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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
 Posted - 20 May 2014 : 23:41:06
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This may have been better in the 'Sages' section, but I think it would get a faster response here:
Someone just asked me a question I had no idea how to answer - Whats the average word count for a novel?
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Garen Thal
Master of Realmslore
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 00:01:39
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| Most FR novels run approximately 306 pages (no, really: look) and a shade unde 100,000 words. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4685 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 00:37:31
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I recall that Ed was asked to write something like 150,000 words so that TSR could trim it down of some content to more like 100,000 words. I would have to find the quote to be sure about the numbers and the source.
It also used to be a standard that five letters was considered a word ( As the = one word) and I and not certain what the current standard that is used for an actual word count (with computers these days the letter I could be counted as a word just as easy as Waterdeep). |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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ErinMEvans
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 05:16:30
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Standard contracted length for a paperback is 90,000 words. And we use the word count function because it's just simpler.
Hardcover authors have more leeway, and currently there's more still. Adversary was 165k, anyway. |
www.slushlush.com |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 06:39:33
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Minimum I think is about 50k to count as a novel...while as much as 175k seems to be done often enough to be counting that number as a "Novel".
That's what my Google-Fu revealed I think.  |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 13:27:29
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If memory serves, the various writer award (Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, etc.) rules say that a work is a novel if it's at least 40,000 words long.
Now that doesn't mean that you can meet the terms of your contract by turning in a novel that short. As Erin notes, WotC contracts, for example, stipulate books longer than that. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 17:54:14
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Damn Richard and his intellect!  |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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ErinMEvans
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 18:09:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
If memory serves, the various writer award (Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, etc.) rules say that a work is a novel if it's at least 40,000 words long.
Now that doesn't mean that you can meet the terms of your contract by turning in a novel that short. As Erin notes, WotC contracts, for example, stipulate books longer than that.
Wow, somehow I inserted "Forgotten Realms" into that question. Sorry. Yeah, my answer is only specific to these books. Richard's answer is much better for novels in general. |
www.slushlush.com |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4685 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2014 : 21:46:14
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quote:
Originally posted by ErinMEvans
Wow, somehow I inserted "Forgotten Realms" into that question. Sorry. Yeah, my answer is only specific to these books. Richard's answer is much better for novels in general.
Well, if one considers the section of the library, the scroll clearly appeared to be asking about the length of Realms' novels. *S* |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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How Many?
