more word count help needed please..

Amanda

i know i'm asking the same question again. I've been trawling around the internet looking at bloomsbury etc publisher sites and frankly i'm getting really peed off. All the books tell you to check out your market, research thoroughly - and i am trying, honest. I have decided to aim my new book(s) at the 4-7 age group which on a&c they call chapter books. These are full coloured books, but with more words. The only trouble is, they dont actually tell you how big they are! I cant find any reference to word count or internal format and from france i'm completely buggered. I cant nip down whs and check out the new book list!

Any help would, once again, be gratefully received.

Tracy

Hi Amanda
Here's an idea of Usborne word lengths taken from their site. I've used this as a rough guide before.
I've not looked at Little Tiger Press but I think they specialise in picture books and the younger reader.
Hope it helps
Tracy :)


Fabulous Fiction from Usborne
Authors' guidelines
In July 2004 Usborne launched its Fabulous New Fiction list with a host of exciting authors
from established, prize-winning writers to talented newcomers. We are continuing to develop
and expand our fiction programme, and are looking for ideas and stories that fit the criteria
laid out below. You can find details of our current programme on our website:
www.fiction.usborne.com. Across the range we are looking for innovative, exciting, original
and above all child-centred stories that will capture children's imagination and engender a
love of reading. We are looking for stories that are easily accessible to children, that speak
directly to the child reader and are highly readable. Exciting and page-turning plots,
memorable characters and interesting, fresh voices are all important criteria. We are
interested in strong series ideas, lots of humour and adventure, and books that will appeal to
both boys and girls.
Junior Fiction
Black and white illustrated chapter books for emerging or more confident readers. Generous
amounts of illustration, short chapters and easy-to-read type. Concept-based or characterled
series. Lively, appealing stories with real page-turning quality; strong central characters;
lots of dialogue and plenty of humour where appropriate.
Age group: 6 - 8
Extent: 80 - 96pp
Text length: 5,000-6,000 words approx.
Age group: 7 - 9
Extent: 96 - 128pp
Text length: 7,000 - 10,000 words approx.
Content: any subject of interest to the age group, including, but not limited to, humour, fairies,
school, spooky, time-travel, history, detective mysteries, family, science, invention,
exploration, adventure, friendship.
Older Fiction
Full length novels for confident readers. Strong concept-based or character-led series, as
well as strikingly original individual books. Fast-paced, exciting plots with real page-turning
quality; strong characters; dynamic storytelling.
Age group: 8 - 12
Extent: 112pp +
Text length: 25,000 - 50,000 words approx.
Content: extremely wide-ranging and varied, this age group will cover almost any subject
matter, although we are particularly interested in the following: history, other cultures,
mystery, time-travel, spooky, friendship, adventure, humour.
A synopsis and 3 sample chapters of suitable manuscripts should be sent to:
Fiction Submissions, Usborne Publishing Ltd, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT.
*Please note that due to the large number of manuscripts we receive, we are unable
to track the progress of individual submissions and a response can take up to six
months.

Amanda

Thank you tracy!

Lolli

Amanda, why don't you simply email the publishers you are interested in and aske them the word count for a full colour book aimed at 4 - 7 year olds. As you are not seeking for them to publish you at presennt and it is a simple query that can be answered by email, it seems to me to be the best way of doing your market research

Amanda

i really didnt look at it that way!