Free tool for novelists
Is your novel the right length?
A word count and a genre are enough: here is where your manuscript stands beside what literary agents ask for a debut novel.
Against the range agents give for a debut in the genre.
A total is an estimate. Bergotte measures the manuscript itself, chapter by chapter.
Place my manuscriptFree trial, no credit cardIn Bergotte
The count is only a start.
A counter gives a total. Bergotte has read the book: it sees how that length is spread, and what a publisher would notice.
A word counter
- The total, in words or characters
- Each chapter’s length
- Your first chapter beside recent novels
- Narration and point of view
- How chapters end
- The story, chapter by chapter
Bergotte, on your manuscript
- The real count, beside your genre’s usual range
- A map of your chapters, shortest to longest
- Your first chapter, beside recent novels
- Who carries the story, and from which point of view
- How your chapters end
- Each chapter summed up in one sentence
By genre
What is asked, genre by genre.
For a debut novel, in words. The line marks your manuscript on every row.
Indicative landmarks, gathered in October 2026 from literary agents and publishers who state their guidelines. They don’t guarantee a manuscript’s acceptance: a good book finds its length.
Counting your words
- Word
- Review › Word Count
- Pages
- View › Show Word Count
- Google Docs
- Tools › Word count
What these landmarks rest on
The guidelines these agents and publishers state. The usual range is where they agree.
- General fictionChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Feel-good and comedyChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Crime and thrillerChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- RomanceHarlequin, submission portal: 50,000 to 75,000 words, set line by line (publisher’s page)Entangled Publishing: 45,000 to 120,000 words, by line (publisher’s page)Chuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Fantasy, science fiction, horrorChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Historical fictionChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Young adultChuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
- Middle grade (8–12)Chuck Sambuchino, Writer’s Digest: word counts by genre, for a debut (2016)Rachelle Gardner, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2021)Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary: word counts by genre, for a debut (publisher’s page)Noelle Falcis Math, literary agent: word counts by genre, for a debut (2026)
Adventure, erotica, tales and myths: no reliable source gives a length.