My First Middle Grade Novel

             I recently completed a course in writing middle grade novels with the popular Children’s Book Academy. The instructors, Dr. Mira Reisberg, Hilary Homzie, and Rachel Stein, guided us through the process in manageable daily chunks. It was a fabulous class, including a supportive homework forum, Facebook page, and personal critique group.
            What I learned surprised me:  I love middle grade! Both reading and writing middle grade electrified me. For this class, I read widely—classics as well as more recent National Book Award and Newberry Medal and Honor books. With many of these books, I read late into the night because I couldn’t put them down! I enjoyed searching through a different section of the library and remembered why I had loved this type of book as a girl.
            Writing middle grade after the strict limits (low word count) of picture books was liberating. I basked in longer scene lengths, descriptions, and more complex plots. In fact, one of the biggest challenges, but also most rewarding aspects, was learning how to structure a novel. The organizer in me loved planning and outlining, fitting all the pieces together in a logical, emotionally resonant puzzle.
            At first, I was disappointed that I wasn’t writing like my hero, Kelly Barnhill (The Girl Who Drank the Moon.) However, the more I wrote, the more I found my own “middle grade” voice. Unlike that any of my favorite authors, I was happy to realize, my voice reflected me.
            As I have revised, I’ve been learning to notice and celebrate my own writing strengths. Writing my first middle grade novel has been a satisfying challenge. One I can’t wait to repeat again and again!

Categories:  middle grade, picture book, Children's Book Academy

All