Rules for Writing Middle Grade Fantasy

I love middle grade fantasy. That is the primary genre I write—if you don’t include historical and contemporary fiction. So, Leah hit this one on the head!

Rules for Writing Middle Grade Fantasy by Leah N. Bix

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Five Criteria for Every Single Middle-Grade Fantasy Novel You’ve Ever Read

1. The main character mustmustmustmustmustmustmustmustmustMUST be the chosen one! They are destined to save the world. NO ONE is NEAR as important to anyone in that world that that main character. If they are not, THERE IS NO POINT

2. There is an old man. He is a mentor. He dies.

3. For some reason the kids must do ALL the work. The adults have no sense of loyalty whatsoever and therefore they let the kids do everything and defeat the villains for them!

4. If there is a male main character, he must be *sassy* and if it’s a girl, she absolutely HAS to be Not-Like-Other-Girls. Have an idea for some development of said female? No can do. Sophie Foster or nothing.

5. ALWAYS always always include a line such as “it was all a lie” or “I don’t know who to trust anymore”. Readers will tend to hear an ominous THUD in their brains when they hear these lines… even if it’s hardly applicable to the story!

Leah N. Bix is a fourteen year old young writer with an avid love of all things imaginary. Ever since she was a little girl turning hollow tree stumps into a dragon lair that led to her secret library, stories have always been at the forefront of her mind. Now instead of dragon lairs, she fuels her imagination with writing which she hopes will bring honor to God through Biblical, practical themes and fantastical story-telling.

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I saw those and had a lightbulb moment. It’s true, though! I got Keeper of the Lost Cities vibes—hence, her Sophie Foster reference.

What are your thoughts on middle grade fantasy? Comment below!