Map out a realistic word count and timeline for your book — then break it into steps you can actually keep.
Step 1
What kind of book are you writing?
These are rough starting points. For an accurate target for your specific genre, see the reference chart below.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Your writing plan
“You don't need to write a whole book today. Just focus on the next step.”
Set the right target before you calculate your writing pace.
| Genre / Format | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Book | 500 – 800 | Focus time goes into revision and page layout, not word count. |
| Early Reader | 5,000 – 10,000 | Controlled vocabulary. Chapter length matters more than total count. |
| Middle Grade Fiction | 20,000 – 50,000 | Lean toward 35,000–45,000. |
| Young Adult (YA) Fiction | 50,000 – 90,000 | Fantasy YA often runs longer — 80,000–100,000 acceptable. |
| Literary Fiction (Adult) | 70,000 – 100,000 | Debut literary fiction: 80,000–90,000 is the sweet spot. |
| Commercial / Genre Fiction | 70,000 – 100,000 | Romance: 55,000–90,000. Thriller/Mystery: 70,000–90,000. |
| Fantasy / Sci-Fi (Adult) | 90,000 – 120,000 | Epic fantasy can exceed 120k for established authors. Debut: keep below 110k. |
| Nonfiction (Business/Self-Help) | 40,000 – 70,000 | Readers prefer concise. 50,000–60,000 is the practical target. |
| Memoir / Narrative Nonfiction | 60,000 – 90,000 | Structure like fiction — arc and pacing matter as much as word count. |
| Children's Nonfiction | 5,000 – 30,000 | Varies widely by age range and visual content. |
How to use this: find your genre above and use that range as your target. If your genre isn't listed, choose the closest equivalent.