I have written what I like to think of as a novel, but it is only 82,000 words. However, I feel that if I were to write more it would really just be for the sake of it - I feel that the novel has been told as it should be. But should I class it more as a novella? Or just assume that nobody will be interested in it, because it's not big and fat a la Game of Thrones, etc etc
Thanks everybody.
Adrian's list is pretty comprehensive - you could add Historical Fiction to the 80-120 category.
Doorstops are difficult for a new writer (or his/her agent) to sell, apparently. I know of a least one author who was asked to cut her tome in half, though some obviously get picked up. You're in the right word-count area on that score :)
Here are some word count guidelines.
Picture Books -200-500 words
Early Readers - 500-2000 words
Chapter Books - 5,000-10,000 words
Middle Grade - 25,000-45,000 words, most averaging 35k.
Young adult - 55,000-90,000 words
- YA contemporary tends to be on the shorter side, 60-70k
- YA fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal tends to fall on the longer side due to world building, 70-90k
Adult - 70,000-115,000 words
- Romance - 85,000-100,000 words
- Cozy Mysteries - 70,000-85,000 words
- Mysteries, Horror, Crime - 75,000-95,000 words, most averaging 90k
- Sci-fi and Fantasy - 80,000-120,000 words, most averaging 100k-115k
- Literary and Women's Fiction - 80,000-100,000 words.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.