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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks @KazG. Your thoughts on this are comforting. I was worried if I had to pull back and simplify more I might lose the voice, but I wanted to know if I needed to do a major edit on this aspect or not. I’ll stop worrying about it now.
But, as always, the feedback has been great at throwing up some other issues, so I shall get to work on Pix’s…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
I had a sticky scene that wasn’t working Squidge, and after some time away from it I reread and thought D’oh, of course she wouldn’t react like that. She’d be angry. It’s funny how the characters become real people in our heads.
Thanks for the heads up about Kingstone. I shall go take a look.
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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
I did a bit of googling and everybody says something different. Apparently in 2014 there were more first person than third, so I guess it just varies.
I shall attempt to find more subtle ways of placing my characters, as you suggested. Thanks for all the help. I’ll keep it all in mind as I go in for the next round of edits.
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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
That’s a really good point Sea. I took a look at my MG books and they’re all third person! Thanks for the Jess Butterworth one – I shall take a look. I’ll also try and do some investigating into first/third. (And possibly have a cry over my keyboard at the thought of rewriting into third. :D)
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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks @seagreen, this is all great. I’ll have a think about the save the cat moment and ramp up the fear a bit as a few people have mentioned that. I’ll weed out some of the description as well.
Re the being in the character’s head, and the explanations like ‘standing next to me’, I think you’ve cut to the heart of my question re YA vs MG…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
Thanks @bella – it was fun to write.
Perfect @squidge, that’s great to know it’s about right. I was worrying it was a bit densely packed but maybe I just have to be careful of too heavy descriptions. I shall tweak as suggested.
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Kate started the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 2 months ago
I’ve got a draft of what is meant to be an upper mid grade novel, but I have concerns I’ve written it in a too Young Adult style. I’m specifically looking for feedback from experienced MG writers on whether I need to adjust the language/structure, and how I might go about it.
All other comments also welcome.
Many thanks.(As usual the…[Read more]
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Kate posted an update 6 years, 2 months ago
Are there any mid grade writers on the Den that would be willing to take a look at the first chapter of my MG book? Someone suggested I was using a YA style that might not be appropriate and I can see what they mean. I’d like thoughts on language and structure relating to MG books before embarking on the next edit.
I’ll post it up in crit for…[Read more]-
Hi Kate,
Just noticed this. If you post it, I’m read it but not sure how much help I’ll be.-
*I’ll*
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Thanks @seagreen. I’ll post it up tomorrow.
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Kate replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise "I Don't Remember" – KazG in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 2 months agoThis is so clever, Kaz. And I didn’t expect it to go in that direction either. Wow. Excellent stuff.
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Kate replied to the topic Class 3: Writing Exercise, Bella in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months agoVery clever in the first one how the letter gives one impression of this inappropriate relationship, and then the following comment throws a whole new light on the situation.
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months agoI haven’t even got around to reading the chapter yet. Can we have two?
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Kate replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoThanks @JaneShuff. It’s really fascinating the amount of detail you’ve gone into, and you’re asking all sorts of questions that would never have occurred to me. I’ll have to ponder this for a while and try and apply it to a character. Many thanks.
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Kate replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoHi @JaneShuff – two brilliant characters here. One bursting off the page, and the other grinding their teeth in the background.
I’ve concentrated on the distinguishing features, and these are the impressions I got as I read:
The initial description of Dipsy’s (great name) clothes – ‘capacious’ and big pleated skirts’, made me think of someone on…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoThanks WB. those writing exercises look like great fun.
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Kate replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoSounds good @woolleybeans.
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoThanks @squidge – a great blog.
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoI’d be interested too @squidge.
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 4 months agoI’m glad it wasn’t just me who read the wrong bits! Some of the suggestions in this chapter are quite subtle and may be beyond my sledgehammer approach. 🙂 Was interested at the example of the waitress and how she was characterised by her actions while the customers were characterised by their looks.
I shall have to give this questionnaire some…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 2: Character 1 – Outer Worlds in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 5 months agoI haven’t finished this chapter yet, but I’m already fascinated. Love the Sloane rule that speech ‘must do more than one thing or it is too inert for the purposes of fiction.’
And the example of the argument about sinking the oil rigs was an eye opener – to engage us emotionally in a disagreement, the characters must have an emotional stake in…[Read more]
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Kate replied to the topic Feedback on the Course in the forum
Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 5 months agoThanks for all your hard work @woolleybeans.
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