I come across a piece of writing with more than 80,000 words, I will need to be thoroughly convinced that every single one of them is necessary for the overall work to be effective. I’m still not completely sure about this.

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