Children's Wordcount

Sounds like middle grade to me - but do a search for the difference between MG and YA - there are several helpful threads on here that highlight the distinctives.

Happy writing!

Welcome to AW!

First you should read everything in On-Line Tool-Kit thread, located here:
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39596

Many of your questions can and will be answered by one of those resources.

As far as what is acceptable content--the only way to really learn the answer to that question is to read as much current MG fiction as you possibly can. Focus on things that have been published in the last 5-10 years, because standards change.

Seriously, I can't imagine trying to write for children unless you've read a LOT of recent books--and loved them. There are so many things that make kidlit uniquely challenging. It's not for the faint of heart!

Hi Nyxix,

Here's a link that may help: http://www.write4kids.com/colum44.html (though this measures length in terms of pages instead of words -- I use a 250-word page, though some use 300 or more words per page).

I think the bottom line is that you write your story and see how long it is when you're done. I'm near the end of a YA fantasy that's currently ~37,000 words -- it'll probably be just over 40,000 words when I'm done (and the closer I get to the finish line, the more I wonder if it may be more MG). I've already cut a few chapters I had planned because they would slow the pace of the story. If you're like most writers (note I say most!), you write a lot and cut 5-20% before you call something "done."

As for your suitable content question, I'd suggest again that you write your story and figure things out when you're done. You may end up with something suitable for YA. In my view, there's a lot of gray area between MG, YA, and even your adult sci-fi/fantasy genres. You can always edit a scene or two later, if need be.

I do agree that if you're writing for children, you want to be reading what they're reading -- and loving it. That's how many children's writers get into the business -- I write primarily for children because those are still many of my favorite books.

Hope this helps,

DaveG

Nyxix said:

Hi!

I'm aiming at the years 9 - 15 years old.

Click to expand...

That seems a fairly broad range to me. It's possible, but you might think about narrowing it.

Also, you can get away with a hell of a lot more writing for teens then nine year olds (do you like the way I worked in a mild expletive?)

Just to make it very clear:

MG - 8 -12 (and yes you can have a scene in a dungeon, I wrote a scene where my MC almost gets tortured. Violence and dark is much more acceptable than sex in MG. You can get away with a lot)

YA - 12 +

Personally if you are saying 9 - 15, I am thinking you are writing an MG. Are you writing a book similar in tone to the early Harry Potters? To Lemony Snicket? To Alice in Wonderland? That's a good way of knowing for whom your book is to be marketed. And don't worry if you think writing MG means that no one over 12 will read your work. I get emails from teenagers all the time. It's simply a category that makes your work easier to sell to publishers/agents. Just like a horror story can still have elements of romance in it. Nothing is absolute, we just need to find the best possible category considering all the options.

But there are other differences between the two genres than just the age group. They are thematic differences. If your book is a rollicking old fashioned adventure, then it is probably MG. If it is an adventure, but the MC comes of age, then it is more YA.

As for the adult relationships question, while it can be done, most MGs and YAs focus primarily on the kids so just make sure you don't take the reader away from the kids for too long.

I have actually heard that you can pitch something called 'upper middle grade' which is around ages 12-14. I don't see why ages 12+ is seen as YA since 12-14 year olds are still in middle school.

Anyway, I would pitch it as middle grade. You don't have to include the ages in the query, just the genre or YA or MG or PB or what have you.

Also, most middle grade books run from 20,000-40,000 words. Short for YA is 40K-50K.

Hope that helps! Good luck and happy writing!