Book length - advice needed!

14 posts / 0 new

Mon, 2013-06-10 20:30

This is going to sound like a silly question to which there's no real answer.....

I'm writing a supernatural adventure, a real cliffhanger aimed at teenagers. I've been rabidly tapping away for about three weeks, and I though I say so myself I reckon that it's pretty good and (dare I say) marketable.

I have about 36,500 words at the mo, though it needs editing and tweaking before I'm entirely happy with it. The thing is, I know books (and kids' books in particular) are of varying length, but do you think the word count is enough, or should I try to fatten it out a bit?

Mon, 2013-06-10 20:40

celticman

I'm guessing, but 70K minimun? Have a look at where you want to send it.

Mon, 2013-06-10 20:51

The Walrus

There's lots of other ideas I can pump into it, but I don't want to stick things in just for the sake of it. And I have no idea where to send it.

Mon, 2013-06-10 21:23

scratch

60-70k words is about the average length of a novel Walrus. I see the dilemma regarding adding words though. Will they simply dilute the strong mix that you have for the sake of 'marketing' protocol?

Mon, 2013-06-10 23:16

The Walrus

Thanks, everyone, I'll check that out, Bear.

Mon, 2013-06-10 23:19

hudsonmoon

Here's something that might come in handy, Celtic. It's a list of great novels and their word count. And at 36,000 words you're right in there with the likes The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. You should be proud. Holy writer's cramp, Batman! There's a novel in there called Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth at 591,554 words! I'm certain his wife threw him out of the house after that one. http://commonplacebook.com/culture/literature/books/word-count-for-famou... Rich

Tue, 2013-06-11 00:08

scratch

She should have done it sooner.

Tue, 2013-06-11 02:21

fatboy74

skellig is less than you've done walrus, Holes by Louis sachar is forty odd thousand. Morpurgo's are not as long as adult novels I don't think. I'd say you're in the right bracket for a young adult novel.

Tue, 2013-06-11 07:43

jolono

As it's for the younger market walrus I don't think you're far off. 40,000 words in 9 x 6 format will come out to around 200 pages.

Tue, 2013-06-11 09:26

#10

scratch

Are you going to post a couple of extracts for our delectation Walrus?

Tue, 2013-06-11 11:38

#11

The Walrus

I will when I'm happy with it, Scratch. Thank, all, for the great advice, it's really helped me out - that's what I love about this site. I guess the likes of greats like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Skellig wouldn't hold kids attention if they were much longer.

Tue, 2013-06-11 11:45

#12

The Walrus

Another question - When I started writing this piece it was peppered with its fair share of foul language as I was aiming for realism, then I realised I wanted to aim it at teenagers and young adults, so I started to clean it up. Will I get away with words like 'bugger', 'sodding', 'arse' and such like, or do you reckon I should replace them all with 'flipping' and other innocuous words? I find it enormously difficult to believe dialogue that's too innocuous when the characters are faced with dangerous situations and creatures that might well eat them.

Tue, 2013-06-11 11:46

#13

scratch

"The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe" didn't hold my attention at the length it is! :-D Skellig is a different matter, I love that story. I look forward to reading yours when you post it Walrus. Nice one.

Wed, 2013-06-12 22:32

#14

RJF

I think some mild language is ok, Harry Potter is full if 'bloodys' wasny it? but maybe avoid running 'bugger, sodding, arse' all together :0). Maybe you could flick through some other that are aimed at that she group and see how they handle it?