The Dos and Don’ts of Writing Middle Grade Fiction
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Weird, wonderful, awkward, awesome—middle grade fiction (for ages 8 to 12) is the literary equivalent of recess, encompassing the full range of kid experiences with young readers who are exploring it on their own for the first time. These readers are stepping up from chapter books, becoming more independent and confident in longer stories that are more complex and developed. But how do you as the author write a story with a character who’s old enough to start making big decisions but doesn’t have the independence of a teenager yet? How do you make a problem that’s just the right size for them to solve?
This is where the magic comes in. There’s a balance to be found in great middle grade, so we’ve compiled some tips on what you should do and definitely not do in your middle grade novel.
Things Not to Do in Middle Grade Fiction
Middle grade has its own special magic when it’s done well, so this list is less “don’t blow bubbles in your chocolate milk” and more guidance on the mindset you should have when it comes to writing middle grade. Kids know right away if something isn’t quite right in a story, so pay attention to these three main points to make sure your book hooks them start to finish.
Don’t write kids who are actually adults in disguise
Most middle grade novels are written by grown-ups, which makes this first point the easiest pitfall to slip into. Kid characters shouldn’t simply be adults in disguise. This looks like kids acting with too much maturity, expressing inordinate wisdom, or doing other things that make them indistinguishable from someone twice (or four or five times) their age. This also extends to the challenges your character will face, even small ones, such as not having a lot of disposable income or not having an easy way to get places.
Don’t teach your readers
This pitfall is closely related to the point above. Again, children’s books are written by grown-ups, and sometimes grown-ups want to use fiction to share wisdom and life lessons in fiction. Fiction can provide a wonderful setting to talk about powerful truths, but there’s a difference between presenting a good story and lecturing. Kids are highly sensitive to being talked down to, and if they sense that the whole book is leading them to a neat moral or tidy theme, they will be less engaged. If you write a gripping story, learning will still be happening!
Don’t write characters who are perfect
Middle grade readers are at an unprecedented height of recognizing they’re not perfect. Whether they’re dealing with peer pressure, physical changes, or performance at school or in sports, they know they don’t have it all together. It will be difficult for middle grade readers to connect to a protagonist who doesn’t struggle, someone who never makes mistakes. Remember this rule: compelling fiction of any kind demonstrates great and meaningful change in the main character.
Things You Should Do in Middle Grade Fiction
Now that we’ve got those out of the way, let’s move on to the fun part—what you should do with your middle grade story. It’s time to put yourself back into your favorite shirt or lucky socks. Try to remember what was special to you, what was important, and what seemed like the biggest thing in the world. Now you’re on the right track to consider these three tips for a strong middle grade novel.
Do make it messy and true to life
Middle grade books are as diverse as the readers who pick up these stories. These stories are often introductions to big ideas and big emotions, and they should reflect the truth of the world kids live in. Your kid protagonists should mess up and succeed. They can change their minds and ask forgiveness. However, while hard topics can be discussed here, but it’s important to handle them in ways that these readers can relate to and understand. Middle grade, at its core, is often about hope—while the world out there is large and sometimes scary, there is a place your protagonist can belong.
Do let kids drive the story
For kid lit of any kind (and middle grade in particular), kids should be in charge of the story. They are its center, even as they step into wider contexts with people of all ages. Fiction can show them how to interact in these new and uncertain situations where they’re given responsibility but they’re still not old enough to be completely on their own. They should be the ones growing and making decisions throughout, even if there are grown-ups in the room.
Do read a ton of middle grade books
There is no better way to learn how to write middle grade well than reading shelves and shelves of middle grade for yourself. You can make a reading list for yourself and set assignments to pay attention to themes, language, characters, and more. I recommend adding books like this:
Recent bestsellers in the genre you want to write for. Pick up ones that have been published within the last two to three years.
Middle grade classics. These have stayed around for a reason!
Middle grade books that seem like good comp titles for the book you want to write.
Have Fun Writing Middle Grade Fiction
Middle grade fiction is the perfect place for young readers to explore big feelings and equally big worlds, whether they’re found on other planets or in a perfectly Earthly neighborhood. Keeping some of these basic guidelines in mind will help you craft a story that appeals to these readers as they step further into literary adventures on their own.
Need an editor for your middle grade novel?
We’re kid lit specialists who can help you take your book to the next level, whether you’re needing big-picture feedback or a final line-level polish.
Photo thanks to Annie Spratt on Unsplash!
