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ar-ninetysix
Dec '18

About how many words are in a novel page? Now, normally, I just kinda write on and on until I feel like I've said enough in my main project, but for the sake of a different one.. how much is the average? I know it's a really broad question, but any help is appreciated~

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    Dec '18

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    Dec '18
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DokiDokiTsuna
Dec '18

I think you'd be better served calculating an average from your own writing. I mean, the actual number depends on many factors: the font size, the program you use, your vocabulary (lots of little words take up more space than a few bigger words), and how much dialogue you write (convention is to separate dialogue line-by-line, which takes up more page space with fewer words).

For me, that word count is roughly 400-500 words.

DeformedSunflower
Dec '18

I personally either write until I feel it's enough to conclude things, or until it reaches an interesting cliffhanger.

DasIstWunderblyat
Dec '18

Ideal chapter length depends on what format and where you posted it I suppose :smile:

On formats of digital platform like Wattpad and Tapas, I think shorter chapters tends to do better (1--3 k). On printed formats, people tends to write longer chapters (up to 5k or more)

Although I think it's up to you when to conclude your chapter and how to make the flow natural.

I have 1.8 words average here, while back then I wrote up to 5k average.

AllynCrowe
Dec '18

Depends on the page? If you mean the precise A4 size standard margin page, you can easily get 500-700 Times New Roman 12pt words in there. The average printed book page (generally printed in this exact same font and size), has ~250-300 words.

If you mean words in a chapter, it really depends on whether you do web chapters ('episodes') or book chapters. Right now my Tapas chapters are averaging between 1500-2000 words, with a few outliers at ~1000 words. But these things also change per type of story, since often darker and more serious novels need more words per chapter to set up a detailed world.

ar-ninetysix
Dec '18

Don't know why I asked a broad question expecting a specific answer lol essentially, it doesn't matter as it just depends on everything attached to it be it dialogue, font, paper size, word usage and all that, right? And as for webnovels and digital platforms, there's just no specific answer either, just a show of what numbers work well in certain contexts.. Well, thanks for clearing it up for me, you guys!

I think I'll just set a limit on myself for it then. I wanted a general word number for pages to go with as I'm gonna try writing this one-shot manga project as a novel on here. I have an outline of what needs to happen on each page, but I didn't want each page to be these hugely varying lengths of what stuff happens in them. It'll be a bit of a challenge holding back my words to a limit, but it'll be interesting to follow through on that~.

RyzaCobalion
Dec '18

i kinda in the same boat as you. i usually write my essays until i feel like a stopping point. But it's always good to go back edit and cut some parts that don't fit in with the story.

ZoeBlessing
Dec '18

As others have said, chapter length is entirely subjective. Online formats do favor shorter chapters so readers don't feel like they are scrolling forever. Like around 2000 words or less. I personally prefer to read and write shorter chapters, even in print. There are some well-known authors who do super-short chapters, like James Patterson. Rainbow Rowell has a few chapters that consist of just one sentence. The point of a chapter is to achieve a goal that the author intended. Once that goal is reached, it doesn't really matter what its word count is.

That's not to say long chapters over 4000 words are bad. Those tend to be broken up with gaps or asterisks or some kind of visual spacer when the story jumps to another scene or point in time. It all depends on what a chapter represents to you. In the Rainbow Rowell books with 1-sentence chapters, it represents a switch in POV. In James Patterson books, it represents a revelation or turning point in the story (and there are usually many, many turning points). For other authors, it represents an entire day, season, or time period. Still others use a chapter to cover a particular arc in a character's personal journey. Figure out what a chapter means for you, and that will help you figure out how long it needs to be.