One of the most frequent questions my valued clients ask me is how long their book should be. This is a complex question, and the answer depends on many factors. The bottom line is this: It should be exactly as long as it takes to tell your story. Not one word more or less.
Okay, that was the easy answer. Here are the variables that will influence your decision. For our purposes, we’rev talking only about non-fiction self-help books. Novels are a different story.
Word Count
In terms of readinng and writing a book, the first consideration is the word count. This is exactly what it sounds like: the number of words in your book. This determines how long it will take someone to read your book. Assuming the complexity is the same in both books, it will take you twice as long to read a 60,000-word book as a 30,000-word book. For a busy executive, that could make a big difference.
People read at vastly different speeds, but research suggests that 250 words per minute, or 15,000 words per hour, is about average. That would be two hours for a 30,000-word book, and four hours for 60,000 words.
Many business books are what I call “airplane books.” You get on the flight, settle in, read the book, and by the time you land you’re done. Unless you’re flying from New York to Los Angeles, this means you’re not going to be reading a 120,000-word Tolstoy novel in one sitting. Most business books come in at 30,000 to 60,000 words. Some are longer, some shorter.
Page Count
In a typical paperback book, you’re going to get 30 lines per page of 10 words each = 300 words per page. So 60,000 words would be about 200 pages. But you can manipulate this up or down by the size of the margins, the font, the line spacing, and if you leave blank pages between chapters. The thickness of a physical book is also influenced by the choice of paper. Cream paper, which looks and feels nicer, is thicker than white paper.
This is why in terms of the price for ghostwriting or editing, the page count is totally irrelevant. Any editor or ghostwriter who charges by the page is either a fool or a charlatan, because the number of words on a page can vary dramatically.
In ebooks, there are no pages, just a long scroll. No page count.
Your Budget
If you write your book yourself, it costs you nothing but time, and you can make your book as long or short as you wish.
If you hire a ghostwriter and/or editor, then the more words you want, the higher the price. It’s all about the word count! Never pay a ghostwriter or editor by the page!
Set your budget for your project. You’ll need a ghostwriter, a book designer for the interior (this could be very simple), a cover (must be very good – not cheap looking!), and a marketing budget. Beware of “package deals” from hybrid or subsidy book publishers. They are in business to make a profit and you’re going to be paying for managers who don’t actually do anything to add value to your book. If you can, act as your own project manager. You’ll have more control and you’ll save money, and you’ll also keep every penny you earn from book sales. (Hybrid publishers take a big chunk of your gross sales income and give you the scraps).
How Much You Want to Say
Here’s one more factor. In a self-help book, the goal is often to encourage the reader to contact you for more information or to engage your professional services. The book is like an advertisement for your business. That’s why it’s often not wise to tell your reader everything. Tell them just enough to deliver a solid value, but leave the door open for more. Deliver useful information while not being encyclopedic.
The bottom line is this: Your book must deliver value, not be boring, and be neither too long nor too brief. If you need help, consult a professional ghostwriter, book developer, or editor, and make a plan. Happy writing!
