The Writer's Alphabet - M is for Middle Grade

When writing for young adults, one of the single most important things to identify, is your audience and their age.  It can be difficult to separate young adult from middle grade from new adult, and you can see from these definitions I found online that there are a lot of opinions about it.

The author of the true, classic middle grade novel does not worry about vocabulary choices or simple sentence structure; once children are ready for these books they are good readers. Middle grade novels are characterized by the type of conflict encountered by the main character. Children in the primary grades are still focused inward, and the conflicts in their books reflect that. While themes range from friendship to school situations to relationships with siblings and peers, characters are learning how they operate within their own world. They are solidifying their own identity, experiencing the physical and psychological changes of puberty, taking on new responsibilities all within the boundaries of their family, friends and neighborhood. Yes, your character needs to grow and change during the course of the book, but these changes are on the inside. Middle grade readers are beginning to learn who they are, what they think. Their books need to mirror their personal experience. (from write4kids.com)

From Joe Monti, literary agent with the Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency (on my A-list):
“The publishing guidelines are traditionally for readers from ages 8-12 for middle grade and 12 & up for YA. My experience, particularly as a retailer cautions that these are soft and it’s closer to 7-11 and 11-17. But adult readership of young adult fiction can be as high as 40% for the most popular titles, but generally makes up 20%-25%.”

From Amanda Rutter, editor at Strange Chemistry, the YA imprint of UK-based Angry Robot Books: “Middle grade is very much about the external, in my opinion. The protagonist reacts to external situations and events, which leads to adventurous stories, and there is little time spent in the characters’ heads. Think books like Percy Jackson and Skulduggery Pleasant. On the other hand, YA is often much more introspective, and the protagonist exerts their influence on the events in the novel. Think first person perspective and lots of use of the word ‘I’. Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule!”

And Michael Stearns, agent and founder of Upstart Crow Literary offers these tips:
* “Middle grade novels tend to be shorter.”
* “Middle grade novels tend to have main characters who are the age of—or slightly older than—the target reader.”
* “Middle grade novels tend to be more outwardly focused: Their plot of events, of things happening to the character, is more important over the course of the book than what happens within the character.”
* “Middle grade novels tend to have a simpler vocabulary and a simpler sentence structure.”
* “Middle grade novels tend to have a single inciting element—the thing that sets the comfortable, given world a-kilter.”

Here is my own definition:
MIDDLE GRADE
Between 20,000-45.000 words.  If it's longer and geared to a slightly older audience, but not yet falling under the YA category (think "pre-teen" or "tweener"), you should really refer to the work as upper Middle Grade.  Incidentally, several people in the industry that I consider to be In-The-Know have predicted the Middle Grade genre to be The Next Big Thing.  The same peeps also now project time travel to be a huge theme.  Hmmm.  I think I'm writing one now. *giggle*

Incidentally, I have tackled the middle grade genre with a book called The Detention Demon.  If you get a chance to check it out, let me know how I did.  Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Detention-Demon-ebook/dp/B0077DTQHG

The Detention Demon will be Published!

I am excited to share that The Detention Demon is going to be published!  Remember that I submitted the manuscript to a brand new imprint of Aspen Mountain Press called Aura Speculative Fiction after I asked them to friend me on Facebook?  I had been looking for a home for my little horror book for a while, I didn't think it was because it was not good, I hoped anyway, but because Middle Grade horror is very hard to place.  When I read about the new imprint I got quite excited.  They sounded perfect.  I asked them straight away if they were considering YA and for that matter, MG to YA and they said they would, on a case by case basis.  I queried immediately.

I was mildly surprised when they asked me for the full and totally had my socks knocked off when they offered me a contract this morning.  And I must say, I am more than impressed with how together and organized they are.  Already, I have been directed to a WIP website where I have registered as an author, have been assigned an editor and uploaded the information I would like to see on the cover, and had SEVERAL conversations with an art director in preparation for assigning an artist to me AND I already have a release date.....October 24, 2011....PERFECT FOR A HORROR BOOK!  Just a few days before Halloween.  And I didn't even plan it!

So, all I have to say is, if you are looking for a publisher that has it going on, I would so check out Aspen Mountain Press and their new imprint!  And look for me soon near Halloween!

Submission Request News!

Today was a good news/bad news day.  Bad news first.  Today, my husband and I made the agonizing decision to take our youngest out of daycare to save some money because I STILL have not found a job and it seemed to make the most sense.  I am home days and our oldest is already home with me since school is out for the summer.  We have fun and I enjoy having them with me for almost all of the day (they ARE siblings and they DO wrangle, let's be reasonable).  I think I just wish I had made the decision for different reasons than economical.  So that was the bad news.

Now, for the good news.  I have had an upper Middle Grade horror story that I've had trouble finding a home.  I have blogged, I think, about how one agent was THISCLOSE to wanting it, and me, but thought it needed reworking.  She was right, of course, and the reworking has made it amazing.  The issue is there isn't many homes for the horror genre in Middle Grade.  I know, I know, you all just screamed at me, what about the Goosebumps series?  So, besides that, and the author of them, R. L. Stine, and also his Mostly Ghostly series, who else or what else can you name?  NOTHING, RIGHT?

Me either.  And therein lies the rub.  Because its mostly an untapped reserve, there isn't a home.  Until today. Recently the supercool publishing site Aspen Mountain Press just opened up their imprint Aura, a speculative fiction site.  I friended them on facebook and then questioned them about their horror requirements.  They responded they would take a look on a case-by-case basis.  So, late Monday night I submitted a query and synopsis for THE DETENTION DEMON, my 17k word horror novella for the Middle Grade boy.  And I am pleased to report I have been asked for the full.  WOO-HOO!

Now, I realize this is just step one in the million-writer march to publication, but I am a goof-ball and I insist on celebrating every frickin' step, thank you very much.  So, you'll excuse me while I light the barby and pour myself a cocktail.  Stay tuned for the progress reports.  And it may not hurt to say a quick little prayer.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.