Modern novels, on average, usually have a different length compared to classic ones. Classic novels sometimes had the luxury of more space and time to develop, so they could be very lengthy. For instance, Dickens' novels were often quite long. In contrast, modern novels, in order to appeal to modern readers with shorter attention spans perhaps, are often around 60,000 - 90,000 words on average, which is generally shorter than many classic novels.
Compared to some genres like romance or mystery, fantasy novels tend to be longer on average. While a typical romance novel might be around 60,000 - 80,000 words, a fantasy novel averages around 90,000 - 120,000 words as mentioned before. Mystery novels also often fall in the 70,000 - 90,000 word range. This is because fantasy usually requires more world - building and character backstories.
Compared to some genres like short - story collections or poetry, fantasy novels are much longer. The average fantasy novel is around 90,000 - 120,000 words, while short - story collections can be much shorter with individual stories usually being a few thousand words. Poetry collections also have shorter lengths overall. However, compared to some non - fiction genres like academic textbooks, fantasy novels can be shorter. Academic textbooks can be hundreds of pages long with very dense content.
The average length of a crime novel is generally shorter than a high - fantasy or historical saga. Fantasy novels often build vast worlds and have numerous sub - plots and characters, which can lead to lengths of 500 pages or more. Crime novels, while they may have complex plots, are more focused on the mystery at hand. On the other hand, crime novels are usually longer than most romance novels which tend to be more concise, often around 200 - 300 pages. So, in the spectrum of genres, crime novels are in the middle - length range.
Fantasy novels tend to be longer on average than mystery novels. Mystery novels usually range from 60,000 - 80,000 words. Fantasy novels, with their elaborate world - building and often complex plots, need more space, typically averaging 90,000 - 150,000 words.
The average length of a horror novel is different from other genres. For mystery novels, they can range from 60,000 - 90,000 words which is somewhat similar to horror, but mystery focuses more on the plot twists and solving the mystery rather than pure horror elements. In contrast, children's books are much shorter, usually less than 30,000 words. Horror novels, with their need to create an atmosphere of dread and often explore complex psychological terrors, usually end up being longer than children's books but not as long as some sprawling literary epics that can span hundreds of thousands of words.
Compared to some more complex genres like literary fiction or academic writing, the average word length in YA novels is shorter. YA novels focus on being accessible to young readers, so they use simpler and shorter words. In contrast, literary fiction may use more elaborate and longer words for artistic expression. Academic writing often has specialized terms which are usually longer. So, YA novels usually have a more concise word length on average.
Compared to adult novels, young adult novels are generally shorter. Adult novels can often be 80,000 words and above, with many in the 100,000 - 120,000 word range. Young adult novels tend to be more concise as they target a younger audience who may have shorter attention spans. Meanwhile, children's books are usually much shorter than young adult novels, often under 30,000 words.
The average length of a young adult novel is often shorter than that of an adult novel. Young adult novels are meant to engage a younger readership, and they usually have a simpler plot structure and language. This often results in a shorter length, with many falling in the 50,000 - 70,000 word range. In contrast, adult novels can be more complex and in - depth. They might deal with more mature themes and have more detailed character development. As a result, the average length of an adult novel could be around 80,000 - 100,000 words or more, but it really depends on the genre and the author's style.
The average graphic novel is generally shorter than a regular novel. A regular novel often has 300 - 500 pages or more, while as mentioned before, a graphic novel usually ranges from 100 - 200 pages on average. This is because graphic novels rely on both images and text, and it can be more challenging to maintain a long - form narrative in that format compared to a text - only novel.
Sci fi novels generally have a longer average length than mystery novels. Mystery novels often aim for around 70,000 - 90,000 words to keep the suspense tight and the plot moving quickly. Sci fi, on the other hand, may need more words to build the future or alien worlds, explain scientific concepts, etc. So, the average sci fi novel length of around 100,000 words is usually more than that of a mystery novel.