When it comes to writing a book, many authors struggle with one key question: How long should my book be? It’s an important consideration that can have a big impact on the success of your book. The best book length in words varies from genre to genre, and depends on the needs of your particular project. In this post, we’ll explore the optimal length for different genres, so you can figure out the ideal length for your book. We’ll focus on business books, memoirs, leadership books, and narrative nonfiction. So, how long should your book be?
Why does word count matter?
In the book industry, word count rules. Editors, agents, ghostwriters, and proofreaders will all discuss your book in terms of its word count. There’s a good reason for this—page count can vary dramatically depending on the book’s layout. In fact, many books boast longer “page” counts in their eBook versions than their paperback editions, and the hardcover format may be a different number entirely. Sticking to word count removes any possibility of confusion. If you described your novel as a 300-page manuscript, an agent might be interested—but clarify that your manuscript is single-spaced with tiny margins, and, well, they’re probably going to pass.
And that takes us to the reason word counts matter so much–they’re a way of setting expectations.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Imagine you ordered your toddler a book from Amazon. The cover featured bright cartoon animals enjoying a lively tea party, and the title promised to teach your child all about sharing. Now imagine that yellow and black package arrives and the book is 2″ thick.
You’d be confused, right?
That’s why word counts matter. Readers have particular expectations for particular types of books—genres—and when your book falls too far outside that range, readers balk.
The children’s book example isn’t very nuanced, so let me give you a more possible scenario. Have you ever ordered a self-published business book that looked normal when you pulled it out of the package—maybe half an inch at the spine, or so—but when you cracked the book open, the font was HUGE?
We all know what happened there, right? The author wanted a full-length book, but they didn’t have a full-length idea. They know, perhaps instinctually, that a business book should be in the 45k-60k range, but they only had 25k words in them. So they blew up the font.
Did it fool you?
Absolutely not.
This is why the industry defaults to word count. You can’t fudge your word count, because you can’t fudge your audience’s expectations. Most readers have no idea what a typical word count is, but they know a reasonable book length when they see it.
Word counts help industry professionals guide authors to meet their reader’s expectations.
So how long for a book that grabs readers’ attention and gets the author’s message across? Depends on the genre! Below are some guidelines for the genres we work with.
How long should a memoir be?
Memoirs are deeply personal stories that delve into the author’s experiences and perspectives. While there is no hard and fast rule on how long a memoir should be, most publishers suggest that they range from 60k words to no more than 90k words.
Since memoirs should cover a single, event-based time in the author’s life (and not the author’s ENTIRE life), it’s safest to stay on the short end of that range. We typically suggest authors aim for about 60k words unless they are celebrities or otherwise have a high likelihood of drawing in readers who already know, like, and trust them.
There’s good precedent for this. Ernest Hemingway’s memoir, A Moveable Feast, is just under 50,000 words, and Night by Elie Wiesel, another widely recognized memoir, is only 30,000 words.
That’s not to say you can’t go longer. David Sedaris’s Me Talk Pretty One Day is about 95,000 words, and Michelle Obama’s Becoming tags in at a whopping 165k words (kids, do not try this at home).
“Word counts help industry professionals guide authors to meet their reader’s expectations.”
When it comes to publishing a book, a memoir that is too long can be a challenge to sell, while a short memoir might be perceived as not substantial enough. In any case, it is essential for an author to balance the need to tell their story fully while keeping it engaging and impactful for the reader.
As with any book, a memoir should be concise and to the point. A story that feels stretched out can be unengaging and make the reader lose interest. On the other hand, an author shouldn’t skimp on details and experiences that bring depth and context to the memoir.
Overall, while the recommended range of word count for a memoir is between 60k and 90k words, authors should focus on crafting a story that is engaging, impactful, and most importantly, true to their experience. Self-publishing gives authors the opportunity to explore different lengths and structures to create a unique reading experience that works best for their story.
How long should a narrative nonfiction book be?
Memoir is a subgenre of narrative nonfiction, but since we often get requests for biography ghostwriting (a type of narrative nonfiction that is NOT the same as memoir), I wanted to include narrative nonfiction for those who are interested in publishing a book in this category.
