Writing Middle Grade

Рет қаралды 15,920

Күн бұрын

Middle grade fiction falls in the place between children's books and young adult, and can be a bit difficult to define because of its place in between children's and teen's literature. However, it's a thriving category that offers a lot for readers of all ages! If you'd like to write your own middle grade story, here are some considerations for the genre.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Qualities of middle grade
3:00 - Sympathizing with your young self
4:30 - Family relationships
5:30 - Using slang
6:00 - Don't underestimate the characters
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Пікірлер: 38

@Reedsy 4 жыл бұрын

Note: at 0:50, there's a typo. The age range is 8-12, not 18-12!

@xenoreplicant8115 4 жыл бұрын

I like to think of Reedsy as a reputable place, where people who offer services have an actual background in there profession. However this person has no books out. I would like to hear from someone with a strong background in writing. Thanks!

@leech1355 2 жыл бұрын

@@xenoreplicant8115 “Having books out” isn’t a credential that automatically lends authenticity to writing advice. That is such a stupid, rude thing to assert. Considering you can’t even use grammar properly yourself!

@milestrombley1466 4 жыл бұрын

Goosebumps are great books to study for middle grade reading.

@chriscollins2667 4 жыл бұрын

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Even though it is a great middle grade, it is a book that any adult would enjoy. I have read it many times, and I rarely read a book twice.

@j.rileyindependentproductions 4 жыл бұрын

Well when it comes to my favorite Middle-Grade books I lean kinda old-school, modern classics. "A Wrinkle In Time", "Where the Red Fern Grows", "Hatchet", "My Side of the Mountain", the "My Teacher is an Alien" series, the original "Magic Shop" Series (really needs to be made into a Netflix series), and of course my favorite book series of all time "The Snow Spider Trilogy".

@alittlebindi25 15 күн бұрын

I love writing stories for pre-teens. I put them up on my blog and my students actually give me good feedback. It's such a good way to see if I'm on the right path. They tell me what works and what doesn't. And kids are better than editors, they can be pretty brutal 😄

@j.rileyindependentproductions 3 жыл бұрын

Working with 4th graders, several of the advanced readers, I get really annoyed at hearing "They like reading about children older than them." No... they don't. I didn't back then and I'm 39 now. None of the standard readers, nor advanced readers, in 4th grade enjoy it either, it's just THE ONLY BOOKS OFFERED TO THEM. So, they have no choice but to do so. Every single one of my students I've talked to about this, wish that there was a character LIKE THEM in literature. Someone THEIR AGE who feel out of touch, as there's a huge difference in thinking between a 9-year-old and a 12-year-old. So, either this idea is rather outdated, or was never actually surveyed with young MG readers. Offer a 4th grader (identical aside from age) HP-like story about a 12-year-old girl or a 9-year-old girl. Guess which one they will pick? THE 9-YEAR-OLD, every single time. I TESTED IT. But if you are offering them a Magic Tree House like 9-year-old versus HP like 12-year-old, their going to lean toward the HP 12-year-old because they're past the Chapter Book stage.

@InnerProp 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the insight. It's been a long time since my children were in middle school and I don't think they had middle-grade novels in the 70s (at least they didn't call them that). I want to write some stuff for my new granddaughter and I figure I can get it done by about the time she'll be interested in middle-grade stuff. I read non-fiction mostly in 4th, 5th and 6th grade. For fiction in early middle-grade I read Danny Dunn (kind of like Tom Swift, but I didn't like Tom Swift for some reason) and Enclyopedia Brown. I may have read a Hardy Boys are two also. By 7th and 8th grade, I was reading Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov.

@skaetur1 4 жыл бұрын

My first book was Flowers for Algernon.

@johnparnham5945 3 жыл бұрын

In the next few days my middle grade novel or junior novel as we might say in the UK, I will reach my 30.000th word. I know that most videos tell you that you that your characters should be older than the readers, but my duel protagonists are aged 9, nearly 10. Having worked with that age group, I can better understand them. Many authors choose 12 year olds as their protagonists and there's nothing wrong with that but not me. I read a great MG book called the boy at the back of the class, apologies, I can't remember the authors name, whose protagonist is is the 9--10 year old. It's a great book which children of that age can relate to. I value your video because there are some helpful tips. I only want to write for kids and any helpful advice will be gratefully appreciated.

