On Writing for the MG and YA Audience

Okay, listen up my #MiddleGrade and #YoungAdult (but especially MG) writers. Growing up is hard. It kind of sucks.

I know you're grown up now and kids don't really get that it's easier being a kid than adult. We all wish sometimes that we could go back to those carefree days of childhood and teenagerhood. They were wonderful--right? They were easy. Nothing like what we adults have to deal with on a daily basis.

But it's not. It's not easy. Our middle school aged kids are just getting around to realizing who they are and that's super scary. And they're beginning to realize that adults don't always know what they're talking about--maybe even scarier. They're starting to kind of realize that they're not a little kid anymore, but how do they deal with the adult stuff? Unfortunately so many of kids do have to deal with the adult stuff.

Which is why when you're writing for a middle grade and young adult audience, don't write down to them. Don't try and hit them over the head with a moral that they've probably heard from their parents and teachers again and again. They'll shut you out. Don't make everything so perfect and beautiful. They'll shut you out. Don't pretend that just by being nice, the whole world will be nice back to you. They'll shut you out.

Don't get me wrong. There are lessons to learn and magical places to escape to for awhile. The world really would be amazing if everyone was kind to one another. But these kids are living their lives, dealing with trauma, broken hearts, fear, anxiety. If you want them to escape into a beautiful world, make it a believable world where those things exist as well. Where there is going to be someone or multiple someones who don't care if you're nice. Show them people who struggle as much as they do and figure a way out of it. Make it difficult, because it's not going to be easy for kids. They know it already--or are at least starting to figure it out.

So if you want to write stories for middle grade and young adult readers, make sure you're being honest with them. And if it upsets you to have to write things that are hard or difficult, them maybe middle grade and young adult just isn't for you.