I'm planning my novel and wondering what the standard word count is for chick lit -- has anyone here figured that out? have you come across any editorial guidelines from the publishing houses?
One eg. I found, Dorchester Publishing, says 80-100K.
Thanks!
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50,000 / 50,000
Okt 17, 2007 - 11 28
Hey DMac,
I've heard the same quoted in various places -- 80k - 100k.
I also took a chick lit novel writing course, and the instructor confirmed that ballpark ... I find that somewhat disheartening. That's a long-ass book!
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----------www.katiemorton.com
http://www.katiemorton.com
54,246 / 50,000
Okt 17, 2007 - 11 49
Thanks Katie! What's really intimidating is, I think 80 K is actually considered short-to-average in length! Ulp.
But the good news is, these books seem to use a lot of very short words ;-)
I've been checking out chick lit from the library, to prepare for November by wallowing in style and tone ;-)
Currently reading "Because She Can" by Bridie Clark (a classic of the genre, the thinly-disguised tell-all about the boss-from-hell publisher Judith Regan) -- it's a standard-sized hardback, about 270 pages.
I counted word-by-word on a random page and it totalled 278; on another 269. So I figured, average 270 words x 270 pages = 72,900 words.
I'll aim for 80 K, though, b/c from what I've seen and what you confirmed. that may be tne current minimum.
Hmm, lessee ...80K divided by 28 days [I'm taking off for Thanksgiving and the day after ;-)] is....2,857 a day.
Better plan now for a lot of write-in and sprints! :-D
1,806 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2007 - 00 26
Yeah, 80-100k isn't a long book....50k is a very SHORT one! ;o)
but it all just reminds me....gotta get the laptop fixed before November 1. Gotta gotta!
----------http://www.hotchickconfessions.blogspot.com
57,336 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2007 - 15 47
80K? Oh brother. Last year I came in at 63+, and it nearly killed me. Since then I've been editing it, and the word count is near 70K. That's the basically finished book. I guess I'll ignore the guidelines and hope the publishers like it enough to put out a slightly shorter work. Maybe a "beach book"?
----------Good luck to everyone!
Buy union lettuce!
33,772 / 50,000
Okt 24, 2007 - 06 01
I've heard that a large book containing several short stories is really popular right now, especially with the SAHM group because it allows them (us) to read a good story in a short amount of time between all of the other things they (we) do all day. By that theory, 50k is a great amount because you could take several short stories and market them together if they all have some kind of running theme. For me, all of my short stories take place in the same town, so once I get enough written, they'll be marketed as such.
----------54,246 / 50,000
Okt 24, 2007 - 08 22
Thanks CoffeeGirl, that's a good tip.
I just read a chick-lit from a few years ago, Candace Bushnell's "4 BLONDES" and it was basically 4 unconnected short stories (about some very unappealing characters, imo, but, whatever) -- I was wondering if that was unusual or a trend or what. It's an ideal format esp when you have several "main" characters and want to switch POVs.
It's nice to know that a collection of shorter stories would be marketable now.
DMac
(btw what's SAMH? Scottish Association of Military Historians? Substance Abuse & Mental Health? Secret Association of Monkey Handlers? ;-))
33,772 / 50,000
Okt 24, 2007 - 08 26
That's the one, hahaha. Or some people prefer to call it Stay at home mom. Potayto, potahto. : )
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