editor's wordcount (as opposed to actual wordcount)

[LizW65]

Okay, I'm at a point in my manuscript where I'm about ready to hand it off to a number of beta readers for advice, but I'm also thinking that it's way too long, especially now that I've done all the formatting stuff--12 point Courier, left side justified, one inch margins, double spaced, starting each chapter halfway down a new page. 

I've applied the following formula for wordcount:  Number of lines per page (I'm getting 26) times average # of words per line (10) times page count (I'm at 530, which is giving me a wordcount of approx. 138,000.)

I've read on another site that no editor will even look at a first manuscript that comes in over 380 pages, and that page count is more important than wordcount.  So the question is:  am I doing something wrong?  My actual wordcount is around 122,000, which seems much more reasonable.

I'm also thinking that I'm too hung up on this and I should just concentrate on telling the story as best I can.  Sugggestions?

ETA:  380 pages comes out to substantially less than 100,000 words, so that doesn't sound right to me, either.

[Starbeam]

I've never seen anything that says anyone looks at page count over word count.  The word count sounds pretty reasonable, to me.  I've always used the word count tool that's included in most programs, simply for the fact that the formula generally suggested doesn't have anything to take into account for lots of short dialogue.  Plus, if I remember right, or it might just be agents, the first submission is usually only so many pages with the query letter, then a request might ask for more, or for the whole manuscript.

[LizW65]

I've the formula generally suggested doesn't have anything to take into account for lots of short dialogue.  (snipped)

Well, that's the point; editor's wordcount as opposed to actual wordcount is used to determine how long the actual book will be in print.

[Starbeam]

Well, that's the point; editor's wordcount as opposed to actual wordcount is used to determine how long the actual book will be in print.

I honestly never heard it called an editor's word count, and only ever saw it as a suggestion if someone didn't have a program that included a word count tool.  Course, I only ever looked at fantasy publishers, and they now mostly have a suggested minimum word count.

But in answer to the original question, I'd say to not worry about this too much, cause there's always revision.

[Gruud]

...  fantasy publishers, and they now mostly have a suggested minimum word count.

Which is?

[Starbeam]

Which is?

It varies by publisher, from what I've seen.  DAW had minimum of 80,000.  I don't remember if Tor had an actual number, and Roc was something like 75-125,000.  I don't really pay too much attention at the moment cause I'm still a long way from finishing my story, and even then, there's going to be a lot of rewriting and revising.  Don't think I'd submit straight to the publishing company anyway.

[LizW65]

I've gone back and checked the post I was commenting on, and it looks like I misinterpreted what was said:  Apparently Avon books encourages, or used to encourage, a wordcount of 120,000, which fits quite neatly into 384 pages, and for a while all their books were formatted to meet the 384 page requirement.  Don't know where I saw the post about editors not accepting anything longer, but it wasn't there.

[EmmettSpain]

Hey! From what I understand each publisher is different, but a common expectation of length from a first novel is 80,000 to 120,000 words. They tend to look at it that way so they can keep their publishing costs within a certain area.

I can tell you for a fact, though... publishers won't really care if it's a bit longer if it's got a good, strong selling proposition. At the end of the day a publishing house is a business, pure and simple. If you can convince them that what you've got will sell copies, then they'll be all over it...