MG vs. YA Expectations
🖊️ Reflect & Write: Finding Your Story’s True Voice
1. Define Your Reader’s Lens
Who do you imagine reading your story?
What questions do you want them to ask themselves after reading?
How mature are the emotions and conflicts you plan to explore?
2. Character Voice Focus
Write a short paragraph from your protagonist’s point of view, showing how they see their world.
Are they more focused on fitting in and finding their place (MG)? Or on figuring out who they are in the world (YA)?
3. Theme Exploration
List 3 major themes your story explores.
Which of these themes feel hopeful and discovery-driven?
Which themes are darker, more introspective, or deal with power and identity?
4. Tone Check
What kind of tone do you want? Light and whimsical? Serious and intense? Somewhere in between?
Write 3 adjectives that describe your story’s tone.
✨ Extra Reflection
How do your secondary characters reflect or challenge your protagonist’s growth?
Are your tough topics handled with honesty and respect — or do they feel watered down?
