Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 29

Sherrie's post on how babies are made according to an 8 yr old has been cracking me up all week. (Yes I stole her pix. Way funny.) When my kids unroll toilet paper like crazed kittens, I think of this story. When my throat tickles in a definitely-catching-a-cold-two-days-before-my-half-marathon, I think of this story. As I help kids with fractions, book reviews, spelling tests, phonics, and other school ridiculousness, I think of this story. Go. Read. Enjoy the weekend.

My Fave Middle Grade Blog Posts This Week:

Industry

• 5 Articles on the Differences Between MG and YA @ Guide to Literary Agents.
• P is for Parents: Dead or MIA @ That's Another Story.
• New E-Book Pricing Model (Wymer Model) @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
• How I Got My Agent: Allan Woodrow @ Guide to Literary Agents.
• What Do Agents Do? @ From the Mixed Up Files...
• 6 1/2 Thoughts on Marketing & Promotion @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.

Crafting

• Time Period Settings @ Kidlit.
• Scholastic Order Forms @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
• Field Work for Fiction @ Smack Dab in the Middle.
• Dear Writer, Where Do You Get Your Ideas? @ Write4Kids!
• Why Critiques Are Important @ Readatouille.
• V is for Voice @ PK Hrezo.

Interviews

• Jacqueline Houtman, The Reinvention of Edison Thomas @ Ink Spells.
• Jennifer Cervantes, Tortilla Sun @ From the Mixed Up Files...
• Hillary Homzie, The Hot List @ Project Mayhem.
• Barbara Dee, Trauma Queen @ The O.W.L.
• Roland Smith @ Write About Now.

Reviews

• MMGM: Tiger @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
• MMGM: The Lemonade Crime @ My Brain on Books.
• MMGM: Earthling Hero @ My Comfy Chair.
• MMGM: My Father's Dragon @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
• MMGM: The Hound of Rowan @ Book Dreaming.
• MMGM: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg @ Novel & Nouveau.
• MMGM: Horton Halfpott @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
• MMGM: Ella Enchanted @ Night Writer.
• MMGM: Second Fiddle @ Just Deb!
• The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless @ Middle Grade Ninja.
• Choose Your Own Adventure ( Scumble Giveaway) @ Another Gray Day.

Other Round Ups

• This Sunday's Round Up of MG F & S/F @ Charlotte's Library.

Still want more writing blog links? Okay, I'll give them to you. My writing world round up at The Writing Bug.

The A to Z challenge is almost over. What do you think? Take it or leave it?

I only had to write 4 letters and for some reason it was a killer. Not that I did that much. Points for the bloggers that went A to Z on their own.

She's Crafty: The Dreaded Synopsis

One of the agents who requested a partial, also wants to see a synopsis--one for my story and one for the series. I knew this day would eventually come. So why do I hate the idea of writing it. I think it's because it's like writing a query but with a lot more detail. How much do you say? What do you include? How long should it really be? Inquiring minds like me want to know.

Do you have any great tips for writing a synopsis?

My Top 10 Fave Blog Posts on Writing a Synopsis

1. How to Write a Synopsis by Nathan Bransford @ STET!
2. The Sum of the Parts: Writing a Synopsis @ The Other Side of the Story.
3. The Synopsis @ BookEnds.
4. How to Write a Synopsis When You Have Lots of Characters @ Guide to Literary Agents.
5. Synopsis Example: House of Games @ Guide to Literary Agents.
6. Synopsis Hell @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
7. Writing the Synopsis @ Writer Unboxed.
8. Synopsis Writing @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.
9. Writing a Synopsis Doesn't Have to Kill You @ The Blood-Red Pencil.
10. The Art of The Synop? @ Pub Rants.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Loser

My MMGM pick this week:

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Published in 2003

Some other books by Spinelli:

Stargirl

Maniac Magee

Milkweed

Wringer

Smiles to Go

Fourth Grade Rats

Space Station Seventh Grade

The Hook: The book follows the childhood of Donald Zinkoff, a misfist of sorts. When a girl goes missing in a snowstorm, Zinkoff is determined to find her before it's too late.

