How many pages do you think makes a good book?
Or how many pages satisfy you when your writing a book?
Or how many pages satisfy you when your writing a book?
A good book!!
- Thread starter P.C Greene
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It is not the amount of pages that makes a good book; it's the quality of the content.
As an example we have Catcher in the Rye in one end and The Stand in the other.
The Length of books is also often determined by genre.
As an example we have Catcher in the Rye in one end and The Stand in the other.
The Length of books is also often determined by genre.
Above poster is right--it does depend. But...I seem to hold to a trend. Here's my recent totals for finished books
409
354
416
436
And my current WIP will be somewhere around 430 or higher.
I target 400 pages for some reason, believing that the finished print version might hit around 280.
I won't, for some reason, write a book that is less than 350 pages. that's just me. It seems to be my perfect stride length for telling just about any story.
Tri
409
354
416
436
And my current WIP will be somewhere around 430 or higher.
I target 400 pages for some reason, believing that the finished print version might hit around 280.
I won't, for some reason, write a book that is less than 350 pages. that's just me. It seems to be my perfect stride length for telling just about any story.
Tri
Oh, gosh no. There are some very small tomes. Poul Anderson comes to mind with pages that number on the small side. I only preference 350 and above because it works right and is comfortable for me. I have hit the 500 page mark on books before but they never saw print. That's probably just a fluke. But being a new novelist, I'm mindful of what production costs are, and they are directly related to page count. If I get more established and acquire a solid readership, then I'm sure I would have the go-ahead to produce larger manuscripts. Once you have a rabid fan base, readers will spring for the larger size and extra few bucks.
Take in mind this is very subjective. Exceptional manuscripts that have high page counts can attractive agent rep and editors, too. I call it the "breath" of the story. How much room does your story need to breathe? Consider cutting all crap, too. Aim a little high if you want to, knowing that you might have to prune down.
Tri
Take in mind this is very subjective. Exceptional manuscripts that have high page counts can attractive agent rep and editors, too. I call it the "breath" of the story. How much room does your story need to breathe? Consider cutting all crap, too. Aim a little high if you want to, knowing that you might have to prune down.
Tri
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The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a fairly short book. Maybe you've heard of it.
And then we have stuff like Insomnia, which I think is a little bit long. (Let's face it, we're just going to toss King around in this one, he's paid by the pound.)
It depends on the story and genre a whole, whole lot.
And then we have stuff like Insomnia, which I think is a little bit long. (Let's face it, we're just going to toss King around in this one, he's paid by the pound.)
It depends on the story and genre a whole, whole lot.
This question has been covered extensively in the Novels forum. One thing you have to keep in mind is that page count doesn't matter. Page counts in novels do not equate to manuscript pages. Novel page counts vary according to font size and lots of other formatting settings that are really irrelevant to the writer.
As for whether I personally like a thick or narrow tome, it all depends.
J. Weiland said:
What type of content determines the quality? How does the content determine the quality?
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How many pages it'd take to tell the story. It's the story that is good or bad, not the number of pages.
That said, I tend to shy away from books that are overly long -- like over 600 pages. I have a very short attention span. If a book is that long, it has to be REALLY, REALLY phenomenal (and very much my cup of tea) for me to finish it. I hate to buy books which I know I can't possibly finish.
That said, I tend to shy away from books that are overly long -- like over 600 pages. I have a very short attention span. If a book is that long, it has to be REALLY, REALLY phenomenal (and very much my cup of tea) for me to finish it. I hate to buy books which I know I can't possibly finish.
hmm... all content determines the quality, I suppose. And the content determines its quality with its entertainment value to any given reader. The quality is objective.
I'm not sure what you are suggesting?
Not really trying to suggest anything. Just more or less thinking out loud and hoping you guys will help me.
How are you using the word content? What are the parts of the book, the elements of the story (regardless of the media) that compose the content? How do they relate to the quality or the entertainment value?
How are you using the word content? What are the parts of the book, the elements of the story (regardless of the media) that compose the content? How do they relate to the quality or the entertainment value?
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