I know the typical non-YA novel starts around 90K, but I've heard that YA novels are often shorter than that?
What's the average wordcount for YA books?
- Thread starter Rechan
- Start date
They can be. Or they can be longer. Depends on the story--a fantasy may clock in at well over 100K because of the world-building, while a contemporary may only run 40K (that's pretty much the minimum.)
I would stay above 65K for a YA SFF and 40K for a YA contemp. A debut author would probably want to aim below 100K, even for SFF.
90K sounds long for non-SFF adult, but since I don't write it, who knows?
90K sounds long for non-SFF adult, but since I don't write it, who knows?
My Contemps range from 50K to 82K...I'd say anywhere inside those parameters would work...maybe closer to the 50 end. And what they said about SFF too...
The reason I ask is because I work for a small press and the publisher handed me a YA fantasy book to go over looking for plot/character issues. Thing is, the book is 140K, and I had the feeling this was just too big for YA.
Would be interesting to know if the author is already published, and if they have any previous work with this publisher.
This is really going to be the publisher's decision. If they don't have a problem with it, then no reason to worry. Why not ask, though?
I don't know if the author has been published elsewhere, but this is the first with this press.
Every press is different. Some won't take books that are shorter than another press's maximum word count. I had an editor insist I get a YA SF under 65K, which many see as a minimum for YA SFF.
Since your question comes from working in a small press, ask the editors what they want.
Since your question comes from working in a small press, ask the editors what they want.