Word Count

[MissLM]

Okay. So. Word count is very important, I know. But, at what point does it really start to matter? What I mean by that is, I write Young Adult, and my average story is between 40,000 and 50,000 words. Is that definitely too short? I feel like the stories are complete, and adding to them would only be filler material that bogs down the story. Is it even possible to publish a story that's that short? I need help! 

Lisa

[Tabris]

Colleen Lindsay is the most often cited on word counts:

YA fiction = For mainstream YA, anywhere from about 45k to 80k; paranormal YA or YA fantasy can occasionally run as high as 120k but editors would prefer to see them stay below 100k. The second or third in a particularly bestselling series can go even higher. But it shouldn't be word count for the sake of word count.

http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-word-counts-and-novel-length.html

[MissLM]

I just got back to this. 

Thank you!

Lisa

[LisaAnn]

Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency recently said she likes to represent YA novels between 65,000 and 85,000, but she makes exceptions down to 50,000 and up to 95,000.  If her preferences are reflected by most agents, I definitely think your stories will fit into the lower end of that spectrum.  Just be aware that you are at that low end, so expand when you can, but don't fret about it.

Best of luck to you!

[rmgraudi]

Perhaps your low wordcount doesn't necessarily mean advancing the story further but fleshing it out. Does that make sense? More elaborate descriptions and backstories. Histories of the characters... etc. I find that's what helps add that extra 20k or so!

[JenniferS.]

rmgraudi nailed it. Exactly what I was going to say. I suffer from the same issue and have to go back and "flesh out" my scenes from time to time...not strictly for word count, but I also find doing so can make that particular scene "better". By that I mean, a little more descriptive of character feelings and their surroundings. Good luck!