Everyone has a story to tell, but sometimes the process of getting it out there into the world can be daunting. Today, we will explore the different types of book publishing categories available and their common features, as well as the different word length expectations associated with each category. 

---

Common Book Publishing Categories and Their Word Lengths: 

Fiction Books: Fiction books are stories that come from the author’s imagination. The word lengths for this type of book vary greatly but generally range between 50,000-110,000+ words. Epic stories can have more than 120,000 words, but the average length of most fiction is 90,000 words.

Flash Fiction comes in with 1-1000 words.

Short Stories come in with 1,000-7,500 words.

Novelette will have 7,500-19,000 words.

Novellas will have 20,000-50,000 words.

Novels range from 50,000-110,000 words.

---

Fiction Genres

Mainstream Romance 

Romance books have become an incredibly popular genre, and there are now countless romances to choose from when looking for something to read. However, the backbone of a romance book always includes a captivating love story, characters that you can relate to, vivid descriptions of settings, and a hint of wish fulfillment that readers can escape into. Plot-driven elements like intriguing dilemmas and escalating tension throughout the story add depth and complexity to the classic required happy ending. An excellent mainstream romance book needs all of these components, in addition to expertly written dialogue that captures the essence of human relationship dynamics.  These books generally have a word count of 70,000-100,000 words.

---

Sub-genre Romance

Writing a romance sub-genre book can be one of the most rewarding types of writing, as it allows authors to create worlds filled with complex characters, intense emotion, and tangible chemistry. While the core romance element ties all romance sub-genres together, readers should experience something unique in each story they journey through. To ensure this is achieved, romance sub-genre books should contain an original plot, attention to detail, and focus on believable character development as much as mainstream romance. Research into the particular sub-genre being written, such as fantasy or contemporary, is also essential to telling a captivating tale that resonates with readers. Sub-genre romance novels normally have between 40,000-100,000 words.

---

Science Fiction

Science Fiction is an incredible genre that has no limitations to the imagination. Science Fiction should stretch your mental capacity, challenge assumptions about the world, and make readers think about life differently. Science Fiction allows for human exploration that takes our wildest dreams and makes them into a thrilling reality. With Science Fiction books, you also have the potential of being taken down different paths by unexpected twists in the plot or groundbreaking themes. These books give their readers the ability to escape from reality and creates entirely new universes with the author’s own set of rules. With jaw-dropping surprises, thought-provoking conversations, and creative approaches to characters and events, science fiction has no limits. These books typically have word counts from 90,000-120,000, with a few going all the way up to 150,000.

---

Fantasy

Fantasy books are a very popular genre. If you are interested in writing this type of literature, there are a few key elements to consider. One vital component is capturing the reader’s imagination – readers should be able to dive into your world with vivid descriptions and relatable characters. Additionally, ensure that your plot has a well-thought-out structure and is consistent throughout the book. Whatever rules you give your fantasy world, those rules need to be maintained throughout the whole story. Furthermore, while there should be room for creativity, any made-up creatures, words, or places must make sense within the context of your story. Lastly, although good grammar and formatting is necessary, strive to come up with fresh ideas so as to create an interesting and captivating piece of fiction and world. For fantasy books, the word count ranges from 90,000-120,000. They can get up to 150,000 words with complex work creations and storylines.

---

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a wonderful way to bring the past to life, allowing readers to become fully immersed in what that time in history might have been like. Historical Fiction requires a great deal of research and storytelling finesse to create an engaging story that feels meaningful and authentic to the time period and characters. To craft Historical Fiction, research into what happened during that time in history is critical. Historical Fiction should transport readers to places they have never been while making it feel like it is the norm for the characters.  Historical documents, myths, rumors, and news archives can act as sources of inspiration for this unique genre. These works of fiction are on the longer side, with 80,000-100,000 words.

---

Thrillers

Thrillers have a few common characteristics that grab readers, making them an exciting read. Thrillers typically start with a compelling situation or mystery that will draw the reader into the story. Thrillers often have high stakes: danger lurks around every corner, and the hero must protect themselves and others from it. Intriguing suspense keeps readers interested as they try to guess what’s coming next. Thriller fiction books also rely heavily on visuals; readers must be able to see images in their mind’s eye and get caught up in the story quickly for maximum enjoyment. Thrillers are filled with engaging characters that are complicated enough to make them believable yet relatable, pushing readers to see how the hero might solve the problem or situation at hand. Whether you’re a fan of crime thrillers, action-packed adventures, or political intrigue, Thriller fiction will keep your attention for 70,000-90,000 words.

