Word Count Min. for a Fantasy Novel??

joyce · Jun 25, 2007

I know somewhere I've read this before but now I can't find it. What is considered an average/min. word count for a fantasy novel (paranormal romance). I've read fantasy readers prefer a longer book. My manuscript is more contemporary fantasy and I'm starting to wonder if it's not quite long enough. I've got two partials out to agents, but another stated it was not long enough for her agency. It is presently at 75,000 words and going through another tweeking edit which will more than likely bring it up another few thousand words. I'm holding off sending it out to anymore agents until this hopefully final tweek is complete. For some reason I have 80,000 words logged into the ole brain as the correct word count. Any ideas from the ole pros out there. Thanks.

Death Wizard · Jun 25, 2007

If you're talking one book of a series, 75,000 words is short but okay, but as a standalone, that seems very short to me for traditional fantasy. A standalone fantasy should be 100,000-plus, in my opinion. Paranormal romance is a completely different story. 75K would be fine for that, seems to me.

Dave.C.Robinson · Jun 25, 2007

I know that Baen books (more straight fantasy than paranormal) looks for 100K in their novels. Also most of the people I know writing fantasy seem to be contracted for about 100K words, so I think that's pretty much the average length for fantasy these days. Other genres can be shorter (especially mystery and category romance) but for most fiction these days I'd stick with about 85-110K.

ChaosTitan · Jun 25, 2007

Even for para-romance, 75k is a tad on the short side. A lot of the agents that I've researched for that genre suggest a mininum of 80k. I'd suggest 80-100k.

joyce · Jun 25, 2007

Thanks everyone. Even though this is not a total fantasy, it is still not a total romance. I was having the feeling it was probably on the short side of things. I have considered doing a series since my manuscript definately could continue with another story. I still feel I need to have the first one at a more correct length.

MDSchafer · Jun 28, 2007

I think the minimum is around 65,000 myself. Some of Neil Gaiman's works, like Stardust, are rather short.

Also, I find that editing for me tends to lower the word count. Maybe that's just me.

jordijoy · Jun 28, 2007

ChaosTitan said:
Even for para-romance, 75k is a tad on the short side. A lot of the agents that I've researched for that genre suggest a mininum of 80k. I'd suggest 80-100k.

Thanks, needed that!

Jamesaritchie · Jun 28, 2007

Length

The minimum length, just like the maximum, is whatever a publisher says it is. They all have guidelines, and it's better to actually find, read, and follow the guidelines, rather than just ask around.

Word Count Min. for a Fantasy Novel??

joyce

I'm really shy...

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

ChaosTitan

Around

joyce

I'm really shy...

MDSchafer

jordijoy

In pursuit!!

Jamesaritchie