Correctly Formatting Manuscripts

[Sitaram]

How does one go about estimating the number of words in a manuscript?

If think about this does not give you writers block, then I don't know what will.

This question was raised today in a Yahoo Book & Literature chat room.
Don’t go running there, expecting intelligent conversation. Most of it is nonsense from time-wasters. But occasionally something worthwhile is said or asked.

http://www.nebraskaromancewriters.com/advice_mssFormat.html

I went to the above link in google for an answer.

In the days before computers, when manuscripts were typed on typewriters, Pica type was considered standard. Not only was it easier to read, but each character took up the same width (also known as 10 characters per inch or CPI) and height (12 point). It was fairly easy to come up with word count based on the number of lines per page.
Nowadays, despite objections regarding the unattractiveness of Courier type, the 12 point Courier font is the preferred font according to many editors. This is because, like Pica, it is easy on the eyes and each character takes up the same width (10 characters per inch or 10 CPI) and height (12 point).

Based on Courier 12 PT, 10 CPI font, left/right margins set at 1-1.25", 25 lines per page, use the chart below to help guestimate your word count:
20 pages = 5,000 words
40 pages = 10,000 words
50 pages = 12,500 words
100 pages = 25,000 words
200 pages = 50,000 words
225 pages = 56,250 words
250 pages = 62,500 words
300 pages = 75,000 words
350 pages = 87,500 words
400 pages = 100,000 words
480 pages = 120,000 words
500 pages = 125,000 words

Also, check out their link on Writing Tips:

http://www.nebraskaromancewriters.com/advice.html

If you now have writer's block from thinking about how many words are in a manuscript, then perhaps one of these books below will help unblock you.

Books on the Craft of Writing

Our members have contributed this list of books on the writing craft. Who knows...the inspiration you've been seeking may be lurking in one of these titles. So read on!
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES - Diane Ackerman
AWAKENING THE HEART -- Georgia Heard (Poetry)
BIRD BY BIRD -- Anne Lamott
BREATHING IN BREATHING OUT: Keeping a Writer's Journal -- Ralph Fletcher
THE CHARACTER NAMING SOURCEBOOK -- Sherrilyn Kenyon
THE COMPLETE WRITER'S GUIDE TO HEROES & HEROINES:
Sixteen Master Archetypes -- Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, Sue Viders
THE DICTIONARY OF WORD ORIGINS -- Ayto
THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE -- Strunk & White
THE ENNEAGRAM IN LOVE AND WORK - Helen Palmer
FICTION WRITER'S WORKSHOP -- Josip Novakovich
THE FIRST FIVE PAGES -- Noah Lukeman
THE FOREST FOR THE TREES -- Betsy Lerner
G.M.C. Goal, Motivation, and Conflict - Debra Dixon
HOW TO TELL A STORY: The Secret of Writing Captivating Tales -- Peter Rubie , Gary Provost
THE MARSHALL PLAN FOR NOVEL WRITING -- Evan Marshall
ON WRITING -- Stephen King
THE PLOT THICKENS -- Noah Lukeman
POETRY MATTERS -- Ralph Fletcher
THE ROMANCE WIRITER'S HANDBOOK -- Jean Kent , Candace Shelton
SCENE AND STRUCTURE: Elements of Fiction Writing -- Jack M. Bickham
SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS -- Renni Browne , Dave King
STARTING FROM SCRATCH: A Different Kind of Writers' Manual -- Rita Mae Brown
STEERING THE CRAFT -- Ursula K. LeGuin
STORY - Robert Mckee
THE SYNONYM FINDER -- J. I. Rodale
20 MASTER PLOTS AND HOW TO BUILD THEM -- Ronald B. Tobias
TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER -- Dwight V. Swain
WRITING DOWN THE BONES -- Natalie Goldberg
THE WRITING LIFE -- Annie Dillard
THE WRITER'S DIGEST CHARACTER NAMING SOURCEBOOK - Sherrilyn Kenyon
THE WRITER'S JOURNEY - Christopher Vogler
WRITING THE FICTION SNOPSIS -- Pam McCutcheon
WRITING TOWARD HOME --- Georgia Heard

Recommended Books for Goal Setting
MAXIMUM ACHIEVEMENT -- Brian Tracy
MAXIMUM ACHIEVEMENT GOAL PLANNER --Brian Tracy

 

[TerishD]

Reply

First off, most documents today are written in word processors that will tell you word count. Thus, not a problem.

As for books, count the number of characters, including spaces, across a line, divide by 5. Now count the number of lines on a page. Multiply the first number by the second by the number of pages (use a handy device called a calculator). The number you get will be larger than the actual number of words (due to partial lines, chapter breaks, etc.), but with a look at the format of the book you should be able to figure a good guess on how much to fudge down.

You will find that most hardbacks run 300 pages for 100,000 words. Most paperbacks, 350 pages for 100,000 words. Most trade paperbacks, 250 pages for 100,000 words. Of course, some books will use fonts or margins that can greatly affect these numbers.

 

[ValkyrieRaven88]

Some publishers' websites said they wanted a word count excluding "a," "an," and "the." Do I just have to do a search for them on my document and subtract them from the word count, or is there an easier way?

 

[Sitaram]

Good question regarding a count which omits certain words.

http://www.anycount.com/

I shall inquire here: support@anycount.com