Re: Assignment 9 - Considering a book market instead of a magazine market

[jfields]

You're welcome to mention any publisher you think might be a good match. Your instructor might not agree and might steer you toward a better market -- but we don't mind seeing you suggest a different market. Do make sure your finished piece isn't massively longer than the actual ASSIGNMENT guidelines. Otherwise, you might not get the whole piece commented on.

But unless you're thinking "easy reader book" -- a story that is too long for a magazine is probably too long for ...say....a picture book publisher. And unless you went over your word count by say... 10,000 words...you're probably too short for a chapter book. So I'm not sure what book publisher you had in mind. But your instructor will help with that.

[jfields]

Well...it depends.

I have seen books longer than 1000 words at Peachtree (as an example) though it's really tough to sell a picture book that's even close to 1000 words.

For the larger publishers, the average picture book length is more like 500, and if you go as high as 800 (but the editor loves your book) you may be asked to cut.

Now, having said that...

Nonfiction picture books are often much longer, sometimes several thousand words.

Picture books for older readers (school aged) can run up to 1000 words, but again...be sure the publisher publishs picture books for school aged kids. Most do not.

Preschool picture books account for the VAST majority of picture book sales, but are also short...they're the ones that are 500 words and sometimes well less.

Picture books by KNOWN illustrators or KNOWN writers or celebrities can be much longer than 1000 words. If you know the name on the cover will sell the book, you stretch the rules.

[jfields]

One help with cuts is to keep in mind that picture book texts focus on action and don't include a lot of specific visuals (blue jacket, carried a bright green pail, brown eyes, stuff like that) since the illustrator handles the visual side of the story telling. Your job is to bring the things the illustrator cannot. Non visual specific detail and action.