All Things Middle Grade

timp67

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At the risk of offending with a blatant plug, I feel it is in the interests of fun to tell you guys that Kindle is offering THE BOY WHO HOWLED for $1.99 for a limited time. That's practically free! If a certain dragon wishes to scorch me for this announcement, have at it! Just let me get out the marshmallows first. :)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049195NO/?tag=absowrit-20
 

jvc

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At the risk of offending with a blatant plug, I feel it is in the interests of fun to tell you guys that Kindle is offering THE BOY WHO HOWLED for $1.99 for a limited time. That's practically free! If a certain dragon wishes to scorch me for this announcement, have at it! Just let me get out the marshmallows first. :)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049195NO/?tag=absowrit-20
All I heard was marshmallows. :D

Oh, and I'll add a plug, too. Go buy Tim's book. It's a great read, you won't be dissapointed. The Dragon said so. :)
 

timp67

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I am in the dragon's debt. *prepares to polish some scales*
 

MJWare

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$1.99, I just picked up my copy. Now, it will probably be next year before I get to it, but at least it's on my TBR list.

Good luck with the promotion. In my very limited experience, after the price goes back up your sales will stay elevated for at least a week or two and sometimes they keep going at the same rate as when it was on sale (seems to have nothing to do with the quality of the book, it's just luck).

That's one of the few good things about going it alone; you can track your sales on a day to day basis.
 
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DavidBrett

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Awesomeness - Sheila recently got back to me; that's TWO betas now... And they both LOVED IT!

I'll be going over her overall critique tomorrow, but just knowing it's already received TWO positive responses has cheered me up. I'll be working on EF 2 tomorrow!

Dave
 

Emmet Cameron

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I have a middle grade idea I'm going to try out for NaNoWriMo this year. Simultaneously jazzed/nervous about it because I've wanted to write MG for a long time, but I find I get blocked around it because I have a long history of working in a caregiver-type role with kids in that age group, so although I have lots of perhaps applicable experience with their behaviour and such, I also find it challenging to take off my safety goggles and let them make the kind of questionable decisions that let plot happen...but I think I've come up with a good group of characters who aren't going to let me tell them how to behave. :)
 

DavidBrett

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Thanks Jed - since then, FIVE AGENTS on twitter have asked for a synopsis and the first chapter from a small tweet-pitch comparing it to 'X-Files for kids'.

So happy!

Dave
 

Laura J

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Thanks Jed - since then, FIVE AGENTS on twitter have asked for a synopsis and the first chapter from a small tweet-pitch comparing it to 'X-Files for kids'.

So happy!

Dave

Awesome! I told Ben and he said Alright!!
 

MsJudy

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That's so exciting, David! Shows you have a good premise to work on, no matter what happens next.
 

jvc

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Thanks Jed - since then, FIVE AGENTS on twitter have asked for a synopsis and the first chapter from a small tweet-pitch comparing it to 'X-Files for kids'.

So happy!

Dave
That is awesome. Congrats again.

Should I be doing this 'twitter' thing? Sounds like a good idea. How did it work? Me is curious.
 

DavidBrett

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Well, I mostly follow authors, agents, publishers and readers/reviewers of MG,.so whenever I see a tweet from one of them along the lines of 'ask an agent' or 'pitch your novels!' I jump at the chance!

Also, like on here, most MG authors are extremely friendly and sociable - I talk to three of my current favourite authors regularly; they're a great source of inspiration, knowledge and encouragement.

So in short, yes. EVERY author - published or aspiring - should be 'doing this Twitter thing' :D It's the perfect platform to promote, socialise, and get in touch with your fans - even if you don't have time to write emails back. A short tweet thanking readers goes a looooong way.

Dave
 

SheilaJG

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I don't "tweet," mostly because I have this superpower and I don't want the rest of the world to know about it. And that superpower is the ability to write really stupid things that I think are charming and cute only to find out later I'm a huge dork. So, I shall remain anonymous.
 

jvc

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So, if I got a tweeter account, would I then have to inform people of what I ate for breakfast? :D

Yeah, I may think about getting one. I have a facebook account, although I haven't bothered with it for a long time. Maybe I should, I dunno.
 

DavidBrett

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The amount of detail you go into is entirely up to you. Me, I just use Twitter to network, make jokes about TV shows I'm watching, and generally make light of my otherwise boring life :p
 

Laura J

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I use FB daily, but so far haven't tweeted. If you were planning on using a pen name, would you want to have an account that reflected that first?

And, I have no smart appliances. I have a dumb phone and a laptop. Not as convienent. Though, I think I'm getting a Kindle for Christmas. <crosses fingers>
 

DavidBrett

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I had my Twitter account made for me, so had no control over it being named after my non-professional inbound handle (SympleSymon, my MSN and webcomic username). But you can change the main name you're recognised by whatever you want at any time.

So my tweets come up as: David B Andrews (@SympleSymon)
 

profen4

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I use FB daily, but so far haven't tweeted. If you were planning on using a pen name, would you want to have an account that reflected that first?

And, I have no smart appliances. I have a dumb phone and a laptop. Not as convienent. Though, I think I'm getting a Kindle for Christmas. <crosses fingers>

I've tweeted about 12 times in two years precisely for this reason. I think you need a smart-phone to do it effectively. I check in from time to time, and I use it as a way to keep track of the tweeters who I'm interested in. I do plan on engaging more this year, but we shall see. Generally when I'm on my computer I am writing. quan lot thoi trang shop do so sinh ban si quan ao ban buon quan ao cac loai chup anh san pham
 
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sissybaby

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I mostly retweet people I'm following. That seems to make people like you. And I need lots of friends because I'm so insecure.

I can't even get that stupid green grin to come out where I want it. That's the real reason I don't tweet.
 

A.C. Thomas

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I could use a couple of opinions/insight. I've read quite a bit of MG and have noticed that both first and third pov are used frequently. But which do you guys think is more effective in the genre?

My WIP is currently in third, and I think I'm more comfortable with it. But there are times I think the MS would work better in first. Decisions decisions :)
 

Smish

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It really just depends on the writer and the story being told, A.C. Neither is automatically more effective than the other. I tend to write in first person, present tense. It's what comes naturally to me.

If you prefer third person, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, if I had to guess, the majority of MG novels are probably still written in third person, past tense.
 

MsJudy

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I think it depends a great deal on the sort of story you're telling. Present tense adds a sense of immediacy, but it can make things tricky when you need to show the passage of time without narrating every little frickin detail. First person gives more chance for the character's voice and personality to shine, but it can be hard to stay consistent and still give the reader all the important details. Third person, past tense is more traditional and often more accessible for novice readers.

Imagine an epic adventure like Lord of the Rings written in first person.... It just wouldn't sound the same.

But imagine Catcher in the Rye in third person. What would be the point?

Personally, I think it comes down to the focus you want to create. If the character has a strong voice and a quirky personality, then first person would make the most of it. Third person offers you more control, a bit more distance, a bit more ability to be the narrator and show things the character might not perceive or admit to at the time.