How Long for Average Non-Fiction Book?

inkkognito · Dec 2, 2008

I'm almost at 50,000 words for my career guide, and I think that's about where it will end up. It feels like I've covered pretty much everything but 50,000 seems a little slim. What's the average for a non-fiction book like that? Is there really an "average?" I've poked around the web and keep coming up with different answers. I could come up with more if I need to, but I don't want to just pad it out.

ColoradoGuy · Dec 2, 2008

I think it depends on the kind of book. For what's it worth, my two nonfiction contracts (from different publishers) specified 85,000 words. Can't be just a coincidence, I think. 50,000 words sounds a bit thin to me.

Horseshoes · Dec 2, 2008

Hugely depends on the market.

Graphics and layout (including tables, insets and self-quotes) eat page space and break-up text (essentially giving the eye a rest, making the guide appear more readable when it's paged through. These layout considerations result in what might be a 150 p word doc becoming a 200 p published book.

You may be fine. Many non-fic books are certainly in the 50k range. I've seen a career guide or two (some guides to equestrian careers spring to mind) that were certainly not weighty books, likely in your word count, 200 p range.

Are you already working w/ an ed or ag or both? Surely that person can allay your concerns or point you towards the strongest position for your market.

inkkognito · Dec 2, 2008

I've been assigned to my editor but haven't heard from him yet...hopefully this week. I do forsee some bulleted lists and break-out quotes and the like so that will add some space. I have two of the other books in this series and it looks like one is around 50,000 and one around 70,000 by a rough estimate.

Lauri B · Dec 3, 2008

50k would probably get you at least 128 pp if you have graphics, sidebars, pullouts, etc.

caseyquinn · Dec 3, 2008

how so? i thought the average page was 250 words? which would make 50,000 = 200 pages then throw in some charts, lists, etc be closer to 225.

inkkognito · Dec 3, 2008

The books in this series look like they are about 450 words or a little more per page on the pages that are completely full of text. That would only put me at 111 without lists, boxes and graphs. I did come up with a couple of sections I can add, and I'm bringing the outline to my writers' group for feedback tonight so hopefully they will generate some other good ideas.

escritora · Dec 3, 2008

My first book on careers is 55,000 words and it's 252 pages. The second is 50,000 words. The publisher says it will be 200+ pages. The word count for both books includes charts and so on.

scope · Dec 3, 2008

I have no idea, never having written this type of book. Why not scour the library and get a feel for a work like yours?

June Casagrande · Dec 3, 2008

No, 50,000 is not too short. Mine are both in that range. (I think my second book was even shorter.) BUT, that may result in you having a little 6x9-inch paperpack instead of something more substantial looking (and that sells for a higher price).

Just something to think about!

P.S.: Go, Bender! Go, Bender!

Lauri B · Dec 4, 2008

caseyquinn said:
how so? i thought the average page was 250 words? which would make 50,000 = 200 pages then throw in some charts, lists, etc be closer to 225.

Well, when I was hiring authors for series, I'd usually ask them for about 30k for a 128 pp book (they were almost always 6x9 with lots of graphics, a healthy index, resources, etc.). I'd be surprised if you headed over 208pp (books are published in 16-page increments) with a 50K word count. But as everyone else here has said, the number of pages in a book depends on a whole lot of things, not just the number of words in a manuscript.

inkkognito · Dec 28, 2008

Well, I'm pretty much done and it ended up at 75,000 words. Whew! I never imagined I had that much to say!

susangpyp · Dec 29, 2008

inkkognito said:
Well, I'm pretty much done and it ended up at 75,000 words. Whew! I never imagined I had that much to say!

That's terrific! My editor wanted between 55,000 and 60,000 and my final manuscript (that went to production) was 65,880 so there is definitely room for adding words.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING DONE!!!

jack scoltock · Dec 30, 2008

my recently published non-fiction book was 42,000 words long. With photos it was 160 pages.
Have you any photos? Would they take up whole pages?
I think 50,000 pages (depending on the viability of the subject) is plenty.
ll the best.
Jack

inkkognito · Dec 30, 2008

No photos, but there are some charts. There are also resource lists that account for some of the length. I have two other books in the same career guide series and it looks to be in line with them.

How Long for Average Non-Fiction Book?

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

ColoradoGuy

I've seen worse.

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

caseyquinn

Just happy to be here

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

escritora

.

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

June Casagrande

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

susangpyp

jack scoltock

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya