Here’s a question for all you published authors out there. And agents. And editors. Really, anyone who knows more about writing than I do which is just about everyone.
Which word count formula should one really use for a query letter?
Granted, I’m not at the querying stage just yet, but the writing conference I just went to threw me for a loop. We were told by an agent that the maximum word count for historical fiction is 80,000. I had always heard 100,000, but I figure there must be a range. Either way, my finished WIP was at 120,000 words and is still being trimmed.
However, the waters get even murkier when one takes into consideration the fact that word count will vary wildly depending on how you count it. According to Word, my WIP currently sits at a cozy 107,000 words. But if you use the 250 words per page that many agents mention, it right under 100,000.
So if I were done could I just say 100,000 and call it good? Please? 🙂
The short answer, if my own numbers are any indicator, is 80K to 100K. If the ms is properly formatted then you average 250 words a page, and the editor cares more about pages than words.
If you're over 100K then you need to tighten, which would probably do good anyway.
Keep in mind my opinion is irrelevant, because I'm not an agent or an editor looking to acquire your book. Their opinion matters intensely. I recall a number of blogging agents have talked about this.
And a lot have mentioned that while word count is important, it doesn't always make or break the process from the get-go. It's more just to give them an idea of how long the book will be when printed so they can estimate cost.
I'll throw my two cents in from a critic's point of view – the wordcount that best fits what you are writing is best. That sounds oblique, but it's true. I've read 200,000 word books that were fantastic and I've read 50,000 word books that were far too long and droned on and on. It really comes down to what works. Cut out everything you don't need and keep everything you do. If you have done it right, the story will tell you how long it should be, not the other way around.
I hope that helped.
Thanks for the tips everyone!
I'm going to continue trimming. I think I'll end up close to 95,000 words with the 250 per page calculation. And that's what I'll go with for the query.
Woohoo!
Have you tried the word count Microsoft Word provides? In the latest version, it's on the bar at the bottom of the page or can be found if you hit the Review tab on the toolbars at the top of the page. What I've heard from agents is that debut fiction must be below 100k words. Of course, different genres then have their own requirements. I aim for Stephen King's formula, which is to cut 10% on every draft of the novel. I got mine down from 115k to 98k doing that. I have to admit it's a much better written book as a result. Good luck!
I too got very confused by the word count when my MS was done. Word counted it one way and the 250 words per page gave a different title.
I finally just went with the higher of the two numbers, figuring (rightly or wronly) that if necessary, it could be/would be easier to take OUT words than put IN words if the publisher was unsatisfactory with the word count.
In the end I don't think it matters. I was extrememly fortunate and got a book contract realtively soon after I began shopping it around.
In the whole process since signing the contract, word count has never been mentioned at all! The number of pages has been, and that seems to what the focus is on once it gets to the publishing stage.
Cheers, Jill
http://www.jilledmondson.blogspot.com