Word length
- Thread starter Staceyp67
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With MG, it varies a lot as this category covers a wide variety of age groups and reading leves. I've seen it range anywhere from 15,000 to 45,000 words. I've sometimes seen MG audiences read much longer pieces than this (e.g. Harry Potter).
Most of my projects are in the 30,000 word range.
Most of my projects are in the 30,000 word range.
Those are roughly the same numbers I hear, though my book was shifted to upper MG and it's 70K. I think these days if you're good for the slightly older range of MG, you can hit the lower YA word counts. (up to 70K-ish) I probably wouldn't go much higher than that. If the story is aimed more at the younger MG, I'd suggest staying lower, like 50K max.
What's more important is that you have good solid pacing, hook the reader and never let them go. If they can't put the story down ,.the number of words doesn't matter. Within reason of course
What's more important is that you have good solid pacing, hook the reader and never let them go. If they can't put the story down ,.the number of words doesn't matter. Within reason of course
It can go lower for younger readers--"Little Red Ink Drinker" is only 2600 words! 'Tales of Beedle the Bard' is 12000 words. Captain Underpants books have lots of pictures, but they all run about 5000 words. Renaissance Learning classifies all of these as middle grade fiction. You can look at word counts and grade levels here: http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp
Chapter books or transition books are sometimes considered as part of the middle grade family, and sometimes not. That's books like Judy Moody or Junie B. Jones--they can range from 2000-10000 words.
-Sarah, who likes her MG short but sweet
Chapter books or transition books are sometimes considered as part of the middle grade family, and sometimes not. That's books like Judy Moody or Junie B. Jones--they can range from 2000-10000 words.
-Sarah, who likes her MG short but sweet
The above, though, is more "early reader" or "early chapter books." MG runs anywhere from about 23,000 to 45,000 words, but that's just a suggested range. And MG is about fourth grade to eighth.
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Of course, it varies a lot. THE WHIPPING BOY is about 13K, and it won a Newbery--definitely considered MG, not chapter book. and THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY tops out at over 100K, which is monstrously long for MG, but it's so well-paced that it's hard to imagine it any smaller.
To quote former Tricycle books editor Summer Laurie: children's books should be as long as they need to be--and not one word longer.
To quote former Tricycle books editor Summer Laurie: children's books should be as long as they need to be--and not one word longer.
Those above books Jud mentioned are the exceptions. And as I said, 23k-45k is the suggested range, meaning there are exceptions.
Either I am right on target or I need to add a few thousand. I am going to look at it again tonight and then I'll see if I need to add anything. Thanks for all of the input.......
Don't worry about adding more words, Stacey. As long as the story is told, and told well. Sometimes padding makes it worse. It depends. Do so only if the story will be made richer. As I said, those are general guidelines.