|
So I finished writing my first middle grade novel last month and wanted to share with you what I learned. Going from writing picture books to a novel is quite different, yet some things stayed the same. I made this Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two.  I'm a plotter, and so I sketched out each chapter and created my characters. However, my muse didn't always follow the outline, which is good. And as I got deeper into each chapter, my characters became more alive to me and even changed. I remember adding to their character sketches as I went along. My characters became a little bossy and sometimes took the story in a new way. And new minor characters introduced themselves that weren't even planned. I think it's a good idea to have a vision and rough outline to begin with and then let the story come alive and unfold as you write. I've sent it out to the first batch of beta readers. We'll see if it's any good. :) If you have any revision tips, let me know!!
28 Comments
5/5/2015 02:46:16 am
Nice Venn diagram! I can relate to this as I also just completed a young MG novel. Sometimes I think there is a bit more leeway to tell in a picture book because of the limited number of words available. 5/5/2015 03:48:50 am
Tina, Congratulations! Very interesting to see the differences mapped out.
Trine
5/5/2015 04:15:11 am
Nice Venn, Tina! Congrats on finishing your manuscript. I am also working on one. I have had to really shift gears from the picture book approach. Looking forward to your progress. 5/5/2015 04:24:46 am
This is so helpful, Tina. And congrats on your novel . . .I'm only half way through mine! How do you do it alongside home education and all the other daily stuff? You are amazing! 5/5/2015 05:27:39 am
This is a great way to summarize the differences and similarities, Tina. 5/5/2015 09:28:07 am
Wow! I'm so impressed that you completed a novel. Love this compare and contrast. It seems to make a lot of sense. I'm not speaking from experience because I haven't attempted a novel :-) 5/5/2015 10:40:28 am
Awesome graphic organizer. I didn't know you wrote a novel--would love to read it sometime! 5/5/2015 01:18:20 pm
As I begin to think of my recent historical fiction picture book I terms of a MG novel, this diagram and post is so timely! Thanks Tina! 5/5/2015 09:50:38 pm
Love your graph with the difference/similarities Tina. My stories are usually acting out like a movie in my head from beginning to end before I even put a word down, .Great post. 5/5/2015 11:19:06 pm
A big congratulations to you, Tina, for writing a MG novel. I love the chart. I'm going to save this as I'm a visual learner. :-D 5/6/2015 12:17:57 am
Love the diagram! Thank you, as it is so helpful in visualizing the contrast between the two genres (I write both). Best to you on your MG novel. :) 5/6/2015 12:20:05 am
BIG congrats, Tina, finishing up that novel! And what an interesting Venn Diagram--I don't think I've considered the similarities between PB and MG, but yep, there are a few. If your story's as good as your Venn, then you're golden! :-) Congratulations Tina on finishing your middle grade novel. I admire you for making the leap. Your Venn diagram is interesting - visuals do make things clearer. I'm working on emergent early readers now - I think they have more in common with picture books than novels with the added vocabulary challenge. Such an insightful comparison! I love how you broke down the distinct challenges and rewards of writing picture books versus novels. Your explanation of how each genre requires a unique approach to storytelling—whether it's the concise, impactful narrative in picture books or the depth and development in novels—was spot on. It’s a great reminder of the creative flexibility writers have, no matter the format. This post is incredibly helpful for both aspiring picture book authors and novelists alike. Thanks for sharing your expertise! 1/5/2025 08:20:28 pm
Gold IRA Investments allow individuals to diversify their retirement portfolios by including physical gold or gold-related assets within an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This strategy provides a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, offering potential growth opportunities outside traditional stocks and bonds. Leave a Reply. |
Tina M. Cho, children's authorI'm a children's author and freelance writer for the educational market. Welcome! 
Archives
November 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
