Word Counter for Writers
Whether you're writing a novel, short story or submitting to literary magazines, word count is everything. Track your manuscript progress with this free word counter built for serious writers.
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Open Word Counter →Quick Answer
A novel is typically 70,000 to 100,000 words. A short story is 1,000 to 10,000 words. Flash fiction is under 1,000 words. Most debut authors should target 80,000 to 90,000 words for their first novel.
Word Count Reference for Writers
| Format | Word Count Range |
|---|---|
| Flash fiction | 100-1,000 words |
| Short story | 1,000-10,000 words |
| Novelette | 10,000-20,000 words |
| Novella | 20,000-50,000 words |
| Novel (debut) | 70,000-100,000 words |
| Epic fantasy / sci-fi | 100,000-150,000 words |
| Children's picture book | 500-1,000 words |
| Middle grade novel | 20,000-50,000 words |
| YA novel | 50,000-80,000 words |
Tips for Writers
- →Set a daily word count target of 500 to 1,000 words and use the counter to track your daily output
- →Track chapter lengths individually to maintain consistent pacing throughout your manuscript
- →Check submission guidelines for literary magazines before submitting as word limits vary significantly
- →Romance novels typically run 50,000 to 100,000 words while mystery novels average 70,000 to 90,000 words
- →Use the reading time calculator to estimate how long your book will take to read
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words per day should a writer write?
Stephen King recommends 2,000 words per day. Many professional writers aim for 1,000 to 1,500 words daily. For beginners 500 words per day is a sustainable starting goal.
How many words are in a chapter?
Most novel chapters are 2,000 to 5,000 words. Thrillers and YA novels tend toward shorter chapters of 1,500 to 3,000 words. Literary fiction chapters are often 4,000 to 8,000 words.
What word count do publishers want for a first novel?
Most traditional publishers want debut fiction at 80,000 to 100,000 words. Genre fiction varies: romance 50,000 to 100,000, thriller 70,000 to 90,000, fantasy 90,000 to 120,000.
Can a novel be too long?
Yes. Debut novels over 120,000 words are very difficult to sell to traditional publishers. Self-published authors have more flexibility but very long books can deter readers.
How do I track my word count across multiple writing sessions?
Use our word counter daily by pasting your new writing. Keep a simple spreadsheet with your daily word count and running total. Many writers also use tools like Scrivener for full manuscript tracking.