Writing and Producing for Tweens and Younger Teens: Working with High-Volume Fiction, Multiplatform Strategies, and Ongoing User Involvement

This chapter investigates the writing and production of live action fiction for tweens and younger teens based on a case study of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR’s long-running series Klassen/The Class for the DR Ultra audiences (that was originally 7 to 12-year-olds, and from 2020 9 to 14-year-olds). The chapter analyses the DR Ultra approach to making this kind of fiction in the multiplatform era as: (1) Aiming for high volume; (2) Creating fiction that works on many platforms; and (3) Working consistently with expert and audience involvement. After outlining recent audience research on the DR Ultra target audience, the case study explores the highly efficient writing and production set-up of The Class and various user involvement initiatives (such as working with ‘junior editors’) as well as an example of having the young influencer Naja Münster co-write and star in three episodes for the series 15th season in the fall of 2023.