Length and Publishing

Is 50 000 too short for an adult horror novel? That's the length I have currently, do I need to lengthen the manuscript for it to be more attractive to publishers or is this okay?

 

It's too short. You want to aim for at least 80k since the standard length is between 80-100k.

 

Thank you- I thought as much, oh the gruelling task of padding it out. I'm sensing a sub plot coming on.

 

1k = ?

 

1k is 1000. It's shorthand.

Submission length for a first novel in most adult genres is 80,000 to 120,000 (80k to 120k) words, with a strong preference for the 80k to 100k range.

To increase the manuscript length, add, don't pad. Add complications, challenges, more story. Padding (extra description, unnecessary dialogue, superfluous scenes) weaken the writing.

 

I'll try. I think I have a good idea for a subplot.

 

'k' stands for 'thousand'

 

Well said.