One of the reasons I adore writing and reading Middle Grade as much as I do is because a huge part of me relaxes and enjoys delving back into that total lack of responsibility. I take pleasure in the innocence and immaturity of a middle grader. There is a part of me that still longs for and wishes I could get away with thinking and acting like a middle grader, all the time. But the responsible side of me, who is a wife, mother and mature adult, knows this can not be.
I have decided I will thoroughly enjoy every minute of working on this project, and slipping into the mind of my characters. Isn't that what writing is all about? Maybe I should warn The Husband, that while I'm working on this, he should expect a wife who finally, finally, thinks it's funny when he farts. I'll tell my kids to expect a playmate, one who jumps on the bed with them, instead of someone who insists they must make it! And my friends should just stay clear of me altogether, unless they want to come over, braid each other's hair, stuff our faces full of crap, and giggle nonsensically, all night long. (Wait, that's not much different than what we do now..he he)
What about you? Do any of you enjoy writing middle grade for any of those same reasons? Do you have to be in a "Middle Grade" sort of mind? What are your favorite middle grade authors/stories? Why?
A few of my favorites are: Suzanne Collins, Gregor The Overlander Series, The Day My Butt Went Psycho, Based on a True Story Andy Griffiths, The Name of This Book is A Secret, Pseudonymous Bosch. I loved all of these books. Of course, I picked these titles for my girls to read, but I had to read them myself first :)
AND AS PROMISED- HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM THE LAKEWOOD REN FAIRE I WENT TO THIS WEEKEND:
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| Meeting some real wolves. The larger one appeared in the movie "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" |
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| My girlfriend Rebecca, just after taking the stage to belly dance! |
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| Frankie, knife throwing. |
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| Farrah, a fair and beautiful little Knight. |
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| A little jousting... |
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| Above: Fried Oreos YUUUM Below: Faith after eating fried Oreos. All smiles. |
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| My little Chef simply had to take a turn throwing knives. She rocked this! |
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A cool face painting 
Frankie bought yet another sword. Then had to go show it to a Knight
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I've never even tried MG, I think it's a little too far back LOL but I can absolutely see how it would be appealing to write!
ReplyDeleteLoving the photos - excellent!
I think the fact that I can slip back into the mind of a child so quickly, is a testament to how immature I still am. LOL
DeleteWe had a great time at the Faire. So much fun!
That wolf picture freaked me out. It looks like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteI have written one MG novel and though I think it's got potential, I REALLY missed writing romance so I don't know if I'll ever try it again. LOL. :)
Oh, Ilima, that one wolf was HUGE. To be honest, I was a little afraid myself. I wondered if I should allow Frankie to go in, but she said: "Mom, animals NEVER frighten me. Only people." I couldn't believe it! I had to let her in the cage after that.
DeleteThe wolves were a little intimidating at first, but once I got inside and saw how they were acting like giant dogs, I relaxed. Then I found out the little one was mixed with German Shepard and the other with Malamute. Their howls kinda freaked me out. Very chilling.
I bet your MG is awesome, just like everything else you've written! I am enjoying this little break from all the drama of romance. Being in the mind of a ten year old has been a ton of fun. Plus, I finally have something I wrote, I can let my kids read! LOL
I had never even heard of MG novels before this post. Yes, I live under a rock. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the renaissance faire pics. I haven't been to one in so long. I adore wolves. My friend used to have one and he was amazing.
Hi Mel- LOL, you don't live under a rock! Middle Grade is a just another name for anything written for 12 and under. 12 and up, is considered Young Adult :)
DeleteI love taking the girls to the Ren Faires. We have such a good time and meet so many cool people! This was a small local venue, but still really fun. I went to see my friend Rebecca belly dance. She's amazing.
The wolves at the Ren Faire, were beautiful. They were pretty well bahaved too, to deal with all of those people, noises and smells. But when they howled, or growled, they were a little intimidating! And I'm an animal person, but it still freaked me a bit.
I think it would be fun to write a MG book, although I haven't yet. They're definitely fun to read.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Renaissance Faire looks like so much fun. I've always wanted to go to one.
Hey Cherie- Oh my gosh, you should go! They are so much fun. Take a bunch of your friends and dress up! It's a blast. I love going :)
DeleteI'm having lots of giggles writing this MG. I almost don't want it to end! LOL
The jousting would've been fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteDrop me in front of a computer game and I have no problem slipping back into childhood.
