Writing for Different Age Groups: PB vs. MG vs. YA vs. NA vs. Adult Fiction

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When you sit down to write a story, your target audience isn’t just about “who might enjoy this”—it shapes your word choice, themes, pacing, and even the way you build characters. Writing a picture books (PB), middle grade (MG), young adult (YA), new adult (NA), and adult fiction each comes with its own expectations and boundaries. Understanding these differences will help you craft a story that resonates with the readers you’re aiming for.

1. Picture Books (PB)

Age range: 0–8 (readers, often read aloud by adults)
Typical word count: 300–800 words (though some board books are under 200)
Key features:

• Protagonist age: Usually 3–8 years old, though animals or fantastical characters are common.
• Perspective: Simple, clear, and often repetitive language. Illustrations carry much of the storytelling.
• Themes: Friendship, curiosity, problem-solving, emotions, humor, or moral lessons. Stories focus on a single main idea or event.
• Content: No profanity, violence, or mature themes. Tone is light, positive, and age-appropriate.
• Tone & pacing: Rhythmic, engaging, and easy to follow, with a strong interplay between text and images.

Tip: In picture books, less is more. Every word must earn its place, and the visuals should be an active part of the storytelling rather than simply illustrating the text.

2. Middle Grade (MG) Fiction

Age range: 8–12
Typical word count: 30,000–50,000
Key features:

• Protagonist age: Usually 10–13 years old (always slightly older than your target reader).
• Perspective: Often third person, but first person can work well for voice-driven stories.
• Themes: Friendship, family, self-discovery, adventure. Conflicts tend to be external rather than deeply internal.
• Content: Limited or no profanity, romance is usually light (hand-holding, a shy crush), and violence is minimal or non-graphic.
• Tone & pacing: Fast-moving plots, clear stakes, and relatable challenges. Humor and hope are common, even when addressing serious topics.

Tip: MG readers love a strong sense of wonder—whether it’s magical, adventurous, or rooted in everyday life. Your protagonist should solve problems in ways that feel authentic to their age, without too much adult intervention.

3. Young Adult (YA) Fiction

Age range: 12–18
Typical word count: 50,000–80,000
Key features:

• Protagonist age: 14–18 years old.
• Perspective: First person or close third person to capture intense immediacy and emotion.
• Themes: Identity, independence, first love, social dynamics, moral choices. Internal conflict becomes just as important as external conflict.
• Content: Can include romance, stronger emotional themes, and some mature situations—though always through the lens of a teen perspective. Violence, profanity, and intimacy may be present but generally serve the emotional truth of the character rather than shock value.
• Tone & pacing: Emotional stakes are high. YA often has a “coming of age” arc, even in fantasy or sci-fi settings.

Tip: YA readers crave authenticity—don’t write “down” to them. They want flawed, relatable characters navigating the messy edges of growing up.

4. New Adult (NA) Fiction

Age range: 18–30 (readers)
Typical word count: 60,000–90,000
Key features:

• Protagonist age: 18–25 years old, often navigating first years of adulthood.

• Perspective: First person or close third person to capture personal growth and emotional intensity.

• Themes: College life, first serious relationships, career beginnings, self-reliance, identity beyond adolescence. Often deals with the messy transition between teen and fully independent adult.

• Content: Romance can be more explicit than YA, with mature themes like financial struggles, mental health, or workplace issues. Violence and language can be open and realistic.

• Tone & pacing: Emotional stakes are high but grounded in real-world transitions. Often blends the emotional immediacy of YA with the thematic depth of adult fiction.

Tip: NA isn’t just “older YA.” It’s about firsts in adulthood—first apartment, first major career decision, first adult heartbreak—and the uncertainty that comes with them.

5. Adult Fiction

Age range: 18+
Typical word count: 70,000–110,000 (though genres vary widely)
Key features:

• Protagonist age: Often 20+, though exceptions exist.
• Perspective: Any—first, third, multiple POVs. Style can be experimental or traditional.
• Themes: Wide-ranging—career, relationships, family, existential questions, societal issues. Themes can be more nuanced, layered, and morally ambiguous.
• Content: No restrictions other than genre norms. Violence, intimacy, and language can be explicit.
• Tone & pacing: Can be slower and more reflective or fast-paced and plot-driven, depending on genre.

Tip: Adult fiction gives you the most flexibility in complexity, language, and structure. But with freedom comes the challenge of maintaining clarity and focus while handling deeper, sometimes darker themes.

Final Thoughts

When deciding between MG, YA, NA, and adult, remember:

• Your character’s age and life stage matter more than your reader’s chronological age.
• Your themes and tone must align with what your target audience finds engaging, relatable, and believable.
• Crossing boundaries—like writing MG with very dark, graphic content—can alienate your intended readership.

The best way to understand the differences? Read widely in each category, paying attention to how authors shape their voice, pacing, and themes for their audience.

Quick Reference Chart — PB vs. MG vs. YA vs. NA vs. Adult Fiction

Your Turn, Storytellers! ✍️

Are you crafting magical middle grade adventures, angsty YA journeys, heartfelt New Adult transitions, or thought-provoking adult tales? Or maybe you’re genre-hopping like a literary time traveler?

Drop your category (and a one-sentence pitch if you’re brave!) in the comments—let’s see who’s writing what.