Fat Writers and Skinny Writers

Don't let the title fool you.

This is not about the physical attributes of a writer.  It is about the physical attributes of your manuscript.

Fat writers are writers who pour their heart onto the page and end up with page after page after page and when editing have to cut all the fluff that people usually skip when reading a book.

Skinny writers are writers who pour their heart onto the page and end up with what would seem like a glorified outline to those fat writers out there. When they edit, they add flesh to their manuscript.

I'm one of those skinny writers. This trait comes in handy when I'm writing Picture Books, but is not such a good trait when trying to write longer manuscripts.

But even when writing Picture Books you have to make sure every word is perfect. Every noun, verb and adjective is just the right one. The one that will jump out at the reader and make them love your story.

I am getting better with my longer manuscripts.

When writing and re-writing your words, some things you need to do are:

Make a character sheet. List all your characters - write down what they look like and what type of person they are. This is very helpful and will keep them from having black stubble on their face on one page and blonde hair on another.

Add Description. When I go back and reread, I find skinny places where  I need more description. Not in picture books, mind you, but Middle Grades. Make that scarey place in the woods where kids are told not to go, really scarey. Tell about the tall trees, boulders big as Volkswagens, dark shadows moving across the ground and strange howling in the tree tops. And even add a tall tale passed down through the generations that makes it a place where you don't want to visit.

Write about the minor characters. Give them quirky traits and names to add a little interest and humor to the story. I found that in my latest WIP I had not mentioned anything about the teachers. I think they deserved at least a mention, so I gave them interesting names and a description or two to add some interest. Kids like to read about a quirky or interesting teacher.

Give your main characters certain quirks or habits. This can add to the story in more places than one. These traits can be scattered throughout your story, adding words (calories) to your manuscript and making it more interesting, too.

But, don't add words just for the sake of adding words. Add words to make it more interesting and a better story.

My current Middle Grade WIP is almost finished. I have fattened it up and it is over 20,000 words. I have met my goal and made it more interesting in the process.

This picture book writer is learning.

How do you add 'fat' to your manuscript?

Posted by Janet F. Smart on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch

What Makes a Good Middle Grade Book?

My new middle grade manuscript is moving right along. A couple blog posts ago I announced I was up to 8000 words. It is now at 16,783 words!

I know, I know that's not very many words. But for a person who writes picture books, it is a lot of words!

I've written the entire story. I am now editing and adding flesh to the bones
.
I have changed the names of two of the characters. I've made them more interesting.

My story has pets - a cat, a pregnant beagle and 4 puppies!

My main character is a boy. I've given him a habit or ritual that he does all the time. But, by the end of the story, he doesn't have to do it anymore.

The main character is imaginative, his friend is smart and he has a handicap.

I've added a short paragraph to the first page that will make the reader want to read more. I think that is very important, they need to want to read more! Something needs to draw them into the story.

I have added the month, date and year into the writing on the second page, so the reader knows when the story takes place. (It is a historical fiction)

Comment and let me know what you think.

What makes a good middle grade? What makes a middle grade book interesting for kids?

I am very anxious to finish. My goal is to get 20,000 words.
I know that is a little short for a middle grade, but I believe it is enough for my story.

posted by Janet F. Smart at Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch

©Janet F. Smart