---

Mysteries

Mysteries Fiction books provide evocative scenarios captivating readers through peculiar settings and thrilling storylines. When creating Mysteries Fiction, authors should ensure that their characters are lifelike with authentic emotions and believable motivations. Details should be included to accommodate vivid settings and enticing scenes. Mysteries Fiction stories should be laced with suspenseful moments of doubt and contemplation, leaving the reader questioning where the story will lead next. Through intriguing plot twists and a satisfying conclusion, Mysteries Fiction books can make readers ponder the story long after they’ve finished the book. Mysteries range from 70,000-90,000 words.

---

Crime

Crime fiction books make for great reading. With suspenseful plots and unexpected twists, they keep readers on their toes as they follow along with the detectives to unravel the case. Crime fiction also requires diligent research and attention to detail to capture the setting, character development, and a thorough investigation of whatever case the protagonist is working on. If you are thinking of writing a crime fiction book, there are certain requirements that you need to meet to be successful. It should have an intriguing plot that will keep readers engaged, well-rounded characters who drive the action forward, and believable motivations for each character’s choices throughout the novel. Additionally, your story should include a healthy dose of tension and understanding of real police procedures in order to fully suspend disbelief for your readers. Crime books range from 70,000-90,000 words.

---

Horror

Horror fiction is filled with suspense and drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking to write a Horror Fiction novel, there are some essential components that must be included. Your Horror Fiction book should emphasize fear and dread, include vivid descriptions of characters and settings, and create vivid images in readers’ minds while they read your story. In order to make sure your Horror Fiction comes alive with every page turn, make sure to use these aspects as key elements in your work. The normal work count for Horror books is 70,000-90,000 words.

---

Young Adult

Young Adult fiction has become increasingly popular in recent years and can be a great way to capture the attention of teen readers. Young Adult fiction typically deals with themes such as identity, coming of age, and relationships. These stories often focus on young protagonists between the ages of 13-18 navigating complex life events and dealing with everyday issues like school and family. Young Adult Fiction can contain elements of mystery and suspense, though there is plenty of room for humor or lightheartedness too! Young Adult fiction must be age appropriate when it comes to topics and language, so authors must pay special attention to these areas when writing for this audience. These books aren’t as long as the rest of the fiction category coming in at 50,000-80,000 words.

---

Children’s Books

Picture Books

Picture books capture imaginations and transport readers into a magical world of stories and fun. Picture books are unique because they use both visual and text-based storytelling, creating an immersive and exciting reading experience for kids! When writing a picture book, it’s important to ensure you meet the expectations for writing, illustrations, size, and format of your target reader. This includes things like page count, character count, type of artwork, and more. This type of fiction ranges from 300-800 words. 

Early Readers

Early Reader books have a special role in helping kids learn to read for the very first time. As such, Early Reader books must be held to a higher standard than other reading materials; ensuring Early Reader books are appropriate, well-written, and visually appealing is essential for helping young readers engage with the text. When choosing Early Reader stories, things like character arc, plot structure, and age-appropriate illustrations should all be taken into consideration. That way, Early Readers can enjoy their experience of learning to read with stories that truly captivate young minds and create an unforgettable love of reading for years to come. Early Reader books have 200-3500 words.

Chapter Books

Chapter Books are an essential part of every child’s journey into reading, offering an engaging escape into a variety of different worlds. Chapter Books provide young readers with diverse stories they can relate to and characters they can identify with, which in turn encourages further exploration of the world around them. Chapter Books develop a child’s imagination while guiding them through the narrative arc and teaching them valuable lessons that will prepare them for life, and encouraging them to have a lifetime of meaningful reading experiences. With Chapter Books, children will be able to practice their comprehension, and see the connection between spelling and grammar in the written text, whilst enjoying an age-appropriate story. Chapter books have a vast range of word counts, starting out at 4,000 and finishing at around 10,000 words.

---

Middle Grade

Middle-Grade Books are designed to help young readers aged 8-12 grow in their reading. This age group can be tricky to write for, as it’s important that the stories are entertaining but develop skills like literacy and critical thinking. Middle-Grade Books should provide a balance between a captivating adventure with meaningful takeaways. Therefore, it is important for Middle-Grade authors to focus on character development and dynamic narratives that include age-relevant topics along with humor and heartwarming moments. With their additional requirements on word count and writing structure, Middle-Grade stories come in with a word count of 25,000-40,000.

Understanding the different types of fiction and their requirements can help authors reach their desired audience through engaging stories that captivate minds and inspire a love of reading. From Picture Books to Middle Grade, authors have various options when it comes to creating stories that will entertain readers for years to come.