Last summer, I had the most delightful time in North Georgia, spending a week with a most delightful bunch of picture book writers. I wrote all about it here and when all was said and done, I decided that I had to be done with picture books and get back to my heart. Because I had the beginning of a middle grade story on my heart that was begging to be written.
So this year, I’ve been writing, writing, writing that middle grade story. And I am this close to being done with it. But that, my friends, is just the first draft I’ll be finishing. I’ll need to go back and weave in some good stuff, take out some of the stinky stuff. And that revision has been penciled in for…yep, April.
It just so happens that RhyPiBoMo (that’s Rhyming Picture Book Month, in case you wondered) begins in April (and you can register now!). And I’m just not talented enough to revise a 35,000 word middle grade manuscript and follow along with Angie Karcher’s great posts and read all those great picture books, too. And okay, I know I’m prone to hyperbole, but not this time.
Oh, no, people, not this time. Angie (did I tell you I met her? Up in North Georgia at that weeklong writing workshop?) works so hard to bring such a lot of great writing information your way. I mean, she is committed. And I guarantee that you will be a better picture book writer if you commit to RhyPiBoMo. You can’t be half-a…er…baked about it. You have to be all in.
Kind of like I’m all in on my middle grade story. So best of luck to all of us, wherever our heart is leading us (but dang, I’ll miss all those fun picture book writers)!
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
Oh my. That sounds like fun. If only . . . But alas, I am a lunkhead when it comes to writing fun, rhyming picture books. So even if I had the time . . .
Even a lunkhead could learn a thing or two, Sally! 🙂
I agree with Sally, it sounds like lots of fun – especially since I’m partial to rhyming picture books. Maybe next year for me, though. I told myself I couldn’t start anything new until I finish my current project. It’s so hard to stay focused when so many other fun ideas are out there. In the meantime, I’m writing all my new ideas down and they’ll be waiting for me. Best of luck on your middle grade! 🙂
Thanks, Debra! I work on several projects at the same time–keeps me from getting bored. But I know my limit. Or rather, I’ve learned my limit (the hard way). So cheers to current projects–may they get finished, sooner or later! 🙂
Cathy–Almost finished with your first draft of your middle grade book? Congratulations. Keep the momentum going… and finish it.
Yes, ma’am. I have the notes for the last few chapters–and STILL I found myself going off script! 🙂
Hey, you have to give me some pointers. I’m writing my 1st MG novel, 1/2 way through now. Hope to finish in the next 2-3 weeks.
Sounds like you don’t need too many pointers if you’re halfway through, Tina! I’d love to hear more!
Pretty sure I read on FB that you finished this puppy, right? So congratulations. 🙂 I’m glad you followed your heart. You gave me that advice a while back, and it turned out pretty well, so I’m happy you took it for yourself, too. Can you tell us what it’s about? And where is Tish?
Yep, it seems like such an easy thing, Lisa, to follow your heart. I’m not sure why we end up going around in circles first! 🙂
Oh, I do so love Tish but she’s been going in her own circles. This story has a boy protagonist and baseball and the Civil War and a ghost and a middle school crush…it’s a fun and funny contemporary MG mystery about loss. Um…I know loss doesn’t sound like a funny subject but it has its LOL moments. 🙂