The question of how long for a book in this category is exceptionally difficult.
Narrative nonfiction is a type of writing that tells a true story using techniques found in fiction, such as a plot and character development. This genre encompasses a broad range of topics, including history, true crime, and biographies. As with memoirs, there is no set word count for a narrative nonfiction book. However, publishers generally expect these books to be longer than memoirs, since they cover a broader range of events or subjects.
When it comes to word count, narrative nonfiction books typically range from 70k to 100k words, with some longer books going up to 150k words. This range allows authors to fully explore their subjects while keeping the reader engaged. For example, Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, which chronicles the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the serial killer who preyed on its visitors, is over 100k words. Another example is Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, a true crime book that is around 85k words.
On the other end of the spectrum, shorter narrative nonfiction books can be just as effective. For instance, John McPhee’s Oranges is only around 30k words but manages to provide a detailed look at the history and production of oranges.
Similarly, John Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, which recounts his experience of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, is around 75k words.
Many narrative nonfiction books include pages and pages (or words and words) of endnotes. And if you’re wondering, are endnotes included in your overall word count, the answer is, “Yes.” We recently worked on a book that was half end notes–the story was relatively concise, but it was a vehicle for sharing all kinds of fascinating detail on the time period (the mid 1800s), and the author wanted to make sure readers knew where to find the primary sources he used to reconstruct the setting.
Ultimately, the length of a narrative nonfiction book should depend on the content. It’s crucial to cover the subject matter thoroughly and effectively, without overwhelming or boring readers. Publishing a book that’s too long may risk losing the reader’s attention, while a book that’s too short may not provide the necessary depth of information or character development. It’s essential to find a balance between being comprehensive and concise, making the narrative nonfiction book an enjoyable and informative read.
How long should a business book be?
What’s the best book length in words for a business book? First, consider what type of business book you’re writing. In this section, we’ll focus on how-to or self-help-style business books as opposed to more philosophical leadership books (covered in the next section) or business memoirs (see the section on memoirs above!).
Business books are written with the goal of imparting actionable advice, strategies, and tools to help entrepreneurs and business professionals achieve success in their careers. Unlike narrative nonfiction or memoirs, the focus here is on providing practical solutions to real-world business problems. This often means that business books tend to be shorter, since the readers’ attention span may be limited by their demanding schedules.
The typical word count for a how-to or self-help-style business book is between 30k and 50k words. However, some authors may go higher or lower depending on the subject matter. For example, Timothy Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Work Week clocks in at around 74k words, while Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage is closer to 60k words. On the other hand, Seth Godin’s The Dip is only 15k words, yet it still manages to deliver a powerful message.
The key is to strike a balance between delivering enough value and keeping the reader’s attention. In general, a book that’s too long can feel bloated and overwhelming, while a book that’s too short may come across as simplistic and lacking in substance.
This is why it’s important to focus on the quality of the content rather than the length. (And self-publishing authors, by all means, DO NOT make your font bigger to make the book seem longer! I know it sounds harsh, but it just makes you look like an amateur—literally the exact opposite of your purpose for writing the book in the first place!)
Another factor to consider when deciding on book length is the intended audience. Business books that target executives or high-level professionals may have a higher word count than books aimed at new entrepreneurs or small business owners. The complexity of the subject matter can also influence the length of the book, as more technical topics may require more space to explain.
How long should a leadership book be?
Finally, let’s talk leadership books.
Leadership books play a crucial role in providing valuable insights and guidance to individuals aspiring to become effective leaders. These books are typically philosophy-based, aiming to help leaders reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, and personal growth. They serve as indispensable resources for anyone seeking to enhance their leadership skills and make a positive impact in their professional and personal lives.
When it comes to word counts in leadership books, there is a considerable range. Higher word count books often delve deep into theories, case studies, and practical strategies, providing readers with comprehensive knowledge and actionable steps. For example, renowned leadership expert John C. Maxwell’s book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership contains approximately 55,000 words. This classic work explores key principles and lessons that are fundamental to effective leadership.
