How Long Should a Blog Post Be?

For those who are new to Substack

It’s easy to roll our eyes at word count caps.

When publishers limit article submissions to something *crazy* like 600 to 900 words, it’s tempting to protest, “But I have a lot to say, and it’s all important!”

After all, doesn’t a higher word count = a more well-rounded piece?

Not always. Sarah Fay, PhD.—professor, author, and Substack expert—argues that more does not equal better. She encourages people to cap their online writing at eight hundred words or less.

The key is to prioritize quality over quantity. “The point here isn’t to encourage the spewing of shallow, short posts but to distill long drafts into short posts that give our readers depth, dimension, and emotion in under eight hundred or a thousand words.”¹

In a digital world where people are flooded with information, the best way to maintain your readers’ attention is to keep your writing CLEAR and CONCISE.

Readers have short attention spans. If your essay, article, or short story is too wordy, they’ll be tempted to close the tab and keep scrolling.

Do some bloggers get away with long-form posts? Absolutely.

Griffin Gooch

is a brilliant example of this. His Reality Theology essays average 3,000 words a piece, and yet he’s accumulated over 3,000 subscribers in his first year on Substack.

Here’s what Griffin had to say when I asked him about his word count: “I think length only really matters for the kind of audience you want to build. If you’re doing book reviews or devotionals then 800-1,000 words is probably best, but for other genres or topics length should correspond to how fascinating a topic is.”

I certainly agree with his perspective, and I think the success of Reality Theology testifies to the logic of his argument. But Griffin’s essays are exceptional in their tone, style, and depth of research. So, if you’re planning to write PhD-level articles on topics such as identity and fast fashion, the fetishization of wealth, the Greco-Roman patronage system and God’s grace, or the ever-elusive perception of success, then by all means, go big! But if you’re brand new to blogging, I would encourage you to cap your posts at 1,000 words as you master the art of clarity and concision.

As my grandfather used to say, “Leave ‘em longing, not loathing.”

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