How Many Pages Would 13,000 Words Make in a Standard-Sized Published Book?

When converting word count to page count, it's important to understand the formatting conventions of different book sizes and publishers. In the context of standard-sized published books, 13,000 words typically translate to between 43 to 52 pages. However, various factors influence the actual number of pages, including the type of book, font size, and margins.

Standard Page Count: 250-300 Words Per Page

A standard-sized published book typically has approximately 250-300 words per page. Given this average, 13,000 words can be broken down into:

43 pages if it contains 300 words per page. 52 pages if it contains 250 words per page.

Variable Page Count: 200-250 Words Per Page

Other formatting options may result in more or fewer pages. For instance, if books are formatted to have approximately 200-250 words per page, 13,000 words would determine a different page count. This can range from around 52 to 65 pages. These variations are important to consider since different publishers and types of books may adhere to different page counts.

Personal Experience: 120,000 Words in 400 Pages

Based on personal experience, novels with a similar word count range (120,000 words) are typically around 400 pages in a standard 6x9 trade paperback format. This means that the average word count per page is 300 words. Thus, 13,000 words would be approximately 44 pages, similar to the standard formatting of a lengthy pamphlet rather than a book.

Porcupine Press: A Case Study in Publishing Formats

Porcupine Press, a publishing house in Johannesburg, South Africa, has operational constraints and preferences that influence their page count requirements. They use standard sizes such as 198 X 129 mm and 229 X 152 mm (6 X 9 inches). For their 'minibooks' imprint, they have opted for an even smaller format of 170 X 120 mm, which requires a minimum of 72 pages. This smaller format is chosen to reduce production costs and promote local writing.

The transition to smaller formats like the 'minibooks' is driven by several factors:

Cost Reduction: South Africa, as part of the developing world, prioritizes affordable books. Lower-cost publications make more sense in this context, especially as the demand for reading increases. Encouraging Local Writing: A smaller word count requirement (15,000 to 20,000 words) makes it more attainable for first-time authors to publish their work. Market Demand: Short fiction and personal stories (memoirs) are popular genres in the region, making these formats ideal for the target audience.

Porcupine Press's mission is to support grassroots writers and readers, and they are always looking for engaging content. They are particularly interested in hearing from migrants and reading about their experiences, aiming to publish diverse voices from Africa.

Contact and Collaboration

If you are interested in collaborating with Porcupine Press or have an engaging manuscript to submit, you can reach out to David. Their unique approach to publishing makes them an attractive option for authors looking to share their stories, whether they are short stories, memoirs, or larger works.

By understanding the relationship between word count and page count, authors can better prepare their manuscripts for submission and publication. Whether aiming for a standard-sized book or a smaller 'minibook,' having a clear understanding of these metrics is crucial for success.

For more information, feel free to get in touch with Porcupine Press at david@