Too long for a MG novel (wordcount)

David.Justiss · Dec 15, 2011

I just opened up a novel I haven't worked on in awhile and went to continue my revising of it. Then I realized that there were some changes I was afraid to make because I didn't want to add wordcount. I've asked this (or a closely related) question before other places, but I guess I was never satified with the answer I got because I still worry about it:

I write middle grade fantasy. I've seen mutliple trustworthy sources say the wordcount range for this would be about 25K to 45K. I still have my doubts that that is reasonable, but that's what the agents are looking for and they often won't even look at works that are much longer than that.
I have two WIPs. The first has undergone a complete rewrite and seems to me to be well-revised and (almost) ready to show a beta reader for the last stuff that I missed. The second draft was 80K words. It's now 77K words, and it wasn't easy for me even to cut that 3000.

My second WIP is barely more than a first draft at this point, so I know it needs a lot of work. But it's also about 80K words, and several of the changes I know I need to make involve adding wordcount (adding description, a sense of place to a scene that's missing that, etc).

I keep getting discouraged when I hear people say that this is too long for a MG manuscript, but I'd really like to try to get these stories published and I don't how I could possibly get them short enough for an agent to look at them. What should I do?

Besides that, I've looked up wordcounts for a lot of MG books that I've read, and most of them are above 45K words. So I don't understand why agents and these other reliable sources are saying that that's too long.

Paul · Dec 15, 2011

David.Justiss said:
I

I write middle grade fantasy. I've seen mutliple trustworthy sources say the wordcount range for this would be about 25K to 45K.

I still have my doubts that that is reasonable, but that's what the agents are looking for and they often won't even look at works that are much longer than that.

You do. you have doubts.

when you say 'trustworthy', do you mean untrustworthy?

when you say

'they often won't even look at works that are much longer than that'.

do you mean they will?

The answer to your question is live with the reality of the information you know is true.

as for the 77 novel, edit or divide.

dawinsor · Dec 15, 2011

MG ranges a bit, depending on whether you're looking at the older or younger end of it. Even for the older end, though, 80K is long.

Have you considered asking for advice in the Writing for Kids thread just a few below this one? Introduce yourself to the MG group there. They're nice people and will be very supportive.

ETA: I just looked at the list you posted, and I think it clearly shows you can have a book longer than 45K, especially if your intended audience is 10 and up.

Amarie · Dec 15, 2011

You can absolutely have an MG fantasy longer than 45K. THE EMERALD ATLAS was published earlier this year and has a word count of 101,000.

I don't know which agents you are querying, but MG ranges all over the place in word count depending on subject matter and whether you are writing for the lower MG reading ability or the upper.

Dawinsor is right, you should ask the mod to move this for you. The Writing for Kids forum is a good place to be.

ETA: My two published MGs are 45K and 50K respectively. The new one that is going on sub in January is 55K.

KYcactus · Dec 15, 2011

The books you cite on that page are as follows:
• Bluefish, upper MG, 44K
• Cleopatra's Moon, YA, 110K
• From Then to Now, upper MG, 48K
• The Other Wes Moore, YA/adult memoir?, 64K

I had this same question years ago, and I was able to find word counts and stats on Amazon. Unable to quickly find any examples now. But they had word count breakdowns and even stats about average syllables per word, etc.

The books I examined at the time were several years of Newbery Award winners, which are solid MG, from Because of Winn-Dixie, Holes, Pictures of Hollis Woods, When You Reach Me, etc. Those all range from 45K to 58K.

If you're writing for MG readers, maybe ages 8 to 12, it sounds like you may be a little long. What is a book or audience similar to what you're shooting for? That may help you figure this out? And don't say 'No one's written one like this.' The ones you cited above probably include everything from age 10 to high school senior.

I think 80K would be long for contemporary YA, but maybe not YA fantasy.

Procrastinista · Dec 15, 2011

Three agents told me the ideal range is 30K to 50K. Many MG books are longer. However, debut authors should try and aim for lower word counts. BUT, 77K doesn't strike me as insanely long. If your work is truly lean, then leave it be.

Once it's ready to go, sub it to agents and see what happens.

Good luck!

Toothpaste · Dec 15, 2011

I got an agent for my MG at 97K words. It wound up closer to 80K when it was published, but still, quite long.

Totally doable, the story and how you tell it just has to warrant the word count.

Too long for a MG novel (wordcount)

David.Justiss

has alligator skin

Paul

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

Amarie

carpe libri

KYcactus

Procrastinista

Toothpaste

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