Congratulations on writing a story! Finishing a manuscript, of whatever length, is an accomplishment. Rootstock Children’s Branch is looking for great picture books, fun middle grade novels, and moving young adult stories. But before you submit, let’s see if your book is ready.
Read, Revise, Proofread
The world of children’s literature has changed. Before submitting your work, it’s a good idea to read other books in the same genre and published in the last five years. This is one of the best ways to see where yours fits in.
The next step is to revise! We encourage you to share your manuscript with other writers, especially those who can give you honest feedback. We also highly recommend proofreading your story and formatting it to today’s standards (Calibri or similar font, 12 pt, double-spaced with 1-inch margins).
If you’re interested in classes, we recommend checking out online and in-person courses through Boyds Mills, The Writing Barn, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
Genre
To write for young readers is special. Does your story offer hope? Tell the truth? Respect young readers? At Rootstock Publishing, we’re looking for stories that have strong themes without heavy messaging. Who is the audience for your book? How long should it be? Below are some categories and explanations to guide you.
Young Adult: Your manuscript should feature main characters who are teenagers. No more than 80,000 words.
Middle Grade: Your manuscript should feature main characters who are between the ages of ten and thirteen. No more than 50,000 words.
Picture Book: Your manuscript should be written as a read-aloud for children under the age of eight. The ideal length is between 200 and 600 words. Nonfiction may be up to 1,000 words. Also, know your page turns (i.e., make sure your story fits to the standard length of 32 pages, including a copyright page, title page, and any backmatter). Illustrations are not required! We’ll pair you with an artist.
We look forward to reading your submissions!