posted
I'm critting a chapter book for someone. I'm aware that the 'first 13' is related to the proper format of a manuscript, and favorably impressing the editor/agent. But since chapter books have a different print format from adult and YA novels, would one use some other or additional criteria, like the first-9 or some such?
The idea is that perhaps a quicker hook might be more appropriate for beginning readers.
posted
I'm not certain what you mean by "chapter book", but that doesn't matter. I have a suggestion: You can ask a publisher of this type of book for their description of standard manuscript format. If you ask via postal service, then the publisher might appreciate a SASE with estimated postage.
Posts: 1139 | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Chapter books are the first new readers' books that are mostly prose...the transition from picture books. Picture books have no chapters. I wondered if there is any conventional wisdom that chapter books should have a quicker hook...but I guess not.
Posts: 746 | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Quick hooks are pretty vital in children's fiction. Read the first page of 10 Magic Treehouse Books (then all the Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott.) You can glean pretty quickly that the reader needs to know: 1) Character, in 2) Setting with 3) Problem. Problem comes in pretty quickly, though formulaic books like Magic Treehouse get a bit of leeway because they created a structure that kids then begin to expect. You can train your readers.
But yea - quick hook is pretty vital. Character name (kids are concrete, they want to relate to the character by name) is important. No funny business with second person or anything else like that.
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