Anyone planning on writing a middle grade book out there? Middle grade readers are generally children from nine to thirteen years of age, and you can’t market a book to this target reader, you must market it to parents, librarians, and teachers.
This presents a challenge to middle grade authors because writing for your reader is not enough, you must write for your reader and the adults that surround them. If adults don’t like your novel the middle grade reader won’t get access to it.
This is the genius and success behind the writing of J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins, for example.
I’ve read comments from new authors lamenting that “at least the kids like it,” and though I can relate to the delight of middle grade readers thrilled with your novel, I’m afraid it’s just not enough if you want access to the mass market.
Original Post August 10, 2013