Raconteur Press Wants YOU to Write Children’s Books!

With an Old-Timey feel!

We are looking for middle-grade novels of action, adventures, and boys. They should be between 40-50 thousand words in length, written in clear but intelligent language (we don’t want you to pay any attention to lexile scores), and most of all, they should be FUN!

We want action, adventures, mystery, and heroism. Families of the main characters should be wholesome, and healthy relationships are preferred regarding friendships and associations with adult characters. The child may not be able to get out of trouble himself, but he should display courage, ingenuity, and creativity in his approach to plot conflicts.

Why boys? There aren’t enough entertaining books for boys out there, and many girls will look for boy’s books, as they prefer the more rough-and-tumble to the common feminine which is so prevalent on shelves today. The women who work for and with Raconteur Press certainly did.

To begin with, then, we are looking for boy’s adventure books. These could be science fiction, fantasy, or mundane mysteries. Hark back to Tom Swift, the boy inventor, or Encyclopedia Brown, the young detective, or perhaps the adventures of the Mad Science Club. We want books that encourage exploration, curiosity, and risk-taking, which can lead to great innovations.

What is middle grade? We intend these books to be accessible to readers from ages ten and up, although a strong reader of a younger age could certainly enjoy them, as well. Main characters should be a little older than the intended reading age, but not fully grown.

What we’re NOT looking for: there should be NO use of crude language, and certainly NO sexual themes. Non-graphic violence is acceptable, in moderation and suited to the plot. Consequences for actions should exist, but never preachy or scolding. “Safety first” is no way to reach for the stars.

The Call will open November 1, 2024. Submissions should be complete manuscripts, with the same requirements as noted on the Open Calls page.

NB: Over the next few weeks, this Substack will feature commentary from our writers and editors who are also fathers to help everyone get a real “sense” of what we’re looking for, and why it’s so important to focus on boys’ fiction. We’ll also hear from resident Librarian Cedar Sanderson to add to this perspective.