A Writer’s Guide to (Approximate) Word Counts

Hi Everyone,

Here is a list of approximate word counts I picked up from one of the writing listservs I subscribe to. Just keep in mind that every publishing house and every editor is different, so these word counts are not chiseled in stone.

Use this list as a guide when you’re penning your next masterpiece, but also make sure you study and follow the specific criteria of the publishing house you’re submitting it to.

(APPROXIMATE) WORD COUNT FOR BOOKS
Board Books: 100 words
Young Picture Books: 200-400 words
Picture Books for Preschoolers: 500-1000 words
Non-Fiction Picture Books: 1,100-2,000 words
Picture Story Books: 1,000-2,000 words
Easy Readers: 600-800 words (varies widely, depending on grade level)
Hi-Lo Books: 700-1,000 words
Chapter Books: 6,000-10,000 words
Mid-Grade Novels: 15,000-25,000 words
Young Adult Novels: 30,000-60,000 words

Again, these numbers aren’t chiseled in stone, but they do provide guidance as you plan your story.

Best wishes and happy writing!

Rita Lorraine