The jousting is crazy! Those guys are complete nutters. It never used to bother me. Now that I'm a mom, it kills me. I'm watching and thinking, "You're going to poke your eye out kid!" LOL
DeleteAwesome pictures!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I, too, love middle grade. Love reading it, love writing it. It's a whole different world. The innocence, and the imagaination! They're so creative at that age, anything can happen. I love that. A couple of my favorites are Breadcrumbs, and The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy and Snowcap. I loved The Name of this Book is Secret, too! I can't wait to read the others with my daughter. :)
Hi Rach! I loved Breadcrumbs. My girls are uber-obsessed with "The Name of This Book is Secret". I picked it up at B&N one afternoon for Farrah, and then forgot where I put the bag. (Sometimes, it really sucks to be me, I swear! LOL) But this summer, I found it (woo hoo) and gave it to her. OMG it was all the rage! She loved it and passed it to Faith. And she loved it! They tore through the whole series. As soon as they finished one, I had to go run back to B&N to get the next and the next! One day, I want to create a series for my kids to love, just like that! How amazing would that be?
DeleteI love Ren Faires. I used to work one when I lived in California. We ran the backgammon games. My sister and I made our own outfits and everything.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I'm not a middle grade person. I've read and enjoyed some good YA fantasy and paranormal. I'm raising teens and I'm at a point of, oh lord, I wish this phase would pass. :-)
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
I used to live in California too. Near San Fran. I miss it! And how I wish I could sew, I would definitely be making some sweet Ren Faire costumes.
DeleteI love and write fantasy and paranormal. But sometimes, it's good to go back and think like a kid.
ACK! Very soon, my house will be filled with teenagers. I have three girls, about a year apart. I wish you luck with yours!
Yep, same here. San Francisco area. Ren Faire used to be in Marin. My sister and I dyed cotton sheets we bought at a second hand store and made our peasant outfits. Well, we were saucy wenches. It was a lot of fun.
DeleteOh, your house is going to be filled with drama. I don't envy you that at all.
I think if I was to write YA, and I've penned a few, it would be about animals and adventure with the trusty four legged companion. In my case, there is telepathy and a legendary big cat.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Great pictures! I acted in the Arizona one in high school as a peasant. It was tons of fun. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Jaycee- I didn't know you were in a Ren Faire, how fun! My girls love them as much as I do. The Husband mostly goes for the food. Although he does enjoy the archery. Oh, and he liked the ax and knife throwing. Especially watching his girls try it :)
DeleteI'd love to see some of your MG writing. Capturing the voice for that is really hard. In fact, I was talking to a fellow blogger about this the other day. See, I have a 50 year old writer friend who writes MG, and his kids talk like this: "Yeah, that's tight, yo." Or "Oh, that's so dope, bro." I just have to laugh and roll my eyes, because no kid talks like that unless he's braindead or trying to impersonate a gang member. MG: not easy to write if you're completely out of touch.
ReplyDeleteI agree it can be hard to nail that voice. But it really helps when deep down, you are seriously immature, like me. LOL I'd be happy to share some of my MG work with you.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, being surrounded by my kids, their friends and all the teaching/volunteering I do (with different outreaches), I am usually with kids more than adults. They hold nothing back, and can tell when someone is full of shiz. Sorry for your 50 year old friend who writes MG, but if someone used language like "that's so tight yo" the kids I know, would mock him mercilessly, and NEVER trust or open up to him. And they certainly wouldn't be inspired to read his work.
Oh, how fun! I LOVE your pics!
ReplyDeleteI blogged about The City of Ember today. It's MG and I loved it. I'm not a huge fan of MG, but every once in a while I find a MG book I adore. I felt the same way about Liesl and Po. :)
City of Ember is really great. The movie adaptation was very good too. My girls loved it.
DeleteMiddle Grade can be a lot of fun.
I haven't read much MG fiction, but I can see how delving back into a more childlike side, with less responsibilities would be a lot of fun. Good luck with your revived project.
ReplyDeleteLove you pictures from the ren fair, especially the wolves. Looks like you and your daughters had a terrific time. :D
I've never really thought of writing MG, but now you have me intrigued...:)
ReplyDeleteThe fair looked so fun! I would have loved to meet those wolves! And fried Oreos??? Really?! I've never heard of that, but it sounds completely yum :)
My first novel was MG - it was great fun to write! At that age I was very over-dramatic, and I think some of this came through in the characters' voices. You can have a lot of fun with it!
ReplyDeleteI love your reasoning. I love YA for similar reasons--the mistakes of youth are just inexperience, not malice (sometimes)--a person can be impulsive or defensive or selfish without being a person who can never be more enlightened. I like that with the older youth, though, I can have a higher grade of darkness.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite middle grade books are probably the Percy Jackson series... Harry Potter starts middle grade, doesn't it? But it moves past it....