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Writers, Don’t Be a Slave to Word Count: Let the Story Speak for Itself


As writers, we’ve all asked ourselves that nagging question: “Is my book long enough? Too short? How long should it be?” It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, obsessing over whether our work fits neatly into arbitrary word count guidelines. But here’s the truth: Word count should never dictate the quality of your story. The heart of storytelling lies in the narrative itself, not in how many pages it spans.

The Pressure of Word Count

From NaNoWriMo goals to publishing industry standards, writers face constant reminders about “acceptable” word counts. A novel must be 80,000-100,000 words. A novella shouldn’t exceed 40,000. Short stories have their own limits. These guidelines are helpful, but they can also be stifling. We begin to pad scenes unnecessarily or trim meaningful moments just to conform to these benchmarks.

I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled with my manuscript, forcing it to stretch or condense to meet expectations. And you know what happened? The authenticity of the story suffered. Readers don’t connect with a bloated word count; they connect with genuine, purposeful storytelling.

The Real Question: Does the Story Feel Complete?

Instead of asking, “Is this long enough?” try asking, “Does this feel complete?” Every story has its own natural rhythm and length. Some tales are sweeping epics requiring thousands of words to unfold, while others are compact and powerful in their brevity.

A shorter story is not inherently lesser, nor is a longer one automatically more profound. What matters is whether you’ve taken your characters on a meaningful journey. Did you explore the themes you set out to address? Did you create an emotional impact? If the answer is yes, then your story is exactly as long as it needs to be.

The Pitfalls of Padding

Padding your book with unnecessary content can derail readers. Adding scenes that don’t advance the plot or repeating ideas in different ways to stretch the length will only dilute the impact of your story. Readers are savvy. They notice when a story meanders. If they lose interest, it’s not because the book wasn’t long enough—it’s because the story lost its focus.

Trust the Reader, Trust Yourself

If someone finds value in your story, they won’t care how many words it took to tell it. Whether it’s a 300-page novel or a 30-page novella, readers will remember the emotions it stirred and the ideas it inspired. Trust yourself to tell the story that needs to be told, without second-guessing its length.

It’s liberating to let go of word count expectations. Free yourself from the constraints of “Is it long enough?” and embrace the question “Is it enough?” That’s where your best writing will shine.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be a slave to word count. Let the story guide you, and trust your instincts as a storyteller. Write with purpose, edit with intention, and believe that readers will appreciate the integrity of your work—whether it’s 50,000 words or 150,000. Stories are about connection, not numbers.

So, writers, take a deep breath. Step away from the word count tracker and focus on the narrative. The length will take care of itself.

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