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.