News Books About Contact Free Reads

Word count – a rant

July 24, 2006 | Uncategorized

The entire subject is humbling. Over on eharlequin’s Subcare thread another aspiring author asked a question about her manuscript, which was short of the desired word count. The woman’s story came in at fifty seven thousand and the guidelines say sixty to sixty five. She got lots of advice about layering. All well and good, but how exactly are we supposed to calculate word count?

Is it estimated? Or actual computer word count.? The writer’s guidelines don’t say. Editors say don’t worry – if it’s too long we can always cut.

But I do worry – probably obsessively. The variance between computer word count and calculated word count is huge. The manuscript I’m polishing at the moment is sixty one thousand some odd words by actual computer word count – perfect for Blaze. By calculated word count it weighs in at a hefty seventy seven thousand five hundred words, way too many words. :~

I’ve decided to be optimistic and figure the guidelines are referring to computer count.

Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 9:39 pm  

≡ Leave a Reply






All Holly wants for Christmas is a dom to call her own. All Colin wants for Christmas is a sweet little slave and some red rope. It should have been so easy… Why the hell did she have to be human?
Read more >>>

When both Hunter and Tru bond with Amber their mating triangle threatens everything they hold dear.
Read more >>>

Determined to help rescue the princess, Cassandra agrees to act as the dragons’ sex slave, but can she guard her heart from the dominant males?
Read more >>>

Camille, a plump, sweet-natured breeder, is caught in New Eden’s endless war with Baldor. Her mates, Jaxon and Aegis, need cunning and courage to rescue her. They need a miracle to capture her heart.
Read more >>>

Werewolf-whisper Daniel is the only one who can heal Scarlet’s broken werewolf connection. If he succeeds then the pack’s needs will eclipse his claim on her heart. But if he fails, they'll both die.
Read more >>>

A Scarlet Past, the story of Scarlet's parents is available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble for just 99 cents!
Read more >>>


A lonely woman finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, when she tries to leave she learns her new master plays for keeps.
Read more >>>


The Enyo Chronicles includes both Dalia's Choice and Joon's Tempation.
Read more>>>


Three different stories, three dangerous men, and three women who deserve them.
Read more >>>


One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire.
Read more >>>


Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Read more >>>


Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
Read more >>>


She finds paradise in the arms of twin brothers, but their law demands she chose one warrior to mate and one to die.
Read more >>>


One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
Read more >>>


A reluctant reporter and a lone wolf undercover cop work to catch an extortionist, finding love requires the most dangerous risk of all.
Read more >>>


Street-smart cop plays princess to catch deadly terrorists. Now,the only man she trusts is the one she can't resist.
Read more >>>


What Sam doesn’t know may kill him--the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter.r.
Read more >>>



  • Archives

  • Meta

  • Copyright © Evanne Lorraine 2008-2011. All Rights Reserved. | Design by Karen @ Swank Web Style