Why I love this book: Style and characters. This book is textbook on middle grade voice and style. You can really feel the emotions and perspective of the character Donald Zinkoff. Zinkoff is one of my favorite characters in Middle Grade fiction. Why? In my church, I volunteer to help the sunday school classes of kids age 3-11. In my service I've seen many kids (both boys and girls) that match this character. This book feels like a perspective into their world and my heart aches for them.

I would encourage kids 10+ to read this book so they can get a glimpse into the world of kids like Zinkoff and gain perspective, sensitivity, and compassion toward the kids they know. They just need a friend and want to be included.

My oldest is eight and I have this book in her TBR pile but not for a little bit. She still believes in magic and the book demystifies certain holidays. I would recommend this to upper middle graders and I think it is a great book for boys. Girls will like this book too but it will be harder to hold their interest. Stargirl would be a better but similar recommendation for girls.

Were you a Zinkoff/Stargirl as a kid?

Jr High was definitely an adjustment for me. In a time when it was cool to wear two pairs of matching socks with every outfit, I was made fun of because my white socks weren't doubled or matchers. Oh the silly things we remember.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Kid Lit Frenzy

My Brain on Books

My Comfy Chair

Night Writer

Book Dreaming

Write About Now

Just Deb

Novel & Nouveau

Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 22

I had high blogging hopes this week but fell short. I'm one of those people who throws lots of balls in the air and tries to catch them all at the same time. I'm a terrible multi-tasker and I get distracted easy by new projects, ideas, shiny objects, etc.

How do you multi-task? I need tips people.

I'm almost finished with my manuscript so I can send it to the agents that requested partials and yet my other WIP keeps calling to me, consuming my thoughts. GET OUT, get out, GET OUT! Plus I'm training for my first half marathon. The race is next Saturday. Am I nervous? Yup.

On an unrelated but important note: Happy Easter Everybody [bawk, bawk].

Industry

• Book Bloggers: Why Authors Need Them @ Write4Kids!
• Successful School Visits: What an Author Can Do to Prepare @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
• Why Families Should Buy E-Readers @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
• Wherein Writer Cat Gets Published! @ Project Mayhem.
• The Answers: Publication, My Agent, and Dreams vs Reality @ Caroline by Line.
• Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
• Discovering the World @ Smack Dab in the Middle.

Crafting

• Five Things I've Learned...@ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
• Tip Tuesday #85: Punctuation in Dialog @ Literary Rambles.
• Story Planning for 1st Graders @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
• Emotional Structure @ Ink Spells.
• O is for Observation: Don't Write Without It @ That's Another Story.
• What I Learned from Veronica Mars Part 2 & Why Sequels Are Hard @ Elle Strauss.
• Q is for Query @ PK Hrezo.
• Why Write? @ Novel and Nouveau.

Interviews

• Anita Laydon Miller + Giveaway @ Literary Rambles.
• 7 Questions for Stephanie Barden @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Reviews

• Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie @ Book Nut.
• Super Spring Giveaway @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
• The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
• The Rendering by Joel Naftali @ Charlotte's Library.
• MMGM: A Tale of Two Castles @ My Brain on Books.
• The Fairy-Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm #1) @ The O.W.L.
• MMGM: It's a Mystery! @ Just Deb!
• MMGM: Pearl vs. The World @ Book Dreaming

Other MG Round-ups

• This Sunday's Round Up of MG F/SF @ Charlotte's Library.

Need more writing links, visit my writing round up at The Writing Bug.

Who inspired you this week? Have you found other MGers? I want to know.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)

I just watched this movie with my girls last night and thought it would be a good choice for MMGM. It is a classic and addictive series. The movie I think is just as well done as the books (which isn't always the case).

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket

Published in 2000

Other books in the series:

The Reptile Room #2

The Wide Window #3

The Miserable Mill #4

The Austere Academy #5

The Ersatz Elevator #6

The Vile Village #7

The Hostile Hospital #8

The Carnivorous Carnival #9

The Slippery Slope #10

The Grim Grotto #11

The Penultimate Peril #12

The End #13

The Beatrice Letters

The Hook: After losing their parents and home in a fire, three children must go live with their Uncle Olaf who wants to steal their fortune. The children must expose their uncle before he kills them.

