Episode 13: How Long Should My Book Be?

🎙 Episode 13: How Long Should My Book Be?Host: Renée Lautermilch, Chief Editor at Smart PublishingPresented by: Smart PublishingReferenced Resource: The One-Hour Author: A Simple Guide to Writing and Publishing on a Busy Schedule🎧 Episode Summary:In this solo episode, Renée tackles one of the most common questions aspiring authors ask: “How long should my book be?” Spoiler alert: there’s no magic number—just a few smart guidelines depending on your goals, publishing path, and reader experience.She breaks down:Why traditional publishers impose word count requirements (hint: ROI).The real reason books often feel padded with fluff.What really matters in the indie/self-publishing world.How to think in pages (not words), especially for trim size, spine width, and formatting.This episode is a must-listen if you’re stressing over length instead of focusing on quality and clarity.💡 Key Takeaways:Forget Word Count: Focus on delivering value and clarity. Let your content dictate the length—not arbitrary numbers.100 Pages is a Sweet Spot: Aim for at least ~100 formatted pages to achieve a readable spine and “real book” feel (translates to ~60–65 Word doc pages for a 6x9 trim).Recording > Typing: Recording your content for transcription can be faster than writing—40 minutes of audio can yield 12–13 Word pages.Boost Page Count the Right Way: Add diagrams, charts, journaling prompts, reflection questions, or workbook sections—but only if they improve the reader experience.Amazon KDP Requirements: Minimum is 76 pages, but anything under 97 pages may have a very thin or unreadable spine.✍️ Episode Quote:“Your book should be as long as it needs to be—to provide value, clarity, and a great reader experience. That’s it.”📚 Resources Mentioned:Smart Publishing – End-to-end book coaching, editing, and publishing supportThe One-Hour Author on Amazon – Renée’s bestselling guide for busy aspiring authors👀 Want More?Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeJoin Renée on Facebook: Just search Renée Lautermilch—there’s only one of her!