Will your story be in our tenth anthology? ... Four words which created a legendary story ... -~-~- Picture this: a mother and her four children walking through the streets of Edinburgh as the night begins to close in. They are looking for a room for the night, but each house is full. The stone buildings seem to grow darker as the streetlamps throw out as much shadow as light. Finally, one of the proprietors offers a positive response and the family hurry inside, into a cramped room with metal bunkbeds, but nonetheless comfy mattresses. Frightened at these new surroundings, concerned that she has brought her children into an unsafe surrounding, the mother puts the children to bed and tries to persuade herself to sleep. The room inside is darker than the putrid orange glow of the sporadic streetlights in the world beyond the curtains which are masking the window, and she once more checks the lock on the door before climbing into her own bed. Then it happens. Knock-knock-knock. Willing h...
Welcome back to Middle Grade Monday! Today, I'll be discussing how to deal with adults in middle grade fiction because, and I hate to break this to you, kids just don't want to read about adults stealing all the fun.
Consider your favourite books from when you were younger. Mine was The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner. It's a story about a brother and sisters - kids, of course - who have magical adventure in the English countryside. There's danger, magic and battles. What's not to love?
And yes, there are adults. But they are kept on a very short lead by the author. The most powerful character in the book, debatably, is Cadellin. He's a wizard who has a startling knowledge of the secret world of magical beings. He would find it so much easier to win in the end, but it has to be Susan and Colin (the kids) who are the centre of the book.
So, what can you do with adults in middle grade? How can you make sure they get out the way?
Some authors take the orphan option. The main characters don't have any parents to worry about them. Perhaps they have a horrible aunt and uncle who couldn't care less about them? Those adults would quite happily stay out of the way.
Others take the job route. Adults (realistically) are very aware they have to pay the bills. They get just take off with their bikes and bottles of ginger beer. They have responsibilities. They have to show up to work. Perhaps they're a workaholic, perhaps they're an ambitious high-flyer. Either way, they're away from home for conviniently long periods of time.
In "Doorway to the Sunset" (my latest release), Freya's mum learns about her adventures. And, wow, is she angry? I mean, how would you feel if you learned someone you loved was putting themselves in danger while your back was turned? But Freya's mum would stifle the story, so I needed to get Freya away from home. I did that by the inciting incident where a terrifying mythical creature is sent after Freya for reasons unknown (at least until half way through the book!) It is safer for Freya to go to the tribes, who have the magical abilities to help. And the tribes, being centuries old, have a different idea of the age of ability.
So, there are a few different options for getting your adults out of the way in your middle grade adventures. But, whatever you decide, I recommend you do it ASAP. Adults stifle middle grade.
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