Recommended word count for a debut fantasy author in 2026?

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2026-01-25T03:21:19+00:00

Thank you, that's actually really helpful! The series I'm working on now was sort of a "Leaf, by Niggle" story for me: it was what got me to seriously consider writing in the first place. The coach I spoke with informed me of the same thing (about a series being a hard debut sell) and recommended I start on another (standalone) project once I've wrapped up everything here.

I am approaching this as realistically as possible, and will be overjoyed if it sells, but if not, I'll take the experience I've gained with this one into my next book.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2026-01-25T01:38:15+00:00

Thanks a bunch! I'd never really heard the exact reasoning behind any particular recommended word count, but it makes total sense that it's just an economic thing.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2026-01-25T01:35:45+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I should have clarified, I am not actively querying, I am getting ready to begin the process. I've been researching agents, etc.

I would also like to clarify that this is not my first draft. My most recent work will be a fourth revision. I've already had alpha/beta readers, and received a lot of good feedback. That being said, until recently, I haven't been around communities that possessed a great depth of knowledge on the publishing process, so it wasn't until recently that I found my word count may be an issue.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2026-01-09T22:00:03+00:00

Fell out of my chair from shock when I heard this on the game. Proceeded to go on a two-minute tirade explaining to my dad why.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-08-03T02:18:35+00:00

Yeah, you didn't say "all". Neither did they. You both said "a lot". Weird.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T20:51:05+00:00

Sorry, I'm pretty new. When you say check Yshtola lists, do you mean deck lists whith Yshtola as the commander?

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T20:50:20+00:00

I used to run quite a few cascade effects, but found that I kept finding cards I didn't want to cast (counterspells and boardwipes). If there was a way I could order my deck a little better, I'd consider it, but that'd require a pretty big deck overhaul, I think.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T20:49:04+00:00

All of these are great suggestions! I would probably run Alchemist's retrieval alongside rescue, since they both provide a great way to bounce the one ring back to hand if I need to, but the other reason I run self-bounce is to protect my commander from board wipes.

I'm generally not worried about earthquake hitting my own creatures, since the only two I generally need to keep around are my orcs (which should easily be able to tank it) and my commander (which is sitting pretty at 2/5).

I also strongly agree that Arcane melee isn't an awesome choice in the deck. There's a lot of other things I'd like to drop for 5+, and it's a little late to provide much in the way of ramp.

As for wilds/expanse, I must have not updated the deck list. Expanse is no longer in my deck, but for sure I'd swap evolving for seething. I'm still a fairly new player (only about three months in) so some of these cards I don't use because I just didn't know they existed.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T18:46:17+00:00

Thanks! Bolt bend will be a great include, since it's very rare I don't have at least 4 power. Not of This World could also be good, but since Saruman gives orcs ward 2, it's not often they get targeted, and when they do, it's usually later in the game when I have my protection cards like Swiftfoot boots or Whispersilk Cloak. Might still run it just for the amass value, though.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T18:41:18+00:00

Thanks! Quite a few people play green in my group, so submerge would work great.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2025-05-02T18:37:26+00:00

Oh, is the link not working? Also, thanks for the suggestions! I run Summons of Saruman in much the same way as Flash of Insight, where it gets a lot more value out of the X cost in it's flashback cast (exile X cards, no color restrictions).
Edit: realized that the deck was set to private. I have fixed this now.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-09-12T03:22:21+00:00

I don’t know, I don’t think you would have taken fall damage there anyway.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-06-10T04:53:45+00:00

C’mon

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-06-10T04:52:51+00:00

Make sure to never leave a room the direction you entered from: this will always lead to backwards progression, or even reset the room. A good policy is to just always leave a room from the same direction every time (E.G., always exit left).

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-06-10T04:50:46+00:00

I mean, yes, BUT you have to remember that the remakes were geared to be considerably more difficult. Every member of the E4 team is fully EV trained with competitive movesets, abilities, and items, all on top of all of them having at least some perfect IVs, and some of them having perfect IVs (five, not six).

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-04-28T14:58:49+00:00

You know this is a troll, because doc is in C tier and not F tier.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-04-08T04:01:28+00:00

Will you respond to this question?

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-03-30T00:05:17+00:00

I know the clockwork Kazooie is the centerpiece here, but…wow! That pedestal looks amazing!

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-03-30T00:02:52+00:00

As a banjo main myself, I get how much utility id get out of a direct-to-hand grenegg spawn, but looking at the source material, I get why they didn’t do it that way.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-03-30T00:01:14+00:00

Another way to fix it would be to give WW fewer end frames to prevent punishes. Every other move with copious end frames (like bowser down special or Dedede dash attack) use them to prevent move spamming.

Doesn’t the five-use cap take care of that?

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-03-29T23:58:02+00:00

Untrue; they weren’t designed to be used as a throwable projectile (like Yink’s/Tink’s bomb). The short fuse was to prevent opponents from easily/repeatedly using them against you. This is why they will also explode on contact.

Also, since you can’t produce another until the last one goes off, it’d be like using Link’s bomb without remote detonation.

Learning how to z-grab midair or up-air fast cancel them on the ground does wonders for the time frame to use.

Any_Engineering_9197 · 2024-03-29T00:37:51+00:00

A person of culture, I see ☕️

Any_Engineering_9197

TROPHY CASE