How many words is concidered a normal length for a childrens book age 11 to 14
Replies
I wondered this as I was writing my children's novel (although I have had to edit it since, as it strayed a bit too far into YA) and I decided to let it run its course and find out what happened. It clocked in at 63000.
I think that is about right, but I believe many publishers prefer a children's novel to be about 50000. Harry Potter is a poor guideline to use, as I think the first (and shortest) one was about 75000 - which is still a bit exceptional
Children's novels should not be confused with the various lengths of many short stories.
Any story should be as long as the writer feels it needs to be.
There seems to be an obsession with word count. It is not an exact science.
I have seen blogs where authors have said they have nearly reached their word count. That they intend to finish within, or close to the word limit they have set for themselves.
I have to ask why they feel compelled to constrain themselves in this manner. They are in danger of rushing the ending to their book. Literary critics of the past and present, have openly commented on novels, which would have been greatly enhanced if the author had given the ending as much time and thought as the earlier chapters.
Times have changed. But it was either E M Forster or Walter Allen who said that 50.000 is considerd the minimum for a novel. Although, ' The Great Gatsby ' by F.Scott Fitzgerald is 47,000.
I do no know what the Writers and Artists Children's Yearbook suggests as a suitable word count.
The Writers and Artists Yearbook suggests 65.000 as a minimum for a novel, and not to exceed 130.000.
I wondered this as I was writing my children's novel (although I have had to edit it since, as it strayed a bit too far into YA) and I decided to let it run its course and find out what happened. It clocked in at 63000.
I think that is about right, but I believe many publishers prefer a children's novel to be about 50000. Harry Potter is a poor guideline to use, as I think the first (and shortest) one was about 75000 - which is still a bit exceptional
Children's novels should not be confused with the various lengths of many short stories.
Any story should be as long as the writer feels it needs to be.
There seems to be an obsession with word count. It is not an exact science.
I have seen blogs where authors have said they have nearly reached their word count. That they intend to finish within, or close to the word limit they have set for themselves.
I have to ask why they feel compelled to constrain themselves in this manner. They are in danger of rushing the ending to their book. Literary critics of the past and present, have openly commented on novels, which would have been greatly enhanced if the author had given the ending as much time and thought as the earlier chapters.
Times have changed. But it was either E M Forster or Walter Allen who said that 50.000 is considerd the minimum for a novel. Although, ' The Great Gatsby ' by F.Scott Fitzgerald is 47,000.
I do no know what the Writers and Artists Children's Yearbook suggests as a suitable word count.
The Writers and Artists Yearbook suggests 65.000 as a minimum for a novel, and not to exceed 130.000.
I will be guided by the WAYB.
As usual, Louise is far more concise than me!