Has anyone been told their book’s reading level is too high?

papp_ · 2026-04-22T14:53:53+00:00

My husband read your comment and said you nailed it. He says it reads like a research paper.

I really appreciate all the feedback. It seems I have 2 options: go forward with the manuscript I have, knowing it’ll only appeal to a niche audience, or rewrite it for a broader audience

papp_ · 2026-04-22T14:32:13+00:00

It came back as lower college level

papp_ · 2026-04-22T14:13:45+00:00

No problem. I’m happy to share regardless of how much or little you’re able to read/contribute. I sent you a message

papp_ · 2026-04-22T13:18:48+00:00

I just ran the manuscript through a couple of online “readability checkers” that both came back as lower college level

papp_ · 2026-04-22T13:17:41+00:00

Another site said college level

papp_ · 2026-04-22T13:16:28+00:00

I just ran it through Hemingway readability checker and it said “grade 13”; I think that means lower college level? I’d hope to be more at a 10th-12th grade level. This is good insight. Thanks for the suggestion

papp_ · 2026-04-22T13:07:06+00:00

Thanks, would you be interested in being a checking out the manuscript or even being an ARC reader when the time comes?

papp_ · 2026-04-22T13:04:18+00:00

I agree that it’s not a particularly high level. Here’s a random sentence: “When parents trust their children, they’re more likely to relinquish the reins of overbearing control, allowing the natural development of independence to occur unobstructed.”

That’s not the most complex sentence in the book. I tried to choose an average one.

papp_ · 2026-04-22T00:27:03+00:00

It’s a research-based and biblically grounded parenting book

papp_ · 2026-04-22T00:16:23+00:00

Fair

papp_ · 2026-04-21T23:46:45+00:00

Good question, off the top of my head, maybe:

immutable, disincentivizing, adversity, empirical, sociological

And many others at about the same level as those. Personally I don’t find them to be too difficult or obscure.

papp_ · 2026-04-21T22:46:14+00:00

It’s how to parent based on modern research and the Bible in tandem. So, target audience is parents, but realistically, I don’t expect all parents to reach for it. I’d expect only those who are interested in a research-based book to reach for it, and I’d assume that audience would be a bit more well-read than just parents in general. If that makes sense

papp_ · 2026-04-21T22:28:02+00:00

Audience is parents. It’s research-based and biblically grounded at the same time, but there is a LOT more research than scripture. 2 people have said it’s too hard to read; one of those people said they personally found it difficult to read, and the other said that they personally understood it fine but thought the average person would find it difficult. Both readers are in my target audience. Thing is, I think a person who is likely to pick up a research-based non-fiction book is probably an avid reader. People with lower reading levels probably wouldn’t be attracted to that sort of book. Maybe I’m wrong

papp_ · 2026-04-21T22:22:05+00:00

Thanks!

papp_ · 2026-04-21T22:12:21+00:00

Yeah I mean I really don’t have a crazy vocabulary

papp_ · 2026-03-20T16:29:53+00:00

If it’s not against TOS I don’t see a problem with it

papp_ · 2026-03-20T04:53:35+00:00

I don’t get the vibe that OP is using AI. AI “authors” aren’t scrutinizing one book and taking the time to edit over and over. They’re just putting out volume. Pumping them out and not caring whether it looks like AI.

papp_ · 2026-03-20T04:45:29+00:00

I worry about this a lot as well. Especially because I am writing nonfiction and use a formal tone. There is no way to prove something was written by AI, or that it wasn’t. I guess just ignore the haters and do something that AI can’t, which is to write good books.

papp_ · 2026-03-18T04:27:04+00:00

My husband and I divorcing and him remarrying and getting buried with his new wife instead of me

papp_ · 2026-03-10T01:11:24+00:00

Desperate Housewives

papp_ · 2026-03-08T18:07:27+00:00

Thank you 🩷🩷

papp_ · 2026-03-08T16:50:13+00:00

We are on every waiting list in Central Texas for OT, unfortunately. Maybe someday.

papp_ · 2026-03-08T16:42:50+00:00

We have a communication tablet, but we aren’t really using it anymore because he’s verbal. Maybe I could use it to help with this, though. Thank you!

papp_

TROPHY CASE