Are Shorter Word Counts More Popular?

Are nonfiction books getting shorter, and what (if anything) should writers do about it?

If you’ve been wondering whether the length of nonfiction books is shrinking before your very eyes, you’re not the only one. Recently, a lot of research has been done into whether shorter word counts are becoming more popular with readers and, if so, why? If you’re a writer, word counts are an integral part of how you plan, structure, and market your book, so understanding why and what readers want is important. In this blog, we’ll look at whether nonfiction books really are decreasing in length, and if so, why?

Are books really shrinking?

We’ll cut to the chase: current research does point to a decline in book length for nonfiction. A 2017 study found that the average length of a nonfiction bestseller had dropped 42% over the previous 7 years. However, if we compare this to fiction, word counts have largely remained steady, which may be because fiction offers some sort of escapism, whereas nonfiction aims to educate readers.

So why are we seeing a decrease in nonfiction length? Well, it’s largely down to readers’ interests and what they choose to buy. A variety of reasons, such as the rise of social media, pressures of the modern world, and genre, are all accountable for the thinning of books. 

Is social media affecting how we consume literature?

A recent study revealed that the average attention span has significantly decreased over the past two decades from an average of 2.4 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds due to the influence of social media. In an age of doomscrolling on apps like TikTok and Instagram, we’re so used to consuming fast-paced content that our brain chemistry is altering, and it’s all to do with dopamine. 

You might know dopamine as the “happy hormone”, as it gives you a feeling of accomplishment or reward. When scrolling, you get a burst of dopamine, giving you a fleeting sense of satisfaction, which quickly fades until you scroll on. It creates an addictive and repetitive cycle, making you reliant on quick bursts of dopamine, and ultimately shortening your attention span. 

So, are our shortening attention spans part of the call for shorter word counts? Well, research suggests that there is indeed a correlation between shorter book lengths and the rise of smartphones and tablets. So, it’s not surprising that a new generation of doom scrollers are opting for shorter books. 

Are shorter books more practical in the modern world?

Anecdotally, some people suggest that shrinking book lengths are a response to our increasingly fast-paced modern lifestyles. Not only do we not have as much time to read, but when we do have a spare minute, many are choosing screens rather than pages. It’s a well-researched fact that the rise of TV watching and social media scrolling is linked to a decline in reading. So, are shorter books an adaptation to our new technology-centred habits?

We also need to consider the effect of our modern economy. Inflation affects books as well. An increase in inflation translates to a rise in cost for publishers. While a 700-page book in Waterstones may cost the reader no more than a 200-page book would, you can be sure that it costs the publisher more to produce, and this might be having an effect on publishing shorter texts to maintain profit margins.

What can you do as a writer?

As an author, you need to consider genre as it does affect expectations about book length. For example, the standard for a biography is 80,000 to 110,000, whereas self-help and how-to books are recommended 20,000 to 50,000 words. In short, word count varies massively. If you’re struggling to know the appropriate word count to aim for, publishers have a standard for each genre so a quick Google search should help. But with self-publishing, the range can be much broader, giving you greater freedom.

When writing, one of the most important things to remember is the reader’s needs. For instance, someone reading a self-help book has different needs than someone reading historical nonfiction. If your self-help book is too long, it may overwhelm the reader or put them off purchasing in the first place. Conversely, if the book is too short, it won’t provide them with the necessary tools. 

If your book is significantly longer than other books in the genre or if you just feel it’s too long, you may want to consider cutting it down. If so, consider your writing style. If you naturally have a wordy way of writing, it may not be easy to change, but try to omit “waffle” and keep your writing as concise as possible. Additionally, check whether you’re repeating content, as this often happens when writing a book. More dramatic methods include splitting your book into two, possibly even three. If you’re struggling, developmental editors can help.

 Please get in touch with us if you have any queries about publishing your nonfiction book with Book Shelf Press, as we can support authors turn their ideas from a draft to on a bookshelf. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, so that you can keep up with our hybrid-press.