This article is part of a series. Click here to view Part 1: MG Overview, Part 2: MG Novels, Part 3: Plotting MG, and Part 4: MG Characters.
Writing for any genre requires an understanding of its audience, but this is doubly important when writing middle grade (MG) novels. MG readers are often between 8 and 12 years old. They have distinct experiences, are in varying stages of development, and hold a view of the world that is only just beginning to shift.
In contrast, MG writers can be years (or even decades) past being 12. To engage their audience, they have to remember what it was like to be those ages. Sometimes, they may not get it right. Maybe they put too much emphasis on something a kid wouldn’t care about. Maybe they make the vocabulary too simple or too complex. Whatever the case, it all comes down to not knowing their audience well enough.
To resonate with a kid, your book needs to be written from the perspective of a kid and focus on things kids focus on. Understanding your audience affects everything from language choice to conflicts to characterization.
Here’s how you can achieve that:
Bury yourself in middle grade media
Throughout the entire writing process – yes, we mean from conceptualization to final revisions – read middle grade fiction. Get to know what kids are reading and why. What books are on the bestseller lists? What books aren’t? Which themes are explored in MG adventure compared to MG horror? How is comedy portrayed? How do the characters interact?
If you’re writing for the younger MG audience, visit chapter books – the reading level just before MG – to understand where your readers are coming from. This can help you ease their transition into heavier topics and bigger word counts.
Don’t forget to look into popular kids’ TV shows, movies, and YouTube channels. Exploring MG media helps writers gain insights into long-lasting themes and current trends that captivate young minds.
Spend time with your audience
The easiest and most effective way to understand kids enough to place yourself in their shoes is to interact with them. If you don’t have young relatives, try volunteering at community events, becoming a counselor at a summer camp, or being an assistant coach at a local youth sports league. Spending time with middle graders is the best way to learn firsthand how kids think, talk, and act. Pay attention to how they relate to others, what they care about, and how they express emotions.
Ask them questions
What are their lives like? What do they like and dislike? Do they have opinions on current events? What are their favorite books and movies? Is there anything they would change in the world? What things do they wish they do could? What do they want to be when they grow up?
Asking questions can reveal a nuanced perspective of kids’ inner worlds and help you identify areas in which your characters need to grow. It can also spark inspiration for your stories.
Understand their problems
Middle grade is becoming more open to experimentation with dark or heavy themes, such as mental illness and abuse. These are difficult subjects that lots of children unfortunately experience. Writing about them allows those who go through it to feel understood and those who don’t to empathize.
If you address any heavy topics in your novel, it’s important that you read MG books that tackle the same subject and are already in print. These can help guide you toward writing with appropriate sensitivity and understanding.
Compare to your experiences
How is their childhood similar to or different than your own? Do they have access to more technology? What milestones are important for them? Do they take the same classes you did as a child? Are they allowed to roam the neighborhood in the summer? What concerts, festivals, or amusement parks do they go to?
Think of the aspects that made your childhood unique and understand how kids today experience life in comparison. If you’re writing a contemporary novel, this will help you build a realistic experience that resonates with your audience.
Talk to experts
To truly explore the mind of a child from 8-12 years old, seek out expert knowledge. Talk to parents, teachers, librarians, tutors, and psychologists. Read books on child psychology and behavior.
Talk to your younger self
Think of one of your MG characters. How old are they? Now, think of what you were like at that age.
Who did you like to hang out with? What stories did you like? Who were your heroes? What scared you? What inspired you?
Connecting with your younger self allows for another dimension to fill your writing and enrich the experience for your readers. While writing, look back at the themes you cover and ask yourself if you would have understood them at that age.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- What were my family relationships like? Who was I closest to? Who was I most distant with?
- Did I have any rivalries?
- Who was my best friend? Why? How did we like to hang out?
- What did I like most and least about school?
- How did I see grown-up life? What did I think it would be like?
- What kind of life did I want to have?
- Did I go through any big problems?
- What did I like to do most?
Perspective is key
Writing from the perspective of a child and taking it seriously is essential for creating MG novels that resonate with their readers. By immersing yourself in MG media, spending time with kids, understanding their environments, and reflecting on your own childhood, you can craft stories that are authentic and meaningful for your audience. The goal is to create a world and characters that MG readers can see themselves in, fostering a deep connection and a love for reading.