Framework

What age group are you writing for?

o Toddlers to Kindergarten (Picture and Novelty Books)
o Grades 1-2 (Easy Readers)
o Grades 2-4 (Chapter Books)
o Grades 4-7 (Middle-Grade Books
o Grades 7-12 (Young Adult Fiction)
Please use the relevant section of this worksheet to help establish your framework.
Picture and Novelty Books
Write an answer for each of the questions below:
 How many pages will be in your book (typically 32 or less)?
 Do you have an illustrator you can trust?
 Will there be any text? If so:
 Does it rhyme?
 Is there a plot?
 What events will occur if any (should be no more than 2)?
 Is it a story picture book and if so will a parent be reading or the child?

Easy Readers
Write an answer for each of the questions below:
 How many pages will be in your book (typically 20 to 60)?
 Do you have an illustrator you can trust?
 Describe the plot (keep it simple).
 What is the message you are trying to portray?
Chapter Books
Write an answer for each of the questions below:
 How many pages will be in your book (typically 60-75)?
 Do you have an illustrator?
 What is the plot? Remember it has to have:
 Tension
 Conflict
 Climax
Middle-Grade Books
Write an answer for each of the questions below:
 How many pages will be in your book (typically up to 250 pages)?
 What are your target audience's passions, lifestyles, hopes and dreams? How will you relate to those?
 What is your influence though the book? (e.g. lifestyle, worldview, tastes, judgements, etc.)
 What is the plot?
 What are the stakes?
 What are the victories and discoveries?
Young Adult Fiction
Write an answer for each of the questions below:
 How many pages will be in your book (typically 200-300)?
 What are your target audience's passions, lifestyles, hopes and dreams? How will you relate to those?
 What will the characters learn and how will they evolve with the reader?
 What is the plot?
 Any real-world problems?
 Any danger or death?