R. Wright asked Elizabeth Van Zandt:

What do you think is the ideal word count for an author's first and second book? Is length really important at all, or can a smaller work be just as impactful as a full-length novel?

Elizabeth Van Zandt I don't think there is such a thing as an ideal word count. I wouldn't say that the length is irrelevant, but it shouldn't be considered as a major factor. I find it useful to keep tabs on my word counts, especially if I'm writing a series, because I like for second, third, fourth, etc... books to be roughly the same length or longer than the book before it. Even though I'm the writer, I still have to develop my own relationship with my characters, and as they grow, I find I have more to say about them.

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