Middle Grade Matters

Ep. 54: Jennifer Blecher (Listen to This) on Writing Big Emotions - Including for Boys


Listen Later

Jennifer Blecher, author of four middle grade books, discusses her writing process and the themes in her latest middle grade novel, Listen to This. She shares the challenges of writing from the perspective of a boy and the importance of writing big emotions. Jennifer also talks about the inspiration behind Listen to This and the issues of friendship, parental oversharing, and navigating middle school. She emphasizes the importance of keeping the plot moving while giving weight to the characters' feelings. Jennifer discusses her journey as a writer and the evolution of her writing style. She also shares her thoughts on the middle grade genre and her future projects.

About LISTEN TO THIS from the publisher: Secrets, rumors, shifting friendships, overbearing parents, and, on top of all that, a first dance—how does anyone survive seventh grade? Told from dual points of view, this novel about two tweens finding their voices and standing up for themselves is for fans of Lisa Yee, Leslie Connor, and Janae Marks.

The Podcast Inside Your House

Weird Horror. Created by Kevin Schrock and Annie Marie Morgan. 


Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.

I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm, a platform that supports indy bookstores.

If you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a rating and review (thank you!).

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Middle Grade MattersBy Shannon Balloon

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

35 ratings


More shows like Middle Grade Matters

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,142 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,473 Listeners

Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

Writing Excuses

1,291 Listeners

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

1,008 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

624 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

223 Listeners

Totally Booked with Zibby by Zibby Owens

Totally Booked with Zibby

623 Listeners

SCBWI Podcasts by SCBWI

SCBWI Podcasts

65 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,463 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

776 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

361 Listeners

Writers With Wrinkles by Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid

Writers With Wrinkles

38 Listeners

Kidlit Love: Conversations with Picture Book, Middle Grade and YA Authors by Stephanie Affinito: Bookologist, Restorative Reading and Writing Coach

Kidlit Love: Conversations with Picture Book, Middle Grade and YA Authors

8 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

10,016 Listeners