On the other end of the spectrum, some leadership books have lower word counts while still delivering profound insights. These books focus on concise and impactful messages. A prime example is Simon Sinek’s bestseller Start with Why, which contains around 38,000 words. Sinek’s concise writing style empowers leaders to discover their purpose and inspire others by communicating their “why.”
Other factors to consider when deciding on book length
It’s worth noting that word counts can vary significantly depending on the author’s writing style, the depth of the subject matter, and the target audience. The goal of any book should be much larger and more personal than fitting into a specific word count. When you set out to write, your goal is to provide meaningful content that resonates with readers and helps them along their life journey.
Still, while some authors complain about arbitrary word count rules, we want to emphasize that word counts aren’t actually arbitrary—they’re based on reader preference, experience, and expectations.
And, of course, readers have other preferences, experiences, and expectations that might undermine word count. For instance, maybe your book will be packed with diagrams or illustrations—or pictures, which are famously worth 1k words! In that case, you may want to aim for a shorter word count to keep your book’s production costs low.
Or maybe you plan to publish a series of shorter books. For example, the Pocket Mentor series, published by Harvard Review Press, provides practical advice and insights on various business topics in a compact format. Each book focuses on a specific aspect of business, such as negotiation, leadership, managing teams, or communication skills. With their concise length, typically around 25k words (just under 100 pages each), these books offer quick and actionable guidance for busy professionals who want to gain knowledge on a particular subject without investing significant time.
That 25k word count is much shorter than we might expect for a business book, but it works because it was chosen with readers in mind.
Finally, I sometimes speak with aspiring authors who mostly plan to keep their books as family heirlooms. These authors often want to include a lot of pictures AND they can’t bare to cut any of their family’s stories. A book like this may end up over 100k words, and that’s okay–as long as the author doesn’t expect to sell many copies in the marketplace.
Can word count make or break your book?
At this point, many people wonder: what if my book has a very high or very low word count? Can a 15k-word memoir be salvaged? What about a 175k novel? Does a book’s word count determine its success?
Well, yes and no.
To understand how important word count is, we have to consider the context.
“When you set out to write, your goal is to provide meaningful content that resonates with readers and helps them along their life journey.”
If you’re querying agents or small-press editors, you’ll need to know your word count. A typical query letter will include the word count in the very first paragraph or even in the subject line in some cases. Agents and editors want books that spark their interest—that they can envision succeeding in the market.
But they also need writers who understand the industry. Of course, most first-time authors don’t really know what they’re getting themselves into (insert ominous music here), but it will be easier for an agent to coach an author who has at least some sense of industry standards.
Most of those industry-standard things are difficult to assess. But there’s one norm that pops off the page because it’s an objective measure of the author’s understanding of the business: word count.
If you submit a query letter for a 150k memoir (and you’re not a celebrity), most agents won’t even read the full query letter. There’s good reason for that—memoir is a genre notorious for attracting autobiographies that are more for the writer than the reader. Aspiring memoirists often start with their childhood and trace every event that was meaningful to them throughout their entire life. The result is typically a bloated, unfocused manuscript that is undoubtedly valuable to the author, but less so to readers.
That means it will be impossible to sell without a ton of editing. Most agents and press editors just don’t have the time, energy, or patience to help someone cut their memoir in half.
But let’s say you’re not interested in querying agents and editors. Let’s say you plan to publish your book under your own imprint (meaning you or a company you create will be your book’s publisher). Does word count matter if you’re self-publishing?
As I discussed above, it certainly can—if your word count is very far from norms, many readers will notice, and they may feel mislead when the book arrives at their door much shorter or longer than they expected.
That said, word count isn’t the most important aspect of your book—what’s more important is that the book feels right to readers. When you think of it that way, it’s more important that your book is tightly edited and that it includes the information necessary to provide the reader experience you’ve promised in your marketing campaign.
A 15k-word business book will feel very short, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! Who doesn’t love good advice that can be read in an hour or two? Just make sure you signal the length to readers so they aren’t put off when the book arrives at their doorstep!
