What is the Best Length for Your Book?

Summary

The ideal length for a book depends on its purpose and the value it provides to readers, rather than a specific word or page count.

Abstract

The article discusses the common question among aspiring authors about the ideal length for their books. The author emphasizes that the length should be determined by the book's purpose and the value it offers to readers, rather than a specific word or page count. The article suggests that shorter books may have a wider audience, especially for business marketing tools, as people are often overwhelmed with information. The author advises that a book should fulfill its promise, provide value worth the reader's time, and be well-written, clear, concise, and complete without unnecessary content.

Opinions

The length of a book should be determined by its purpose and the value it provides to readers.
Shorter books may have a wider audience due to people's information overload.
A book should fulfill its promise to the reader and provide value worth their time.
The book should be well-written, clear, concise, and complete without unnecessary content.
The physical size of the book (trim size) can affect the number of words per page.
Adding extraneous material to increase page count can cost readers and generate negative reviews.
The author suggests that a book's length is less important than its message and the reader's feelings after finishing it.

One of the most common questions prospective clients and aspiring authors ask me is, “How long should my book be?”

It’s an important question with a simple answer: It depends.

Your book needs to be long enough to accomplish its purpose.

For some books, that could be as few as 5,000 words; for others, it could be 100,000 words or more.

What does that mean in terms of pages? Again, it depends. You’ll get more words on a page if your book’s trim size (the page size) is 8"x10" than you will if it’s 5"x8". You’ll get fewer words on a page if your book includes a lot of illustrations or if it’s designed with wide margins.

The length of your book (words and pages) is far less important than its message and how readers are going to feel when they’ve finished it.

There was a time when book buyers were skeptical of thin books, so information product creators added to a book’s page count with a generous amount of material of questionable value (extensive glossaries, forms, references, appendices, and so on).

Today, that can cost you readers and generate negative reviews.

Most people are on information overload. They’ve got far more to read, watch, and listen to than they’ll ever have time for.

That’s why you’re likely to have a much wider audience for a shorter book than a longer one — especially if you’re using a book as a business marketing tool.

Writing | Publishing | Books

What is the Best Length for Your Book?

One of the most common questions aspiring authors ask is, “How long should my book be?”

One of the most common questions prospective clients and aspiring authors ask me is, “How long should my book be?”

Small Books = Big Results

Do you have information to share that is more than an article but less than a typical 200- or 300-page book? Consider…

Here’s what to consider about your book’s length:

Avoid the Common Mistakes Self-Publishers Make

It’s easier than ever to publish your own book — and easier than ever to make mistakes

How to Thrive in a Rapidly-Changing World

How to keep change as a positive element in your business and life

I Couldn’t be an Elephant, so I Became a Writer

When you love what you do, it’s still work — but it’s awesome work!