Quick answer
A literary novel typically runs 70,000–100,000 words, with a sweet spot of 80,000–90,000 words.
Start writing with this targetHow long will that take?
Reading
357 min
at 238 WPM · midpoint
Speaking
607 min
at 140 WPM · midpoint
Drafting
~170 hr
at ~500 words/hour · midpoint
Structure template
Literary novel — roughly 85,000 words
- Act I — Setup21,000 words
- Act II.A — Rising action22,000 words
- Act II.B — Midpoint to crisis22,000 words
- Act III — Climax & resolution20,000 words
Comparable published works
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · 1925
47,094 words
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee · 1960
100,388 words
Beloved
Toni Morrison · 1987
109,211 words
Where this range comes from
Writer's Digest genre length guide; agent query guidelines from QueryTracker · Last verified 2026-04-20