word count

Hi Robert!
Just let Word do the counting. Otherwise, yes, every single.word.counts.

And they say each printed Word document page can be averaged at 250 words... so it's acceptable to take total number of pages multiplied by 250 and consider that your word count.

ETA: And welcome to AW!

jannawrites said:

And they say each printed Word document page can be averaged at 250 words... so it's acceptable to take total number of pages multiplied by 250 and consider that your word count.

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That's the old method. You can estimate 250 words per page only if you use a monospaced font (Courier). It doesn't work with proportional fonts (TNR).

FennelGiraffe said:

That's the old method. You can estimate 250 words per page only if you use a monospaced font (Courier). It doesn't work with proportional fonts (TNR).

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Oh my! That's the first I've heard this news.

Thanks.

It's not the number of pages you want to pay attention to but the actual word count. Know your genre and then search the forum that applies for threads that help with appropriate word counts.

Robert Vernon said:

Until today, when I looked around this website, I did not realize how many obstacles I might find before finding a publisher.

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I liken it to getting a job. I apply, if I'm lucky I get an interview, then I may or not get an offer, then the job. For every job there are far more unsuccessful applicants than new guys joining the company.

Robert Vernon said:

Until today, when I looked around this website, I did not realize how many obstacles I might find before finding a publisher.

Is it true that novella-sized fiction is difficult to publish?

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Serious question: How many novellas have you bought in the last two years? How many have you read but not bought? (Me: zero, one)

Therein lies the answer. No matter how well written, novellas by writers who don't yet have a following don't sell, so publishers don't really want them.

That said, however, I encourage you to finish it nevertheless. It's not unusual to get a great idea as you're writing which adds a lot of story--and word count. Maybe you'll realize there's a good subplot which could be woven in, turning your work into a novel.

Maryn, pleased to meet you

Deccydiva said:

I liken it to getting a job. I apply, if I'm lucky I get an interview, then I may or not get an offer, then the job. For every job there are far more unsuccessful applicants than new guys joining the company.

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I love your analogy. But, I think getting a job is a LOT easier than getting publlished. So far I've had 5 interviews (partials) and one second interview (full request) but no job offers. Countless resumes everywhere.

Welcome, Robert!!

It's likely this thread and a couple of recent/similar threads will end up merged into one big FAQ thread:

How to check wordcount?
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115193

Word Count
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111935

-Derek

Welcome to AW. Uncle Jim had a bit to say about why publishers keep using the 250 words per page method. It tells them how much paper they will need when printing the book This tells them the printing cost. Comparing the two methods, you will always get more words using the 250/page method, because dialog normally doesn't fill the whole line across the page.

In order to be accurate when using that method, you should use a non-proportional font such as Courier. The size should be 12 pt. (Some people say 10 pt will also work.) Margins must be 1 inch all around and you MUST have 25 lines of print on the page. Occasionally, you will end up with a page with 24 lines which can't be helped. If you don't have 25 lines of printed material on most of your pages, cheat a little with the top and bottom margins. Make them .9 inch.

May I recommend that you read Uncle Jim's thread. It will answer questions you didn't even know you had.

stormie said:

Hi Robert!
Just let Word do the counting. Otherwise, yes, every single.word.counts.

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There seem to be a lot of Word people in here...

Where all the Corel peoples at? Holla.