Quick answer
A fantasy novel typically runs 70,000–150,000 words, with a sweet spot of 90,000–120,000 words. Debut authors should aim for 80,000–100,000; established authors have more latitude.
Start writing with this targetHow long will that take?
Reading
462 min
at 238 WPM · midpoint
Speaking
786 min
at 140 WPM · midpoint
Drafting
~220 hr
at ~500 words/hour · midpoint
Structure template
Three-act fantasy novel — roughly 100,000 words
- Act I — Setup & inciting incident25,000 words
- Act II.A — Rising action & midpoint25,000 words
- Act II.B — Complications & dark night25,000 words
- Act III — Climax & resolution25,000 words
Debut fantasy lands best at 90–100K; save the 150K epics for book 2 or later.
Comparable published works
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien · 1937
95,356 words
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin · 1968
56,533 words
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss · 2007
259,221 words
Where this range comes from
SFWA Nebula Award prose category definitions; Reedsy 2024 publishing guide · Last verified 2026-04-20