I'm starting my first-ever MG novel today (though it's also set in A. Greece), and was wondering: does anyone have any advice that they wouldn't mind passing along?
MG Advice
- Thread starter Elektra
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Sure. I refer to these mag web sites for a lot of info on tweens today. (Though I realize you mention ancient greece.)
http://www.girlslife.com/
http://www.teenmag.com/
Word count can be anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000.
To get a feel for what tweens read, go to Amazon.com and do a search, using "Look inside the book." Or go to http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp?c=MP+60%3A35%3A3+4002%2F82%2F3 and do a search.
From what I understand, editors are looking for more books with the boy-as-the-MC for middle grades.
http://www.girlslife.com/
http://www.teenmag.com/
Word count can be anywhere from 25,000 to 40,000.
To get a feel for what tweens read, go to Amazon.com and do a search, using "Look inside the book." Or go to http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp?c=MP+60%3A35%3A3+4002%2F82%2F3 and do a search.
From what I understand, editors are looking for more books with the boy-as-the-MC for middle grades.
stormie said:
yay! That's what I'm doing. Thank you for the links--even in A. Greece, kids were still pretty much the same as they are today, so the websites are quite useful.
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I think right now, to be honest, just write. Have a good time. I mean all the advice above is excellent, but at the same time I've just sold an MG 85 000 words long with a female MC.
If you have specific questions you want answered, it might be easier to give advice, but as it stands I really think write what you think would be an excellent MG. However I would say read what's out there, but that sort of goes without saying. Most of all have fun!! MG's allow for an incredible creative freedom. That's why I like writing them!
If you have specific questions you want answered, it might be easier to give advice, but as it stands I really think write what you think would be an excellent MG. However I would say read what's out there, but that sort of goes without saying. Most of all have fun!! MG's allow for an incredible creative freedom. That's why I like writing them!
Of course, I should clarify: The norm is 25,000 to 40,000 words for MG. Also, the bit about what editors are looking for, comes from my agent. It's what he said the editors wish they had more of.
So, Elektra, have fun! Glad you like the links. (Congrats, Toothpaste, on your sale!)
So, Elektra, have fun! Glad you like the links. (Congrats, Toothpaste, on your sale!)
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Thanks Stormie! And I totally agree with you, like I said before. It's just at the creation stage I always think the best thing is just to see what happens. I'm pretty sure you feel the same, that we are on the same page just highlighting different sections (yay extended metaphor!), so yeah.
That's it.
That's it.
Elektra said:
I think there is, as Stormie said, a trend now towards finding books with guys are the characters. I was in B&N the other day, and it was nearly impossible to find a book in the "Teens" section that wasn't aimed at girls. The only boy-oriented ones were some of the fantasy novels, a few spy-thriller types, and something about a futuristic society.
I'm interested in writing MG/YA historicals, myself, and have started a ms about a boy at Hadrian's Wall, set around the fourth century. It's the sort of thing a girl might be interested in (my 14 year old daughter says the outline reads "very cool"), but I think girls are more willing to read books with boys as a main character than boys are willing to read "girl books."
MG
MG is where I specialize, when writing for the young, and the best advice I can give is to read. Read as many MG books as you can find, and read various publishing sources that let you know what coming trends are.
MG is where I specialize, when writing for the young, and the best advice I can give is to read. Read as many MG books as you can find, and read various publishing sources that let you know what coming trends are.
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PattiTheWicked said:
Just curious. MG stands for "Middle Grade," right? Is the target audience for MGs younger than YA?
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That's what I thought. I've got a tomboy third-grader, and I can tell you that there is NOT a lot out there for her at this age (tomboy being the operative word), which is a shame. She enjoyed A to Z Mysteries, but after reading those about a hundred times over, we have yet to find a series of books that holds her interest. According to some of the other moms of third-graders, this is a really hard age to find good chapter books. Even her teacher has been hard-pressed to come up with some suggestions for the kids.
Just thought I'd share this with those who write for this age level. Sounds like it's a niche that's in need of creative writers! Since my daughter doesn't like girly books, I'd have to agree with whoever posted that the trend is toward finding books with boys as MC's.
Just thought I'd share this with those who write for this age level. Sounds like it's a niche that's in need of creative writers! Since my daughter doesn't like girly books, I'd have to agree with whoever posted that the trend is toward finding books with boys as MC's.
Geoffrey Trease, who started writing in the 1930s when most adventure books were aimed firmly at boys, nearly always had a boy and a girl as his main characters, working together. He wrote extremely good historical fiction - my favourite is The Hills of Varna, in which the main characters are searching for an ancient manuscript during the Renaissance. He then wrote another book, set in Ancient Greece, about the writing of the same manuscript.
MG
But the protragonist can be up to fourteen, as long as the MG style is retained. MG kids like thinking "I cen be doing these things in just another year or two.
Azura Skye said:
But the protragonist can be up to fourteen, as long as the MG style is retained. MG kids like thinking "I cen be doing these things in just another year or two.