Writing Excuses Writing Excuses 8.25: Middle Grade with E.J. Patten
Jun 23, 2013
E.J. Patten, specializing in middle-grade fiction, discusses the distinctions between middle grade and young adult books, the preferences and boundaries of the middle grade audience, and the challenges of writing short and long fiction for middle grade and YA novels.
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How Middle Grade Is Defined
- Middle grade books are those teachers or librarians give to kids rather than kids buying them themselves.
- They sit in the children's section between chapter books and YA and target pre-teen readers.
The Boys' Reading Cliff
- Boys' reading habits often drop around ages 12–13, creating a gap in YA readership.
- Capturing readers before that drop is key to retaining them into YA or adult markets.
Status Quo Versus Revolution
- Middle grade focuses on maintaining or protecting the status quo while YA often focuses on overturning it.
- That difference explains trends like YA dystopia and MG quest-style adventures.