Hey Authors!
What’s a “normal” word count for novels, YA and middle-grade? And heads up - a big writing challenge is coming in November!Writers often ask, how long should my manuscript be? While there’s plenty of flexibility, here are some ballpark figures (and Australian guidelines) to keep you in the ballpark:
Typical word counts (Australia / industry norms)
Adult novels: 70,000 to 100,000 words is a “sweet spot” for many genres.
YA (young adult): 40,000 to 80,000 words is common
Middle-grade (ages 8–12): 20,000 to 50,000 words is a typical range.
So in your queries or pitches, staying in that ballpark is a safe bet - though stories always break moulds, especially for experienced authors or with strong reasons for longer length.
What about where you are?
I’d love to hear: what’s the average manuscript submission length in your country or region? What are the norms, the expectations, or the surprising outliers? Drop your figures and let’s compare.