@amy-suewisniewski6451 4 жыл бұрын

My favourite Middle Grade read is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.

@Emma-oo5ok 3 жыл бұрын

What if your a 11 year old middle grade writer... Yes im 11 and im writing a middle grade book, and this helped a lot.

@Thebookishcousin 3 жыл бұрын

I just knew you’d have the resource I was looking for. 😊 thanks for the tips!

@kandirussell5024 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for making these videos. They are very helpful!

@johnglass7383 3 жыл бұрын

Solid, thorough. THANKS!

@theeverlastingfather1111 4 жыл бұрын

You're such a vibrant and smart beautiful lady! Keep going so your work is so appreciated.

@aster1749 4 жыл бұрын

I think there is a typo in the ages. It said 18-12 when it should have been 8-12

@Reedsy 4 жыл бұрын

You're right, thank you for catching that!

@GalenMicheal 2 жыл бұрын

Great video as usual.

@mystic_tacos 4 жыл бұрын

I don't remember middle school very well (it was NOT a fun time for me). But I have read a lot of the books my daughters have brought home, one high schooler now and one middle school. I'd say I like what the middle school daughter was reading last year was pretty good. Pride Wars series by Matt Laney.

@victorthurse6027 4 жыл бұрын

I remember The Chrysalids as an exiting story.

@sumayyahkhan8897 4 жыл бұрын

Shailen i just wanted to ask are you one of the people in reedsy if you are i wanna talk to you and ask you for tips on my writing Your really good at it

@mrserven 2 жыл бұрын

Middle grade fiction is my fave! Anything from Kate DiCamillo, EB White and Cynthia Rylant.

@sarahfenlonfalk 4 жыл бұрын

Ella Enchanted!

@mollywalker5790 2 жыл бұрын

I never know how "difficult" to make my writing. I tend to write long paragraphs with complicated words, but I don't like to dumb it down too much because it might come across as patronising.

@mermosa Жыл бұрын

Have you read Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald? He also has a podcast called You Are a Storyteller. He is brilliant, and so good at speaking to this topic (among many others related to story structure). It isn't about "dumbing down", but more about being concise in one's writing. Simple, but not simplistic. I am writing a middle grade novel for the first time, but come from a background of poetry and prose. It has been so difficult to learn this one, but it has also been the most useful and profound. If you get the chance, check him out - he is an incredible resource!

@robertcooper4th259 19 күн бұрын

Is gore allowed in middle grade fantasy

@JessBookgirlTV 4 жыл бұрын

Shaelin, are you on Pinterest?

@milliethepup9746 2 жыл бұрын

if you are going to read middle grade, read books by Gordon Korman

@demonsangells 4 жыл бұрын

The first book I ever read when I was about 8 years old was "The Hanchback of Norte-Dame" by Victor Hugo. Yeah, the original one...

@hilarywyllie2983 4 жыл бұрын

Dude . . . Why? I can barely get through Hugo now! I mean, fantastic writer, but I don't need 20 pages on the damn silver candlesticks.

@demonsangells 4 жыл бұрын

@@hilarywyllie2983 It was when the Disney movie had come out. There was no such thing as the Internet back then and my parents were bold enough to let me choose my own first book. I was expecting it to be like Disney's version.

@converse5874 3 жыл бұрын

you spoke french at the age of 8 ? Impressive

@Yohannai 3 жыл бұрын

@@converse5874 They might've grown up bilingual (like me), so reading and speaking both english and french isn't a big stretch, especially when you grow up surrounded by media in both languages. Reading Victor Hugo at 8 is incredible though...

@mollywalker5790 2 жыл бұрын

@@converse5874 there are English translations

@jenniferwebb3 3 жыл бұрын

Can you speak to the use of contractions in middle grade? I feel like contractions make the writing feel smoother and more authentic, but I've picked up a few middle grade books that write everything out. It sounds jarring to me. My thinking is that contractions are developmentally appropriate at this age, so I don't see it as a hindrance for readers.