I don't think you need to worry about chapter length, so much as putting in chapter breaks when it will keep the reader reading. Look for cliffhangers, or scene changes, or location changes.
I've been skimming through the MG thread, and don't know if this point has been touched on yet. I've written 3 MG novels so far (none published though I am exploring the waters for the third one), starting a fourth, and I find that none of them are really related to each other. That is, they could not be bundled up into a single genre. The first is an cute anthropomorphic story, the second an adventure set in 19 century Italy, the third a silly comic sci-fi, and the current one more a gothic horror. Now I write these because they happen to be the ideas that pop in my head. As someone who getting ready to seriously enter the choppy waters of publishing (unlike the awkward floundering I've been doing up till now) is there an expectation of a new writer that they be identified with a particular genre or type of story? This concerns me sometimes, because I hope, assuming I make any headway, to have some freedom to write what I want to write. It's possible I am getting way ahead on myself at this point, but I was curious.
Interesting article for new authors in the Guardian, if anyone's interested: Top writing tips for new children's authors from top editors
Hi! Sounds like you're in a similar boat to me, so I can only offer you my opinion, but it seems like what you're describing is what happens when someone's learning any craft: you try everything, see what you're good at, and eventually narrow it down to a type or genre you're confident you can sell, much like painters or sculptors do. The only time I have heard of someone writing like that was when I was given some information way back when about a 'hot-housing' company that takes proven writers on to write individual books in a series about, say, fairies or dragons or vampires etc.
Do you perhaps have a central character/world that runs through them all?
Which one do you think is your strongest?
http://www.theguardian.com/children...ce-for-new-childrens-authors-from-top-editorsInteresting article for new authors in the Guardian, if anyone's interested: Top writing tips for new children's authors from top editors
But choose your editor carefully. We’re like a strange breed of midwife who come and live with you and are often there at the conception, the delivery and through a lot of the nurture. So you have to get on with your editor. You have to like them, respect them and trust them. And if you don’t then you need to look for another one.
Hello, I have recently written 2 MG novels and am working on YA novel right now. I am going to be looking through this thread to see what other MG writers have going on. I am very excited to be part of this forum.
Hi heza, In answer to your question about whether writers pick their editors, I can answer from my experience. For me, my agent submitted my book to the editors she thought would be interested in it. I got two offers, so in that respect, I got to decide which of those two publishers/editors I wanted to work with. My editor left her job after all the heavy work was done on my first book, and my publisher assigned me to another editor for book 2 in my series (and now, books 3 and 4).
Hi All,
Just jumping on the thread as I'm now identifying myself as a middle grade writer. I always thought I was a YA writer who was working on a MG book, but now that that book is revised and out on query, I've gotten feedback on all my other ideas that my voice is MG and that every YA idea I've been working on would be better suited if fitted to MG audience. So...that's kind of cool to realize! I have a voice! Haha. Any who, hi all.
Hi All,
Just jumping on the thread as I'm now identifying myself as a middle grade writer. I always thought I was a YA writer who was working on a MG book, but now that that book is revised and out on query, I've gotten feedback on all my other ideas that my voice is MG and that every YA idea I've been working on would be better suited if fitted to MG audience. So...that's kind of cool to realize! I have a voice! Haha. Any who, hi all.
Hi All,
Just jumping on the thread as I'm now identifying myself as a middle grade writer. I always thought I was a YA writer who was working on a MG book, but now that that book is revised and out on query, I've gotten feedback on all my other ideas that my voice is MG and that every YA idea I've been working on would be better suited if fitted to MG audience. So...that's kind of cool to realize! I have a voice! Haha. Any who, hi all.
Hello and welcome! I've only ever written MG or PBs, but I think it'd be fun to try a YA sometime. Glad to have you here!