Writing Excuses 8.25: Middle Grade with E.J. Patten

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Writing Excuses 8.25: Middle Grade with E.J. Patten

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2013/06/23/writing-excuses-8-25-middle-grade-with-e-j-patten/

Key Points:  What is middle grade? Books that a teacher or librarian gives to a kid, rather than the kid buying them. OR books for older kids still in the children's section. Some series start with middle grade and transition to YA. Middle grade has less complex situations, without romantic subplots. Frequently quest type books focused on maintaining the establishment, resisting change. Simplified, but don't write down. One or two viewpoints. Short chapters. In bookstores and libraries, middle grade is often not segregated by content.
( Simplify, but don't write down. )

[Brandon] All right. Let's go ahead and do a writing prompt. Someone got one for us?
[Throat clearing sounds]
[Brandon] Book for four-year-olds?
[Dan] Silence.
[Brandon] No, I think...
[Dan] Write a book with a four-year-old protagonist, written for adults.
[Brandon] Oh, no. Even harder. For middle grade audience.
[Mary] Oh, yeah.
[Dan] Oh, yeah. That would be superhard.
[Brandon] That would be tough.
[Dan] Okay, now I'm excited. I want to do this.
[Brandon] All right. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, and Eric, thank you for being here.
[Eric] Thank you for having me.
[Brandon] Everyone go write now.