middle-grade – Marie Alice Writes & Reads

This day actually started at 3:30 am.

Not in a good way. In a crying, yelling, whining way.

But no worries, I know where to go to make all the mama exhaustion, guilt, frustration go away. That’s right, the MG writing project!

(now, I won’t lie, a whole bowl of fudge brownie frozen yogurt for lunch will also help a bit to make the bad feelings go away)

I had to day job in the morning, but decided to work on the MG novel in the afternoon. I needed a break.

The shiny reward did not disappoint.

It is going well, especially since I got to a really fun scene. What I need to accomplish with the revision is focus more on the fun.

This book is a fun adventure.

A bit grim, a bit sad, a bit « what the heck », but overall, a fun novel.

Writing the book you wanna read

What I loved the most about books, back from when I was a kid up to these adult days, is their ability to transport me somewhere else. To leave reality far behind.

I re-read this MG novel over and over, and honestly, I still love it.

Well, not true. There was a time I could not look at it. Both because I felt like I failed the story and the characters, and I felt like a general writer failure.

Stories kept coming back, and that MG novel was a good novel… that needed more work.

Speaking of the writing project this post is supposed to be about.

I love writing dialogue, and the fun scene I’m currently editing is also the first dialogue the main character has with her sidekicks and, spoiler alert, future friend.

With a MG novel, I feel you can have more fun with the police characters, or big strong metaphor or blunt description.
I had a blast, heehee!

On that cheerful note, good night and good writing, writer friends!

When you’re doing research about writing a book, it seems like we have to write a novel in 3 months.

I totally did it, by the way. Wrote a novel in 3 months. It’s a middle-grade/tweens novel, 52 000 words long, or it will be when I am done with the second rounds of revisions.

I am proud of that novel, but… I am exhausted !

Why write a novel in 3 months?

In my case, I wrote a novel in 3 months because I noticed that a publisher was seeking contemporary middle-grade/tweens novels. So that is what I wrote, and wrote fast, for that window will not be open forever.

The publisher might not buy my book (here, in my little North-American francophone bubble, no literary agent; us, writers, are solo player by default) but I least I can say that I tried. Plus side, it was such a joy to write.

Still, I am exhausted. I am a slow writer, a slow reviser, a slow type of gal in general.

Although the end result is a fun book I am proud of, writing a book in 3 months is not my cup of tea.

If it’s not for a professional requirement; if it’s not to prove yourself that you can finish a novel or what have you, I am here to tell you: don’t bother trying to write a novel in 3 months.

Instead, make good art. That is what I will focus on.

Money, the name of a tired game

I dream of being able to earn a living as a traditionally published author. Yes.

Here’s a dirty little secret though: I don’t want to be rich.

I want my books to be enjoyed by as many readers as possible. I want to be able to buy food, clothes and finish paying the house.

See, money is a depressing reality that makes the entire world miserable, and has made the world miserable for millennia. Money and guns and bombs. But I digress.

There is no guarantee what so ever that if you write a novel in 3 months, you’re gonna get published and hit the bestsellers list. No guarantee what so ever.

Why put yourself through on a rough, though working path for money.

Writing books is not a highway to millionaire-land (what a sad land that is, a bunch of people that could help feed half of the children dying of hunger every day with their pocket change *sigh*). Forget it.

Make good art

The words of Neil Gaiman not only touched my heart. They found a place in my soul.

Make good art, write the best stories to make readers dream and hope, that is my now my goal.

I hope this post helped you take that pressure off your writer’s shoulders.

There’s enough characters problem to think about as it is.

Étiquette : middle-grade

Diary of a writing project. Day 112: it is getting funnier