Some Words About Word Counts - by Lincoln Michel

On the one hand, authors are artists and should worry first and foremost about creating the best art they can, in whatever shape it needs to take. On the other hand, I do think it's important to understand the business side of the equation. To learn as much as you can about (ugh) "the market" and where your work can fit. If you only want to write for yourself, obviously do whatever you want. But if you are hoping to sell your book to publishers and have it appear in bookstores, knowing the market is useful. Personally, I think MFA programs should all include panels or classes on the business side of being a writer from querying agents to filing freelance tax returns.

But! It can be artistically crushing to worry about following every publishing imperative you've ever heard, including the idea there is a "right" word count. If your novel is a taut 70k, adding 10k of fluff to hit the "required" 80k length you read about online you're likely to make the book worse and thus harder to sell.