3 Tips for Writing About the Supernatural for Middle-Grade Readers

Writing about the supernatural for readers ages 8 to 12 is a bit of a balancing act. The story should be eerie but not too eerie. Chilling but not too chilling. Weird but not can’t-get-to-sleep-at-night weird.

(7 Tips for Developing a Compelling Middle-Grade Novel Premise.)

Kids who like books about the supernatural expect to be a little unsettled. After all, there’s something deliciously unnerving about reading a spooky story from the safety and comfort of your family room sofa. Which explains why I was so off track on my journey to publish my debut novel, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney. 

Thankfully, wiser heads prevailed when I wrote my first draft about family pets in a small town who disappear and then reappear as victims of taxidermy. These horrors were perpetrated by a vengeful father who was determined to make loving pet owners suffer because his werewolf son had been stuffed—that’s right, stuffed—by a group of angry villagers in another time and place. Instead of pitchforks they had scalpels and needles. This was a disturbing premise that was also plain ick.

The book has no ick factor now. And although the plot puts pets close to danger, they’re well clear of a taxidermist’s tools. (More good news: Nobody’s werewolf son gets taxidermized either.) I still have a story with supernatural elements, but one that will have kids intrigued by the unexplainable, not terrified.

Here are some of the tips I learned from those wiser heads about writing supernatural plots that kids will love.

1. Make the Main Character Someone Readers Care About

Nothing’s worse than a main character who’s so unappealing that readers are perfectly fine if the protagonist is turned into a toad by an evil witch. And then eaten by a falcon. That is, if the kids even read that far into the story. 

Write a main character that kids can relate to, in spite of the surreal elements they face. Give them someone they can root for and connect with, someone they’ll want to share the adventure with. Middle-grade readers enjoy living vicariously through a kid who’s curious, resourceful, and brave enough to keep driving the supernatural investigation forward.

2. Balance the Horror With Humor

Many of us former children have a rich history of choosing to be so frightened by a story it’s a wonder our bladders are still intact. But it’s vital to keep that word in mind: balance. 

Even in a story that’s jam-packed with supernatural elements, there needs to be a touch of humor or the relentless terror can create reader fatigue. After all, human beings are, for the most part, wired for humor just like we are for fear. Adding those moments of levity slows down the pacing enough for a kid to catch her breath and enjoy a humor break before diving back into the spine-tingling action.

With a growing catalog of instructional writing videos available instantly, we have writing instruction on everything from improving your craft to getting published and finding an audience. New videos are added every month!

3. Don’t Leave Readers Hanging

The supernatural is, by nature, full of mystery. Of course, that’s a good thing. But there’s mystery, and then there’s lack of resolution. You can have your characters working to solve the supernatural mysteries all day long. 

But when the time comes, make sure there’s a realistic (so to speak) resolution to the story. That will ultimately satisfy your readers and bring the closure that younger kids appreciate. Of course, if you leave the door open for further adventures, that’s for you and your publisher to decide!

Thanks to sage editing counsel, I learned there are better ways to create supernatural elements that don’t include taxidermizing a beloved family pet. They’re compelling, relatable characters. Touches of humor. A satisfying resolution to the tale. Of course, those are just a few of the ways to keep middle-grade readers coming back for more.

When that happens, I’d call that the stuff of greatness.

Check out Carol Williams’ The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney here:

Bookshop | Amazon

(WD uses affiliate links)