Knock Knock! Who's There?
Silly Jokes, Pranks, and Preteen Angst- Writing for Middle Grade Readers
It was the perfect setting for a writer of middle grade books: A middle grade classroom!
I couldn't pass up the chance to teach writing to my target audience. What an opportunity to listen in on how kids talk to one another, to observe what books they like to read, and to browse the book fair aisles to see what they were buying. It was a gold mine of information!
For four years, I was immersed in everything middle school while I was writing four books for middle grade readers. And boy did I learn a lot about this target audience: The school dances, the drama, the cafeteria at lunch, and so much more.
First of all, they have plenty of jokes if you need them for your book. I did, so I asked my three seventh grade classes for jokes. Knock, Knock jokes were a plenty. Students were thrilled to know their jokes just might make it into a published book on their school library shelf.
Second of all, they have a unique voice. I treasured my conversations with students in the hall, at recess, or at the end of each class. I had fun asking them questions and listening to their answers. Being among them helped me write realistic dialogue in my Children series. The playful banter between characters was enjoyed by readers and book reviewers.
The Children Under the Ice
Third, you have a wide range of character names to choose from! I write fantasy and am always looking for unique names for Elves or Knights or even Dragons. Students were always flattered to see their names or the names of their siblings as my main characters. And, favorite students became models for favorite characters in my books. I will never forget these kids because they will forever live inside my books.
The Dragon Forest
Finally, you have a chance to truly put your writing to the ultimate test. All my books lined my bookshelves in my classroom. My first week of school, I told the story of my writing journey to all five of my classes, and each day, I'd spy a student remove one of my books off the shelf to read.
Gulp!
Knowing these middle graders, my target audience, known for telling the blunt truth about everything, now held my life's work in their hands...was truly humbling. But my books passed the test! From fourth graders to eighth graders, my books were enjoyed and continually checked out from the school library. So much so, that the librarian requested extra copies from me.
What a thrill it was to see a student, walking down the hallway, reading my book. The cover was bent and creased from over use. The best compliment an author could receive is a well-used book in the hands of a reader.
Ah, such wonderful memories.
So, if you're going to write for middle grade readers, I advise you to immerse yourself in that audience in some way. Observe them, listen to them, talk to them, and be ready to learn so much from them. I did. After teaching middle school for four years, I learned so much about my target audience. They were funny, silly, hard workers, caring, considerate, creative...
And I learned that they are terrific at telling jokes!
Happy writing!
R. A. Douthitt
It was the perfect setting for a writer of middle grade books: A middle grade classroom!
I couldn't pass up the chance to teach writing to my target audience. What an opportunity to listen in on how kids talk to one another, to observe what books they like to read, and to browse the book fair aisles to see what they were buying. It was a gold mine of information!
For four years, I was immersed in everything middle school while I was writing four books for middle grade readers. And boy did I learn a lot about this target audience: The school dances, the drama, the cafeteria at lunch, and so much more.
First of all, they have plenty of jokes if you need them for your book. I did, so I asked my three seventh grade classes for jokes. Knock, Knock jokes were a plenty. Students were thrilled to know their jokes just might make it into a published book on their school library shelf.
Second of all, they have a unique voice. I treasured my conversations with students in the hall, at recess, or at the end of each class. I had fun asking them questions and listening to their answers. Being among them helped me write realistic dialogue in my Children series. The playful banter between characters was enjoyed by readers and book reviewers.
The Children Under the Ice
Third, you have a wide range of character names to choose from! I write fantasy and am always looking for unique names for Elves or Knights or even Dragons. Students were always flattered to see their names or the names of their siblings as my main characters. And, favorite students became models for favorite characters in my books. I will never forget these kids because they will forever live inside my books.
The Dragon Forest
Finally, you have a chance to truly put your writing to the ultimate test. All my books lined my bookshelves in my classroom. My first week of school, I told the story of my writing journey to all five of my classes, and each day, I'd spy a student remove one of my books off the shelf to read.
Gulp!
Knowing these middle graders, my target audience, known for telling the blunt truth about everything, now held my life's work in their hands...was truly humbling. But my books passed the test! From fourth graders to eighth graders, my books were enjoyed and continually checked out from the school library. So much so, that the librarian requested extra copies from me.
What a thrill it was to see a student, walking down the hallway, reading my book. The cover was bent and creased from over use. The best compliment an author could receive is a well-used book in the hands of a reader.
Ah, such wonderful memories.
So, if you're going to write for middle grade readers, I advise you to immerse yourself in that audience in some way. Observe them, listen to them, talk to them, and be ready to learn so much from them. I did. After teaching middle school for four years, I learned so much about my target audience. They were funny, silly, hard workers, caring, considerate, creative...
And I learned that they are terrific at telling jokes!
Happy writing!
R. A. Douthitt
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