3 Reasons to Hit a Word Count

Three Reasons to Hit a Word Count

(And What to Do if You Don’t)

Most submission calls have word limits, and most writers follow them. But of course, stories don’t always go from idea to page without wandering into Subplot Land and picking up a few souvenirs. So now you’ve got a 6000-word story for a 5000-word call. Should you submit or not? That’s up to you—but here are some things to keep in mind.

The word count is there for a reason.

A podcast editor can’t squeeze an overly long story into a ten-minute spot. An anthology editor can’t print an unlimited number of pages. And online magazine editors know what length of story their audience likes. Which means those word counts on submission calls aren’t arbitrary: they’re based on real-world limits.

You might hope an editor will make an exception for you, because your magnificent story fits the publication in every other way—genre, subject matter, writing style. You imagine the editor replying Oh I know this is too long, but I couldn’t put it down, we’re going to publish it! And I’m not saying that will never happen. But after talking to editors, I can tell you it’s more likely the editor will never know your story is the right genre, subject matter, and writing style. Why? Because they’re not going to read it. They’ll look at the word count and send an automatic rejection letter. Not because they enjoy crushing writers’ dreams, but because the word count is there for a reason.

Get more tips on how to submit a short story.

Not following the submission guidelines is a red flag.

Most submissions to open calls are from people the editor has never met. She only knows two things about these writers: if their story fits the publication, and if they follow the rules. Think of submission guidelines as a way to make a first impression. If the editor requests your story be submitted in 18-point comic sans, that might seem weird to you, but do it anyway. If they say not to include a list of your previous publications in your cover letter, then don’t, even if you’re very proud of them. (The one exception is that you don’t need to give out your home address and phone number if they ask for it—if your story is accepted, you can share that, but not before.)

You need to show you can follow the rules, because an editor is not just accepting your story—she is accepting you as a working partner. An editor needs to have confidence that you’ll follow other rules coming up, like sharing the publication on your social media and completing edits by a deadline. If the first impression you make is that you don’t care about the rules, well—that’s not a good look.

You are in charge of your story, not the other way around.

Okay, so I know we all joke about how characters charge off in unexpected directions and short story plots balloon into novellas. And that’s great! Chasing an idea around your brain is part of the fun of writing! But in the end, you are actually in charge of that story, which means if it’s too long, you can in fact take your red pen and cut it down to size.

I often have different versions of the same story for submitting to different calls (for example, I add or remove a romance subplot). That way, I can submit to more places, which increases the chance of the story being published. So you can leave your 7,000 word adventure for calls that allow that word limit. But there’s no reason you can’t have a 5,000 word version as well. (You might even come to like that version better!) Plus, cutting a story down is good editing practice.

Check out my SFWA article on how to rewrite a story for a different call.

BONUS: What to do when you don’t hit the word count

So you’ve considered all my helpful advice and rejected it. No worries! If you’re going to submit a too-long (or too-short) piece for a call, here’s even more advice:

Be up-front about it. In your cover letter, tell the editor you know your piece is too long, but you’re hoping it might be a good fit otherwise.
Follow all the other submission guidelines.
Don’t be surprised if you’re rejected anyway. (And don’t EVER write a rude reply back to a rejection letter. Talk about making a bad impression.)

Thanks for reading! Have fun with your stories!

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