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!
@@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!
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".
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.
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.
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.
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 😄
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
@@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 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...
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.
Note: at 0:50, there's a typo. The age range is 8-12, not 18-12!
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!
@@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!
Goosebumps are great books to study for middle grade reading.
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".
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.
My first book was Flowers for Algernon.
My favourite Middle Grade read is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.
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.
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.
You're such a vibrant and smart beautiful lady! Keep going so your work is so appreciated.
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.
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 😄
I just knew you’d have the resource I was looking for. 😊 thanks for the tips!
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.
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.
Solid, thorough. THANKS!
I remember The Chrysalids as an exiting story.
Thank you so much for making these videos. They are very helpful!
Middle grade fiction is my fave! Anything from Kate DiCamillo, EB White and Cynthia Rylant.
I think there is a typo in the ages. It said 18-12 when it should have been 8-12
You're right, thank you for catching that!
Great video as usual.
Ella Enchanted!
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
Is gore allowed in middle grade fantasy
if you are going to read middle grade, read books by Gordon Korman
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.
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!
3:20 there's only a problem: i can't remember anything from when i was in middle school
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...
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.
@@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.
you spoke french at the age of 8 ? Impressive
@@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...
@@converse5874 there are English translations
Shaelin, are you on Pinterest?
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.
womp.