Stephen King on a "goodish length" for a novel

Stephen King, in his book On Writing, reveals what he thinks is a "goodish" (note: not ghoulish) length for a novel:

"I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That’s 180,000 words over a three-month span, a goodish length for a book—something in which the reader can get happily lost, if the tale is done well and stays fresh."

I know exactly what he means about getting "happily lost" in a long book — one that might also take three months to read (not just to write).

Pulling off 180,000-word novels is no easy feat. Stephen King explains that, "The biggest aid to regular (Trollopian?) production is working in a serene atmosphere. It’s difficult for even the most naturally productive writer to work in an environment where alarms and excursions are the rule rather than the exception."

In his book, King shares two other secrets to his horrific productivity. You can discover them by buying On Writing, or waiting until tomorrow, when I'll share them with you.

John C.A. Manley

P.S. In yesterday's post, I shared how my first novel, Much Ado About Corona, hit 150,000 words. And rather than all those words putting people to sleep, there are actually multiple Amazon reviews testifying that the lengthy tale kept them up late at night. Give the free preview a try and see if you suffer the same fate.

P.P.S. Of course, if 150,000 words sounds like a literary marathon — don't worry, my second novel, All the Humans Are Sleeping, is a lean 65,000 words — so lean many readers report reading it in a single day. Preview or buy it at AlltheHumansAreSleeping.com (audiobook available!).

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona, All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of philosophical fiction that are "so completely engaging that you find yourself alternately laughing, gasping, hanging on for dear life." Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber.