A typical level 3 or 4 reader might have anywhere from 800 to 1200 words. Manuscripts can range from about 5,000 words to about 15,000 words, max. Sep 28, 2010 guidelines for word count for childrens books from rebecca ryals russells website. Word counts for children s books i received a request awhile ago to do a post on word counts for different age categories in children s lit. A scifi ya book will be at the higher end of this range. If your word count comes in too high or low, you could raise eyebrows with publishers. Im looking to bring on someonesome people to put my ideas, for black childrens hair care, together and bring a book to fruition so i was looking for a page count to have said people commit to during the pitch phase. The word count doesnt rise above 3500 words on the high end. Word counts ill get straight into it, starting with books for grown ups. Find the word count for published ya and childrens books.
Everything you need to know about word count and book length for books and novels and memoirs and childrens novels and picture books. Word count for famous novels, in ascending order by number of words. Picture books for children up to age eight average words though many are. Children just one question childrens book word counts.
The word count range for each age level is only a guideline. In the upper, righthand corner you should include your target reader and word count when you format your childrens manuscriptif you dont know who your book is for read my article on the different age levels for childrens books. Your guide to book word counts fiction and nonfiction. Many of these books are written in rhyme or in a simple singsong meter that is catchy and fun. On average, how long is a childrens book for children. I wrote this book over 2 years ago and have been spending the last few years editing and researching agents etc. Nov 05, 2018 this children s book explores how god counts every fish in the sea, every star in the sky, every hair on their heads, and every tear in their eyes. Today explains the specifics of how to write a childrens book.
By discovering numbers in gods world and in his word, parents help their children foster a deeper love and knowledge of. Your best bet is to look up word counts of existing books written for the level you are writing. Word count for novels and childrens books at the guide to literary agents blog. Knowing the typical word counts of different types of childrens books will help you understand what goal you need to hit. Many, yes, but there are exceptions due to the layout and font size of a particular book. Jun 27, 2019 chapter books will come in at the lower end of the spectrum, while middlegrade books meant for older readers may even slightly exceed 55,000 words. And usually what they mean is a picture book or at the very least a heavily illustrated storybook. Miranda is an awardwinning author of more than a dozen fiction and nonfiction books for. Word count for famous novels organized commonplace book. I have found the website dogobooks to be the most useful place to check the word count of popular books for kids.
Im currently writing a series of children s picture books aimed at 56 year olds and have got the first two out the way. If i tell you that my book is 70,000 words, and send you an 800 page correctly formated ms the 1. Apr 08, 2019 word counts for chapter books and middle grade can range from 1,50030,000 or more. Childrens book categories are not static and they are not written in stone. Guidelines for word count for childrens books anita.
Childrens book types and suggested word counts go teen writers. Based on this list compiled by nicole humphrey cook. As for nonfiction books, the standard bestsellers have word counts similar to adult novels. Apr 23, 2018 few elements of the bookwriting process inspire such handwringing and teethgnashing as trying to constrain your novel within certain seemingly arbitrary bounds. Im currently writing a series of childrens picture books aimed at 56 year olds and have got the first two out the way. Age categories and word counts for childrens books by niamh. Last week i talked about chapter books, which is a specific category of childrens books. Nov 11, 2018 small press united, an indie book distributor, has this in their reasons for declining information. A childrens book will be beyond a picture book although it can contain some images but not yet a middlegrade level book. Aug 07, 2017 word counts for children, mg, ya, and adult books, by genre august 7, 2017 august 3, 2018 sarahnicolas ive been getting a lot of word count questions from pitch wars hopefuls, so i though id write everything out in a post for ease and convenience. Chapter books once you move to chapter books, word counts could range anywhere from the high5000s to 25,000. Oct 06, 2010 ive rechecked my word count of my childrens fiction book and i have just under 7500.
I am on the record as saying i dont really care about word counts unless they are so offthe wall out of bounds that it is absurd. Today i decided to do an overview of the different types of books that can be written for children. Pencilthin books on narrow topics that are under 50,000 words are quite common. My first book, three times a lady was roughly 100,000 words. Understanding childrens book categories from picture. Dec 20, 2018 in the upper, righthand corner you should include your target reader and word count when you format your childrens manuscriptif you dont know who your book is for read my article on the different age levels for childrens books. When it gets closer to 1,000, editors and agents may shy away. Picture books for children up to age eight average words though many are shorter. For nonfiction books, word count guidelines are more flexible, sometimes even double the word counts listed here. This is the part i hesitate to do, but i will throw my hat in the ring and suggest some ballpark and maximum word counts for different types of projects. Never pad your manuscript just to meet a word count guideline. The 57 year old reading range straddles a few different categories of books.
Usually a larger format, 32page planned in double paged spreads book with an illustrations and text with a word count of about 600. For many people new to writing for children, all childrens books are picture books. For average word counts based on genre, see this handy reference. Childrens book writers must adhere to strict industry standards for word counts.
Nov, 2015 the truth about word counts for childrens book is nothing is set in stone, so it can be a good idea to do as much research as possible on current expectations. Counting chickens a few words about word counts at hope vestergaards site. The only thing is ive been looking at various sites and asking advice around how long a childrens picture book should be word count and im getting a lot of conflicting advice. For many people new to writing for children, all children s books are picture books. This childrens book explores how god counts every fish in the sea, every star in the sky, every hair on their heads, and every tear in their eyes. Picture books youll hear many people say the shorter the better. Less than 70,000 unless its fantasy or scifi, which can stretch to 90,000 at a push. The first book is around 7,600 words and the second book is around 6,800 words. Special thanks to miranda paul for this guest post. The word counts of some famous novels for comparison.
Im okay with a manuscript that goes up to 30,000 words over the suggested word count. As an editor, i cant tell you how many times ive turned down a manuscript because of excessive word counts. You have just discovered the wonderful world of bibliographic metadata. Many times books are character based, as seen in the examples below. Ideal childrens book length as christacarol says, there are different accepted manuscript length word count limits for different genres and age groups. For example, atonement has a word count of 123,378 and my utility comes up with 110,765 words. Standard word counts, page lengths and formats for self. Even consider contacting agents and publishers asking for guidelines before sending them a copy of a manuscript. Most suitable for 47 years, although some might cover 09 years. Word counts from the nyt best sellers list writers rumpus. Jan 26, 2017 know the formats of childrens books jan 26, 2017 board books, early reader, middle grade, picture books, so you want to write a childrens book. But frankly, word length over 750 words will get you an automatic rejection from a lot of agents and editors.
Small press united, an indie book distributor, has this in their reasons for declining information. Thats why the traditional submission formats exist. Everything you need to know about novel word counts nathan. And remember, keeping to word counts is important, but what makes or breaks your chances with a publisher is the quality of your manuscript. While page counts are a common but not universal feature of bibliographic metadata, word counts are much less frequently provided and are not at all mandatory. How to format your childrens manuscript like an expert. The truth about word counts for childrens book is nothing is set in stone, so it can be a good idea to do as much research as possible on current expectations. Listed below is a compilation of some of these guidelines.
Word counts for chapter books and middle grade can range from 1,50030,000 or more. Chapter books are for more independent readers who are making the bridge between picture books and early readers and middle grade. There are many gray areas in publishing based on what authors write and what each publishing house accepts. Word count for famous novels organized by hawthorn mineart, under books, writing.
Literary agent paula munier says a 90,000 word count is the sweet spot for debut fiction. Its for the ages 710, would i need to stretch it up to 8,000. Counting chickens a few words about word counts at hope vestergaard s site. I went to another conference and told an agent about my chapter books series with the word count ranges and she was like thats kind of short for a chapter book. Sharp objects has a word count of 80,565 and my utility calculates it at 80,7. There are many gray areas in publishing based on what authors write and what each. Be aware that there is no one true or accurate list of childrens book categories, but this list will give you an idea of the basic boundaries. Since opinions vary greatly, i did some research to verify the numbers in my head. May have one or two protagonists, if theyre in 3rd person, but one. A guide to word counts filles vertes publishing, llc. Never pad your manuscript just to meet a wordcount guideline. Word count for novels and children s books at the guide to literary agents blog. It is, i think, the easiest to use to quickly find the word count of a book.
Some bookstores designate these as for kids 912 but i would say readers are mostly 68. Know the formats of childrens books jan 26, 2017 board books, early reader, middle grade, picture books, so you want to write a childrens book. While its important that every story find its natural length, it takes time to develop an instinct as. I have often looked this up and got different results, which makes it very confusing. Where can i find a database of all published books word. Ar book finder categorizes this book as a middle grade. Picture book word count, and other rules that are meant to be. Recent market surveys show that children age out of picture books at six, earlier than previous generations. I pulled out some of my three yearolds books, noticing that about half of her favorite titles actually have more than 500 words.
By discovering numbers in god s world and in his word, parents help their children foster a deeper love and knowledge of who god is and how he counts them as his. These word counts are my personal references they are not official, and do not include back matter, which is bonus material for the reader or information geared for parents, teachers, or older readers. As christacarol says, there are different accepted manuscript length word count limits for different genres and age. I remember reading some westerns in high school and, if i. If you ask them what they are working on, theyll say, a children s book as if that is all the explanation necessary. While it s important that every story find its natural length, it takes time to develop an instinct as. Jun 26, 2018 i have found the website dogobooks to be the most useful place to check the word count of popular books for kids. Search for word count totals in books word counters. I have therefore made some averages, based on what ive heard from publishers and agents at childrens book events, and from research and reading. Apr 09, 2014 last week i talked about chapter books, which is a specific category of childrens books. Geared towards teenagers, young adult ya books address heavier topics and have more adult themes than childrens literature, and their word count is closer to that of adult novels, too. And remember, keeping to word counts is important, but what makes or breaks your chances with a publisher is. This is a general list of age categories and word counts for childrens books. Deconstructing five spooky picture books with spoilers and word counts.
How to write early readers, easy chapter books, and. These word counts are my personal references they are not official, and do not include back matter, which is bonus material for the reader or information geared for parents, teachers, or. Nov, 2009 ideal childrens book length as christacarol says, there are different accepted manuscript length word count limits for different genres and age groups. However, there is a wide range of acceptable word counts for nonfiction books.
If yours is too short, restructure it and add more tightly written stuff. Jul 08, 2014 you have just discovered the wonderful world of bibliographic metadata. The page count is 32 or 40 pages with a word count of under 1,500. Children s book writers must adhere to strict industry standards for word counts. Obviously, the examples under each category are above and below what is generally accepted. So many people today rely on the word count given by their software program, but when you go to print a physical book, the pages matter.
Chapter books will come in at the lower end of the spectrum, while middlegrade books meant for older readers may even slightly exceed 55,000 words. Ive rechecked my word count of my childrens fiction book and i have just under 7500. These are basic learning books that creatively teach colors, numbers or simple, fun stories for bedtime. Many new writers are unaware there are guidelines and rules for numbers of pages or words per type of literature as well as specific ages each category applies to.
Now, before you lose your mind, let me explain what i mean. Neither too long nor too short, this book length signals a novelists competency and knowledge of the publishing market to prospective agents and editors. Age categories and word counts for childrens books by. Childrens book types and suggested word counts go teen. I know that picture books are getting shorter and shorter. Though, please note that most of the sources i found had slightly different numbers and i. Word counts for children, mg, ya, and adult books, by genre august 7, 2017 august 3, 2018 sarahnicolas ive been getting a lot of word count questions from pitch wars hopefuls, so i though id write everything out in a post for ease and convenience. Guidelines for word count for childrens books anita nolan. Jun 28, 2010 word counts ill get straight into it, starting with books for grown ups. Children just one question childrens book word counts discussion in by the genre started by fantasy girl, may 7, 2009.
Rule of thumb or not, this observation made me feel better as i stared at my own list of childrens book manuscripts, about half of which glare back at me with word counts nearing 800 words. Ya novels should be anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 words. Know the formats of childrens books lu and bean read. Picture book word count, and other rules that are meant to. The only thing is ive been looking at various sites and asking advice around how long a children s picture book should be word count and im getting a lot of conflicting advice. Childrens chapter books word count age 69 word count. From picture books to ya information to get you started at. If you ask them what they are working on, theyll say, a childrens book as if that is all the explanation necessary. Heres how i worked out the word count i literally counted the words in a cathy kelly book, a sheila oflanagan book and a marian. And, in case youre wondering, here are the average word counts for other popular genres.
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