Why I love this series: Characters and cleverness. The three children are all very unique characters and, despite their misery, they support and protect each other. Olaf is one of the best villains I've read. The whole series is very clever. The well crafted mystery, the children's problem solving and Olaf's characters are very entertaining. The book is a fast read and great for reluctant readers because of its size and style.

The series also introduces bigger vocabulary to kids in a fun way.

Other MMGMers:

Shannon Whitney Messenger

Kid Lit Frenzy

My Brain on Books

My Comfy Chair

Night Writer

Book Dreaming

Write About Now

Just Deb

Best of the Middle Grade Blogs: April 15

As I convert my story from 3rd to 1st, it's predominately in a boy perspective but about 4 chapters swap to his younger sister. I didn't want to swap but it has to be done. An unfortunate part of switching to 1st. When I get to the sister chapters, I skip over them because I haven't quite found her voice. I understand her character but I'm not entirely there yet. Her voice has to be undeniably her when you read the first sentence and that's a challenge. I'm saving her for the end.

Any tips for creating distinction between two POVs?

Industry

• SCBWI Summer Conference Registration Opens (today) @ Alice Pope's SCBWI Children's Market Blog.
• Live Query Event with Natalie Fischer @ WriteOnCon.
• Books with Boy Heroes @ From the Mixed-Up Files...
• Interview with Lit Agent Judith Engracia @ Literary Rambles.
• 7 ?'s for Lit Agent Adriann Ranta @ Middle Grade Ninja.
• Brand X @ Write About Now.
• 12 Tips for Twitterphobes @ Shrinking Violet Promotions.
• Retreat! Retreat! @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Craft

• Showing Emotion: Boys vs. Girls @ Ink Spells.
• When We're Talking Series @ Project Mayhem.
• N is for Names @ That's Another Story.
• Show and Tell @ Lenny's World.
• Don't Ignore Logic When Writing Fiction for Children @ Write4Kids!
• The Outline: A Weapon in the War on Writer's Block @ Adventures in Children's Publishing.
• Proof in the Pessimist's Pudding @ Tracy Edward Wymer.
• You Need a Complete Manuscript @ Kidlit.

Author Interviews

• Interview with Hillary Homzie and Book Giveaway @ Literary Rambles.
• Batter Up! Interview with Alan Gratz @ From the Mixed Up Files...
• Q & A with Middle Grade Author Nathan Bransford @ Anita Laydon Miller's MG Blog.
• 7 Questions for Richard Adams @ Middle Grade Ninja.

Reviews

• MMGM: Nerds (+ Giveaway) @ Shannon Whitney Messenger.
• MMGM: The Fourth Stall @ Kid Lit Frenzy.
• MMGM: Fashionista Edition @ My Comfy Chair.
• MMGM: Beyonders by Brandon Mull @ Writer About Now.
• MMGM: The Alychemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress @ Night Writer.
• MMGM: How Moving @ My Brain on Books.
• MMGM: Invisible Inkling @ Book Dreaming.
• MMGM: Jan Markley @ Just Deb!
• Audio Review: The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere #1) @ The O.W.L.
• Bloodline Rising by Katy Moran (tween) @ Charlotte's Library.
• Okay For Now by Gary D Schmidt @ Tracy Edward Wymer.

Other MG Roundups

• This Sunday's round-up of MG F/SF @ Charlotte's Library.

Did I miss anyone? Who inspired you this week?

She's Crafty: Show, Don't Tell.

Must write. Eyes burning, must blink. Getting closer, feel'n it. feel'n it. All good things.

My Top 10 Fave "Show, Don't Tell" Blog Posts

1. Seven "Show Don't Tell" Tips @ Kathy Temean.
2. What "Show, Don't Tell" Really Means @ Kidlit.
3. Did You Hear That? Showing Sound @ The Other Side of the Story.
4. Showing vs. Telling @ Nathan Bransford.
5. Don't Tell Me -- Show Me @ The Blood Red Pencil.
6. Tell, Don't Show @ Incidents and Accidents.
7. Free FtQ Chapter: Showing and Telling @ Flogging the Quill.
8. Telegraphing (and other pace killers) @ Writer Unboxed.
9. The Ten Mistakes (Show Don't Tell is #8) @ Holt Uncensored.
10. Show Don't Tell (in a query letter) @ Miss Snark.

What are your best tips for avoiding the tell OR recognizing it in your writing?