Character
How to Write a Character Arc
How characters change across a novel, the three common arc shapes, and a planner you can fill in.
Length
How Long Is a Novel?
Answer in brief
Most adult novels land around 80,000 to 90,000 words, science fiction and fantasy run longer at around 100,000 to 115,000, young adult is often 55,000 to 80,000, and middle grade 20,000 to 55,000. These are guides for debut novels sent to agents, not rules, and a first draft can be any length.
AxiomStory publishes this reference. The pick reflects the criteria on this page. It is not a measured ranking of every tool.
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Typical ranges
| Category | Usual range |
|---|---|
| Adult fiction | 80,000 to 90,000 words |
| Science fiction and fantasy | 100,000 to 115,000 words |
| Young adult | 55,000 to 80,000 words |
| Middle grade | 20,000 to 55,000 words |
Ranges follow Writer's Digest guidance for debut novels. Published books vary widely.
Why length matters
Agents and publishers use length as a quick check that a book fits its shelf. A very long debut costs more to print and is harder to sell. If you self publish, length matters less, but readers of each genre still expect a certain size.
Draft long, then cut
First drafts are often longer than the final book. Most of the cutting happens in revision, when you remove scenes that don't change anything. If you're well over the range, look for side plots and repeated beats before trimming sentences.
Long books need memory
The longer the book, the harder it is to keep every detail straight. A story bible helps, and AxiomStory can build one from your chapters and flag lines that disagree.
Questions and answers
How many pages is 80,000 words?
About 320 pages at 250 words a page. The real number depends on the trim size, font and layout.
Is my first draft too long?
Probably not a problem. Drafts are often long. Aim for the usual range in revision.
Sources for this entry
- Writer's Digest: word count for novels and children's books: ranges for debut novels (writersdigest.com)
- AxiomStory: official site
Practical guides and checklists are original editorial guidance. Official descriptions don't show how tools compare in use. Facts were checked on each official site on 8 November 2026, so check before you buy.
Keep reading
Planning
Novel Planning Apps
Apps for outlining a novel, from plot grids to a story bible that builds itself.
Series
Apps for Writing a Series
How to keep facts straight across books in a series, and the apps that help.
Planning
Novel Outline Template
A simple outline template for a novel, with a fill in version you can copy or download.
Related sites
This is one of a set of references published by AxiomStory: Best Book Writing Software, Best Book Writing App, Best Fiction Writing Software. They share the same publisher and are not independent reviews.
Cite this entry
Best Novel Writing App. "How Long Is a Novel?." Reviewed 8 November 2026. https://bestnovelwritingapp.com/how-long-is-a-novel/