YA length

EriRae · Aug 16, 2007

Okay, I give up. I tried searching the forum because I know this question was asked before, and not that long ago, but I can't find the answer.

How long is the average YA novel? Can it be 120k like regular mainstream, or should I be shooting for 80k instead?

I thought my novel would be considered mainstream, but the characters are teens, except for the antagonist, who's a teacher. It covers serious issues with politics, religion, sex, and discrimination, but from the recent threads regarding what can and cannot be covered in YA, it seems that anything goes. Now that I know my market should be YA mainstream, do I need to start cutting words to make young people read it? I'm in the middle of a serious rewrite, anyway, so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone, if necessary.

Christine N. · Aug 16, 2007

First book? I would shoot for under 100K. But, things happen. If it's extremely good, a first timer can surely get a book for over 100. If it's really good, no one will care.

I would say the average is 60-80K, but like anything else there are shorter and longer books. Chick-lit usually being shorter, fantasy usually being longer.

Ziljon · Aug 16, 2007

I've heard 60 to 80k is perfect for YA. But there's nothing set in stone. How can you plan how many pages you're going to write anyway? Just write the story the best way you can; if there's excess fat then you cut it out later.

JasonChirevas · Aug 16, 2007

Erinmiller77 said:
Okay, I give up. I tried searching the forum because I know this question was asked before, and not that long ago, but I can't find the answer.

How long is the average YA novel? Can it be 120k like regular mainstream, or should I be shooting for 80k instead?

I thought my novel would be considered mainstream, but the characters are teens, except for the antagonist, who's a teacher. It covers serious issues with politics, religion, sex, and discrimination, but from the recent threads regarding what can and cannot be covered in YA, it seems that anything goes. Now that I know my market should be YA mainstream, do I need to start cutting words to make young people read it? I'm in the middle of a serious rewrite, anyway, so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone, if necessary.

My WIP is a YA adventure/fantasy. I aimed for it to come in at 60,000 words. It's now looking more like it'll be around 72,000 words. I'm comfortable with that count because I knew it'd grow a bit from 60,000, which I considered more of a minimum.

I don't know if I ever could, or would want to, write anything over 100,000 words.

-Jason

Shady Lane · Aug 16, 2007

Between 50 and 80 is good stuff.

Come hang out in the YA forum. We're very nice and we like to insult people.

MerryDay · Aug 16, 2007

Shady's right - the YA forum is where all the cool kids hang out.

As for length, I agree that 80k or below is the norm. That being said, my favorite example, Stephanie Meyer, clocked in well over 100k with her debut novel. So, if it works, it works. Plus, I don't think YA publishers are as big sticklers for WC as in other genres, just because it is so variable.

Man that was unhelpful, wasn't it? So yeah...around 80k is your safest bet.

EriRae · Aug 16, 2007

Ziljon said:
I've heard 60 to 80k is perfect for YA. But there's nothing set in stone. How can you plan how many pages you're going to write anyway? Just write the story the best way you can; if there's excess fat then you cut it out later.

I'm not PLANNING how many words I wrote...I have a finished novel with 112k that I'm revising, and now I know that in my revision, I also have to cut a good chunk of that.

EriRae · Aug 16, 2007

Shady Lane said:
Between 50 and 80 is good stuff.

Come hang out in the YA forum. We're very nice and we like to insult people.

LOL--I'll be the old fart in the YA forum...

Though I too like to insult people. I've been told to stay out of message boards with young people: corrupting the youth. If you're already insulting people, well I didn't have anything to do with that, so I guess it's okay for me to join your forum.

Danger Jane · Aug 16, 2007

Erinmiller77 said:
LOL--I'll be the old fart in the YA forum... Though I too like to insult people. I've been told to stay out of message boards with young people: corrupting the youth. If you're already insulting people, well I didn't have anything to do with that, so I guess it's okay for me to join your forum.

But it's for writing YA! It has nothing to do with your age!!

I'll post the link when I find it, but Soccer Mom posted a site that has many popular YA titles in their database and it shows the WC when you search for a book. Some are around 40K--that's the short end. Some are over 100K. Of course, epic fantasy tends toward the latter :tongue

ETA: and here it is

EriRae · Aug 16, 2007

Danger Jane said:
But it's for writing YA! It has nothing to do with your age!!

I'll post the link when I find it, but Soccer Mom posted a site that has many popular YA titles in their database and it shows the WC when you search for a book. Some are around 40K--that's the short end. Some are over 100K. Of course, epic fantasy tends toward the latter

Thanks for the link! Mine isn't fantasy. I know I can get it down to 100k, but 80k's pushing it. I am in the process of rewriting from the MC's PoV, so maybe he can pare it down for me. *Watches MC hacking away at ms with a Nazi dagger* Hmmm...maybe not the best idea...

Danger Jane · Aug 16, 2007

I'd recommend searching similar titles then to get a basic idea. It also shows stuff like reading level so you can judge yours accordingly.

YA length

EriRae

:P

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

Ziljon

Tortilla di Patate

JasonChirevas

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

MerryDay

EriRae

:P

EriRae

:P

Danger Jane

EriRae

:P

Danger Jane