Dear Writer Lady…
Today’s chapter book market is a vibrant one. So much smart and entertaining storytelling is happening there. Clever-funny and slapstick-funny work very well in this space. A silly-clever series is The Inflatables, which features inflatable toys as characters. Stories that make heroes of their characters are essential—even if the heroism is simply in the small social circle and it’s a personal triumph. Big commercial concepts work well, like superhero kids. Realistic books centered on friendship are welcome there, but those can be hard to stand out if they don’t have more to them. Many chapter books are looking more like graphic novels these days, being filled with illustration panels. And yet, plenty of chapters books are text-dominant. The market offers a great variety in the balance of text to illustrations, and in the narrative voice and reader ages, so it’s vital that you have strong comps (comparison books) to help a publisher/agent know exactly where your book fits in and how it stands out. That means READ, READ, READ. It’s helpful to you that they are short books and are grouped on bookstores shelves: Sit down in the chapter book section of your favorite bookstore and work your way through the shelves, making thorough notes. And when you’re done, consider buying a favorite chapter book or two as a thank you to the bookstore and to support fellow authors.
Happy writing!
The Editor
The Editor, Deborah Halverson, has been editing books for thirty years and specializes in picture books, Middle Grade/Young Adult fiction and nonfiction, and New Adult fiction. For her editorial guidance in making your manuscript ready for submission to agents and publishers or for self-publishing, click Editorial services. Learn more in her books: Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies and Writing New Adult Fiction.
Are publishers only interested in chapter books as a series or will they look at stand alone books?
Mostly series. Single titles can get lost on bookstore shelves amongst all those series. Also, they know that this readership loves to plow through a series once they fall in love with the first book’s premise and characters. I’ll answer this separately as a full post — it’s a great question.
Dear Editor,
Hi Deborah: years ago at a SCBWI conference in LA, you gave me a critique. I was expecting to’ve my genius quickly recognized; sadly my genius seems to be—at least for that story with that editor—was harder to spot than I’d hoped.
Anyway: I think I’ve mostly recovered now. I’ve since been working on a short YA novel. I’ve heard that fantasy & graphic novels are having a big trend. And, sadly, reading is taking a dive by whopping percentages. I’ve been imagining my story in a way that I could still very much find the joy in my storytelling & include my own approach to the material in ways I believe could make it better.
That’s not the problem. What I’m wondering is, as an editor, would you find more relief in supporting a worthy graphic novel or a worthy 120 page novelette covering the same material?
I remember you, Daniel! Though you’d have to remind me of the specific ms we talked about. I don’t feel I fully understand your question here, but I can say that there is a place for text-only graphic novel submissions in YA. Publishers seem to prefer working with one person as an author-illustrator when it comes to graphic novels, but text-only manuscripts are acquired.
I love this question and answer! I am writing a chapter book series, and I’m new to both chapter books and series writing. I prepared by reading loads of Magic Tree House books, as well as some other chapter books, and I appreciate you sharing insights on the latest trends. Thank you!
I’m do glad you found this useful, Joan. Good luck with the chapter book series!