So I an writing a thriller/action/adventure type novel and I tend to get a bit carried away with writing too many words. I was just wondering is there a medium or average word count for each genre? Also is it better to keep it trim while I am writing or trim down after my first draft?
Most publishers look for novels in the 80-120k range. For unpublished authors, somewhere around 80-90k is the norm, if I remember Mom's posts on the subject.
I would say 80,000 to 100,000+ words? (some correct me if I'm wrong) I also depends what audience you're writing for and publisher guide lines. Everyone publisher is different. What you feel comfortable with. I personally like getting everything out in the first draft then cutting things down in the editing process. This means I won't need to worry about finishing and allows more concentration on my choice of words ect..
Kate's and Youniquee's estimates are the generally accepted numbers for novelists. Some genres may have a lower count. YA is more like 60,000, if memory serves.
It depends on target audience and genre. There are plenty of online resources that really delve into this.
That genre is about 60-90 thousand. Those are for general novels. Most mystery's are a little shorter, at least that's what the statistics say.
YA is not a genre, it's a market segment. But 60k to 80k is an oft-cited range for YA submissions. Check the guidelines of the publisher(s) you are considering.
if i'm the 'mom' referred to above, i generally quote what most publishers prefer for novels by new and unknown writers intended for the adult market, as 80-100k...
