Middle grade frustrations

It seems every published (recent or not) middle grade book I pick up and read/study is littered with adverbs, telling and non-said tags. Yet, here I am, eliminating them from my MS while I strengthen characterization and voice. Is this the right thing to do? Prior to these changes, editors at [Publisher] thought my MS was "well written and had many elements that give it great appeal (including an original, imaginative plot)", but didn't pursue interest because it lacked "that special something that would really make is stand out in a competitive genre". However, I believe, as many others do, that writing is stronger without an abundance of adverbs, telling and non-said tags, but does this apply to middle grade fiction? What is the norm for published MG where you are?

You both have made me nod and smile. Thank you.

moondance said:

I think there's a place for adverbs and non-said tags, although I tend not to use them much myself. Some MG books are littered with them, some aren't. However, eliminating them will not give your book "that special something that would really make is stand out in a competitive genre" (although I know you said you were strengthening character and voice too). The wow factor is really hard to create - and if we knew what it was, we'd all be millionaire authors. Suffice it to say, an editor usually recognises it when he/she sees it! Do bear in mind, though, that editors are all different, and rarely agree with each other. I hope you're not rewriting based on the feedback given in one rejection only. Given the very positive tone of the feedback, I would send it to at least another seven publishers before rewriting.

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No, I'm not rewriting based off that one rejection (although the MS was with them for a while, and went through a few meetings). I've also had three chapters of the MS boomerang back from [another Publisher] with a form rejection within days of mailing--over Easter. I wanted to pull back and make sure I'm submitting something that could be published (we don't have many children's publishers here) and I feel it's the characterization/authentic voice that needs the work. I know that's not the special something, and neither is the editing. But I feel it needs... yep, you guessed it--something.

I've posted snippets in the SYW forum, and offered and read critiques, but feel MG writing does not conform to the techniques being thrashed there. But, those techniques have stuck in my mind. Bugger it. MG is the crossover from learner-readers to YA/adult. My MS is upper-MG. So, as Stijn Hommes wrote, I have to write for my target audience. I guess it's a little of this, less of that, but more than what's considered the norm for older audiences. I blame Emily Rodda and JK Rowling for my confusion.

EDIT: <removed link--purpose served>
(was from last year, prior to latest rewrites)