Tips for Writing Chapter Books By Laura Backes, Publisher of Children's Book Insider
Chapter books create a bridge for kids in second through fourth grades who are beyond easy readers but not yet ready for middle grade novels. Written for ages 7-10, chapter books average 10,000 words, or about 40 double-spaced manuscript pages, broken into short chapters of 3-5 pages each. Publishers are always looking for writers who can create unique fiction for this age group.
Here are some tips:
The plot rules. Though chapter books don't have to be quite as action-packed as picture books or easy readers, a fast-paced plot is still important. The story should continuously move forward, with small cliffhangers or surprises at the end of chapters. Don't slow the plot with lengthy scenes of dialogue or character introspection.
Though the primary plot line should focus on concrete action that the reader can visualize (illustrations, if any, will be limited to about one per chapter), it is acceptable to have one emotionally-based sub-plot that's closely linked to the main story line. For example, if the story is about a character having to move because her father got a new job, a sub-plot could be about her worrying that her best friends will forget her.
Don't be afraid of conflict. Conflict provides tension and complication in any type of story. Kids want to read about how characters like themselves solve interesting problems. Make your characters, especially your main character, a child in second through fourth grade, and give him or her problems, goals or conflicts that are relevant to that age group. Children this age are still concerned with their everyday lives and immediate surroundings: friends, family, school, their neighborhood. But chapter book plots can take characters away from the direct supervision of their parents, at least for a little while. A nine-year-old sleuth could identify the thief who is stealing bicycles from the school playground; an eight-year-old entrepreneur could start a dog-walking business to raise money to go to soccer camp.
Keep it light. Humor is one of the primary factors that motivate young children to read. Chapter book readers still appreciate physical humor such as silly clothing or a clumsy teacher who trips every time she enters the classroom. But they're getting more sophisticated and appreciate humorous dialogue or jokes that require a page or two to set up. The laughs come from who the characters are and how they react in different situations. Characters who can laugh at themselves, or who exchange zany (but not meanspirited) remarks, are also endearing.
Keep the writing tight. Don't spend too much time on description--this stalls the action. Trim any information that isn't absolutely necessary to understanding the present action of the story. Don't let your paragraphs get longer than four or five sentences, and break run-on, complex sentences into two simpler ones. Structure your chapters so each one has a clear plot point. When that plot point is complete, move on to the next chapter. Finally, don't juggle the story between two narrators. One character should emerge as the viewpoint character for the whole story.
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Chapter books create a bridge for kids in second through fourth grades who are beyond easy readers but not yet ready for middle grade novels. Written for ages 7-10, chapter books average 10,000 words, or about 40 double-spaced manuscript pages, broken into short chapters of 3-5 pages each. Publishers are always looking for writers who can create unique fiction for this age group.
Here are some tips:
The plot rules. Though chapter books don't have to be quite as action-packed as picture books or easy readers, a fast-paced plot is still important. The story should continuously move forward, with small cliffhangers or surprises at the end of chapters. Don't slow the plot with lengthy scenes of dialogue or character introspection.
Though the primary plot line should focus on concrete action that the reader can visualize (illustrations, if any, will be limited to about one per chapter), it is acceptable to have one emotionally-based sub-plot that's closely linked to the main story line. For example, if the story is about a character having to move because her father got a new job, a sub-plot could be about her worrying that her best friends will forget her.
Don't be afraid of conflict. Conflict provides tension and complication in any type of story. Kids want to read about how characters like themselves solve interesting problems. Make your characters, especially your main character, a child in second through fourth grade, and give him or her problems, goals or conflicts that are relevant to that age group. Children this age are still concerned with their everyday lives and immediate surroundings: friends, family, school, their neighborhood. But chapter book plots can take characters away from the direct supervision of their parents, at least for a little while. A nine-year-old sleuth could identify the thief who is stealing bicycles from the school playground; an eight-year-old entrepreneur could start a dog-walking business to raise money to go to soccer camp.
Keep it light. Humor is one of the primary factors that motivate young children to read. Chapter book readers still appreciate physical humor such as silly clothing or a clumsy teacher who trips every time she enters the classroom. But they're getting more sophisticated and appreciate humorous dialogue or jokes that require a page or two to set up. The laughs come from who the characters are and how they react in different situations. Characters who can laugh at themselves, or who exchange zany (but not meanspirited) remarks, are also endearing.
Keep the writing tight. Don't spend too much time on description--this stalls the action. Trim any information that isn't absolutely necessary to understanding the present action of the story. Don't let your paragraphs get longer than four or five sentences, and break run-on, complex sentences into two simpler ones. Structure your chapters so each one has a clear plot point. When that plot point is complete, move on to the next chapter. Finally, don't juggle the story between two narrators. One character should emerge as the viewpoint character for the whole story.
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