Well, this has to be a good start. I’m actually interested enough to do some research on writing for middle grade children (that’s the 8 to 12 age group).
The following information was taken from Ask Laura at Write4Kids and was written by Laura Backes:
1. Middle grade novels contain about 12-15 chapters, with about six to eight book pages per chapter. This translates to up to 10 manuscript pages. This is just a general guideline; your story might require more chapters, but will probably fall within this range.
2. The traditional middle grade audience is ages 8-12. There is also now an upper middle grade age bracket of 10-14. The main thing that differentiates a middle grade novel from a young adult book is that the protagonist is 10-14 years old (most are around 12) and so are dealing with problems and concerns of a preteen, as opposed to a high school student. Middle grade characters are wrapped up in themselves, their friends and family. Young adult characters also think about these things, but in the context of how they fit into the larger world. Young adult characters are stepping across the threshold to adulthood, whereas middle grade characters are learning how to be adolescents.
3. Subplots are a hallmark of middle grade novels, and are what set them apart from simpler chapter books for ages 7-10.
4. Most publishers accept a query letter along with one or two chapters. Send for publishers’ guidelines to be sure.
And this was a comment made about talking animals, which I’m not sure if I’ll have or not but it’s worth knowing:
Talking animals aren’t completely taboo, it’s just that most writers don’t do them very well. What’s important is that your animals have completely developed, unique personalities and characteristics. You need to develop these characters just as carefully as if you were creating human characters. Too many writers use their animal characters as stereotypes, thinking kids will be immediately drawn to them just because they’re animals.
Everything your animals say and do should be a logical extension of their individual personalities. And give your readers some surprises. For example, a rabbit might not be cute and cuddly; he may be absentminded, selfish, or cunning. I suggest you read some previously published “talking animal” books to get a sense of what I’m talking about. William Steig and Kevin Henkes are two good picture book writers. Also, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (a middle grade novel) is an excellent course on how to create unique animals characters.
Hi. I’ve written a novel and am really confused as to whether it’s a Middle-Grade novel, a Young Adult novel or maybe I should just submit it as a Children’s novel.
It’s a fantasy with the protagonists being a 14-year old girl and her professor uncle. It has lots of fun imagery, a noble king and his kindly subjects and their enemies, a beautiful but vicious queen who wants to take over the good guy’s living space…her motivation being power and greed. It runs about 115 double-spaced pages.
I’ve been told that kings and queens don’t “cut it” in this day and age, but I believe that a king and a queen, in your story or not, will be read and enjoyed if it’s a good tale well told,
I just don’t know what to market it as and I hope, giving this brief outline, that you may offer me an opinion.
In my opinion, people will read any good story. Personally, I like fantasy stories with kings and queens in them and I’m sure there are plenty of other people who do too so don’t let that deter you.
That aside, I think your story is for Middle-Graders (8 to 12 year olds). I say this for two reasons…1) the length is too short for young adults and too long for younger children, and, 2) your main character is 14. Middle graders like reading about slightly older kids during things they daydream about doing themselves but young adults generally don’t like reading about younger people because they no longer consider themselves children.