Writing for Youth: Becoming a Middle Grade or Young Adult Author

Last month on the blog, we talked about genre fiction, particularly the popular genres of romance, mystery, and fantasy. As suggested, if you want to write a novel but are unsure what type of story interests you, writing in a genre that you also love to read can be a good option for breaking in.

Another avenue to explore is writing for middle grade and young adult readers. Source material often flows naturally from your own experience or that of children and teens in your life. Within these popular categories, readers—as well as their parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians—are frequently on the lookout for fresh material from new-to-them authors. Additionally, in both categories, series are popular, which opens the door for authoring multiple books.

How are middle grade and young adult readers defined?

• Middle grade (MG) is considered appropriate for children ages 8 to 12 who are reading on grade level. Middle grade readers have moved beyond picture books and brief, picture-based books designed to teach children basic reading skills. At middle grade, children are reading independently and are eager for chapter books that follow a simple but compelling plot featuring memorable characters who are around the same age as the reader, up to pre-teen (age 12).
• Young adult (YA) books, by contrast, are geared toward readers ages 12 to 18. Because this is a wide range in both reader ability and experience, there are subcategories within young adult, such as teen fiction (geared toward the younger teen, age 12 to 14). Young adult fiction addresses more complex themes such as identity, relationships, and independence.

Both the middle grade and young adult categories encompass nonfiction as well as fiction. Biography and history are common nonfiction topics in both categories. It’s also worth noting that some adults enjoy reading young adult fiction and nonfiction.

If you have a great idea for a middle grade or young adult book—an experience from your past that would make a compelling tale, a fascinating subject in which you have expertise, or a story concept you’ve come up with—how do you turn your idea into the reality of a book?

Here are some tips:

• Study the market. Read books in your desired category (middle grade or young adult) and genre (fiction or nonfiction). Become familiar not only with the classics but also with newer books and authors who are popular with your target audience.
• Write down your ideas for the book. You don’t necessarily need to outline the entire book, but having a roadmap of what you want to say is helpful when you begin the project.
• Keep in mind length. Middle grade novels are usually about 20,000 to 25,000 words, while young adult novels are 40,000 to 80,000 words. To maximize your book’s commercial appeal, aim for a word count within these standard ranges.
• Work with professionals. If the ideas are flowing but you’re not in a position to write (or complete) your book, consider a ghostwriter or editor. A ghostwriter will study your basic concept, interview you thoroughly about your ideas, and write the book from start to finish. An editor will take the draft you’ve written of your book and work with you to polish it until it’s ready for publication.

Writing for young people can be exciting, invigorating, and provide a refreshing break from the pace of adult life. Once your book or series is out in the world, connecting with youth and knowing you’re helping to foster a new generation of readers are among the most rewarding aspects of the process.

If you’re ready to begin, please get in touch. We’d love to hear your ideas and help you get your middle grade or young adult book into the hands of eager readers!