Recently, I received a manuscript that came in at approximately 65,000 words. Before the editor began the editing process, the author’s biggest concern wasn’t about the plot, characters, pacing, or even the ending.
Their question was: “Is the word count enough?”
My response was equally simple: “Are you satisfied with the story?”
The author said yes.
“Enough said,” I replied.
That conversation got me thinking about a question many writers wrestle with: Does word count matter more than the story itself?
THE OBSESSION WITH WORD COUNT
Writers often become fixated on word count. New authors frequently ask questions such as:
- Is 50,000 words enough for a novel?
- Should I stretch my manuscript to 80,000 words?
- Will publishers reject my book because it’s too short?
- Do readers expect longer books?
These are valid concerns. After all, publishing guidelines exist for a reason. Certain genres do have expected word count ranges, and agents, editors, publishers, and readers often have expectations based on those genres.
But word count should never become more important than the story.
WHEN WORD COUNT DOES MATTER
There are genres where a higher word count serves a purpose.
Fantasy is perhaps the most obvious example. Epic fantasy often requires extensive world-building, multiple character arcs, unique cultures, magic systems, histories, and complex political structures. Trying to squeeze all of that into 40,000 words could leave readers feeling lost or unsatisfied.
Similarly, historical fiction, science fiction, and some mystery novels may require additional space to establish settings, explain concepts, or develop intricate plots.
In these cases, a larger word count is not about padding the manuscript. It is about giving the story enough room to breathe.
WHEN IT DOESN’T MATTER
For many other genres, however, the impact of a story has very little to do with its length.
A powerful message, memorable characters, unexpected twist, or a compelling emotional journey can be delivered in surprisingly few pages.
Some of the most influential books ever written are remarkably short.
- The Old Man and the Sea — Ernest Hemingway (128 pages)
- Animal Farm — George Orwell (Approximately 140 pages)
- The Metamorphosis — Franz Kafka (55 pages)
- The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (96 pages)
- Who Moved My Cheese? — Spencer Johnson (96 pages)
- The Elements of Style — William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (43 pages)
*The relatively low page counts of these books should give you a good indication of their modest word counts.
READERS REMEMBER STORIES, NOT WORD COUNTS
Think about your favourite books. Do you remember how many words they contained?
Probably not.
What you remember is how they made you feel, and the emotions it invoked.
You remember the characters who stayed with you long after you finished reading. You remember the twists that surprised you, the lessons that changed your perspective, and the moments that made you laugh, cry, think, or even scared.
Readers rarely close a book and say, “That was exactly 82,000 words. Perfect.”
They close a book and say, “What a story.”
THE REAL QUESTION
Instead of asking: “Is my manuscript long enough?”
Authors should ask:
- Does the story feel complete?
- Have I developed the characters sufficiently?
- Is the pacing right?
- Does every chapter serve a purpose?
- Will readers feel satisfied when they reach the final page?
If the answer is yes, then the manuscript is likely the right length.
Not every story needs to be longer, similarly not every story needs to be shorter.
Every story simply needs to be told well because word count is a guideline while story is the destination. And when the story works, the number at the bottom of the manuscript becomes far less important.
*****
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