What is Middle-Grade Fiction?
If you’ve been thinking about diving into writing children’s literature, you may have heard the words ‘Middle-Grade Fiction.’ But what IS Middle-Grade Fiction?
Think of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Charlotte’s Web. Even if you’ve never heard the term ‘Middle-Grade Fiction’ before, chances are you’ve read it—it’s one of the most popular categories of books out there.
Middle-Grade is not a genre; it’s an age group. It’s the in-between area of children’s literature, bridging the gap between chapter books and young adult books. It covers the age range of 8-12, typically grades 3-8: the end of the childhood years before entering the teenage years.
So how do you write good middle-grade fiction? Here are a few introductory tips:
1: Read, read, READ!
The best way to understand this category of books and to learn how to write middle-grade fiction is to immerse yourself in its world by reading.
Read classics, contemporary, bestsellers, highly rated, award winners, and everything in between. As you read, think about what it is that makes you want to keep reading.
If you happen to be older than twelve and feel strange walking through the children’s aisles of libraries and bookstores, remember that some of the most popular middle-grade books are ones that even adults enjoy.
2: Know your Audience
Middle-grade readers are in an in-between stage, facing a lot of change, so it’s important to capture their authentic voice and perspective in your story. Acknowledge the challenges they may experience with a certain blend of innocence, humour, lightheartedness and hope.
Middle-grade fiction can face hard topics (bullying, racism, death, illness, war…), but be careful not to get graphic, explicit, or dark in language and content.
At the same time, DO NOT TALK DOWN TO YOUR READERS. They know by now that life isn’t all sunshine and candy. Empower readers with stories about kids like them who overcome their challenges and the challenges of their world.
3: Use Style!
Just because you’re writing for a young audience, it doesn’t mean that they have no taste in writing. They know when something is good and when something is bad, when a story is interesting and when a story is boring, when a book feels real (even if it’s fantasy) and when a book feels fake (even if it’s set in the real world).
Don’t hold back on using literary and rhetorical devices! It’s important to keep your wording clear and easy to understand for young readers, but it’s fine for them to reach for a dictionary once in a while.
‘Show, don’t tell’ is a golden rule in writing. Instead of telling the readers, “He likes peanut butter,” show them that he likes peanut butter. Make him go home from school and immediately eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Focusing on action makes a story more alive and interesting.
4: Follow the Word Count
As a general rule, Middle-Grade novels are 30,000 – 70,000 words. Fantasy and science fiction sometimes run on the longer side; most novels, though, are under 50,000 words.
Yes, there are exceptions, but these guidelines are important to keep in mind. It’s much easier to keep someone’s attention in a shorter novel, and some readers find two-inch-thick books intimidating.
And if you’re planning on publishing, this is the word count that most literary agencies and publishers look for in this category.
5: Have Fun!
This seems obvious, doesn’t it? But some people feel like they have to write about a certain topic or in a certain style to write for children. You don’t! Write the book you want to read; write the story you want to tell.
When you write middle-grade fiction, you basically get to be a kid again! Enjoy yourself as you write and have fun with it.
There are so many other tips we could go into, but I hope this was a helpful introduction to the exciting world of middle-grade fiction.
Happy writing!
Works Cited
Berve, Caitlin. “How to Write Middle Grade Stories Kids Want to Read.” Ignited Ink Writing, LLC, Ignited Ink Writing, LLC, 8 June 2020, www.ignitedinkwriting.com/ignite-your-ink-blog-for-writers/how-to-write-middle-grade-stories-kids-want-to-read/2019.
Hannah Holt. “Writing Middle Grade – A Look At the Numbers.” Hannah Holt, Hannah Holt, 4 Feb. 2021, hannahholt.com/blog/2017/10/4/writing-middle-grade-a-look-at-the-numbers.
Roy, Georgina, et al. “How to Write Middle Grade Fiction: A Beginner’s Guide.” Writing Tips Oasis, 27 Aug. 2018, writingtipsoasis.com/how-to-write-middle-grade-fiction/.
“Top Tips for Writing a Middle-Grade Novel.” NY Book Editors, nybookeditors.com/2019/11/how-to-write-a-middle-grade-novel/.“Top Writing Tips for New Children’s Authors from Top Editors.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 July 2015, www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jul/09/the-best-writing-advice-for-new-childrens-authors-from-top-editors.
“Top Writing Tips for New Children’s Authors from Top Editors.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 July 2015, www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jul/09/the-best-writing-advice-for-new-childrens-authors-from-top-editors.
Abby Ciona 