tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post7235027430452984361..comments2024-01-05T05:32:54.346-05:00Comments on S.A. Larsen, Award-winning author of middle grade & young adult fiction: The Red-Headed Step-ChildS.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-63838182083743239632012-02-08T22:25:01.860-05:002012-02-08T22:25:01.860-05:00This is a very useful list..bookmarking it!
Stop...This is a very useful list..bookmarking it!<br /><br /><br />Stopping by also to welcome you on board the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html" rel="nofollow">A to Z Challenge April 2012</a><br />We shall have loads of fun exchanging comments and visits!<br /><br />Twitter: @AprilA2Z <br /> #atozchallengeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-15539958843391392152012-02-03T23:57:09.592-05:002012-02-03T23:57:09.592-05:00Great list, Sheri! Thank you.Great list, Sheri! Thank you.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-69375641558489417992012-02-03T19:31:27.555-05:002012-02-03T19:31:27.555-05:00Middle school was awful! ... But middle grade is s...Middle school was awful! ... But middle grade is still my hands-down favorite genre. Weird, huh? I think I'm scared to write it, though. Your list of thoughts really give me something to chew on ... and make me think of my own almost-middle-grader.A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-76613115872871964452012-02-03T08:40:04.102-05:002012-02-03T08:40:04.102-05:00Thanks for the great list! It is a challenging tim...Thanks for the great list! It is a challenging time of life, for sure, but also an exciting one, since kids have a little more independence and can start to do things that are more adult-like.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-11891918062083832442012-02-01T20:27:24.228-05:002012-02-01T20:27:24.228-05:00I taught middle school and have the utmost respect...I taught middle school and have the utmost respect for these kids. It's a tough age. I'm hoping my middle grade trilogy will get picked up soon. *crossing fingers*Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-56599518053609980042012-01-30T23:47:01.740-05:002012-01-30T23:47:01.740-05:00I think you've got most of it.
I think there ...I think you've got most of it. <br />I think there were two basic categories during those years. The cool kids and the ones the cool kids picked on to make themselves feel even cooler.Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-29876908107799620802012-01-30T23:10:01.182-05:002012-01-30T23:10:01.182-05:00Wow. GREAT list and something (some things) for me...Wow. GREAT list and something (some things) for me to keep in mind when doing my edits!Dawn Iushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546425873531022196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-58164429346645524442012-01-30T21:25:59.440-05:002012-01-30T21:25:59.440-05:00That's a very helpful list, Sheri. I hated mi...That's a very helpful list, Sheri. I hated middle school (actually, I'm old enough that we called it Junior High!). And yet I'm writing MG. But I think I write for the traditional MG age: 8 to 12, not necessarily the "new" MG age, which seems to be 10 to 14.<br /><br />Linda Sue Park, at an SCBWI conference in July 2010, said a very wise thing about the difference between MG and YA. She said: Middle Grade readers are reading to find out about the world - the world outside their circle of familiarity. Young Adult readers are reading to find out about themselves.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-89876452223580391342012-01-30T17:54:36.531-05:002012-01-30T17:54:36.531-05:00As a redhead who believed (wrongly) that she was a...As a redhead who believed (wrongly) that she was a stepchild in Middle School, I agree with your list 100%. As a writer who’s recently tried writing MG, I thank you profusely for your list. As an adult, what I remember most about that era are the horribly painful, confusing feelings, the bad hair, questionable skin and an overabundance of gawk.Fiona Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15631705927824936272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-52906102506201602472012-01-30T15:08:45.524-05:002012-01-30T15:08:45.524-05:00These are all really wonderful points that can and...These are all really wonderful points that can and should be absorbed by MG writers because this can help ensure main characters are developed in ways an MG can totally relate to. If the main character comes across as too adult or too childish, readers won't be able to connect, and that connection is what all writers want to form.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-73420188941488757262012-01-30T14:17:20.503-05:002012-01-30T14:17:20.503-05:00You're welcome!!You're welcome!!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-3875011013845945292012-01-30T14:16:58.783-05:002012-01-30T14:16:58.783-05:00Oh, too sweet, Shannon!Oh, too sweet, Shannon!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-36331831529066985432012-01-30T14:15:42.211-05:002012-01-30T14:15:42.211-05:00Haha...just trying to survive it. I hear you there...Haha...just trying to survive it. I hear you there, Stina!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-7139775000455410392012-01-30T14:14:57.689-05:002012-01-30T14:14:57.689-05:00Sounds great!! Go for it!Sounds great!! Go for it!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-37403646446399291052012-01-30T14:09:06.560-05:002012-01-30T14:09:06.560-05:00I'm adding: Where you begin to suspect that th...I'm adding: Where you begin to suspect that the real nemesis to your life's happiness might be the very ones who brought you into this world.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02530886181437955643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-73056586126821773912012-01-30T13:46:02.114-05:002012-01-30T13:46:02.114-05:00Ah the middle, such a tough spot to be and an even...Ah the middle, such a tough spot to be and an even tougher spot to write about! Great list, thank you.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-61993996538807999332012-01-30T13:20:12.286-05:002012-01-30T13:20:12.286-05:00Middle grade is a magical place, for all those rea...Middle grade is a magical place, for all those reasons!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-61914961672714410022012-01-30T12:40:45.113-05:002012-01-30T12:40:45.113-05:00This is a great list.This is a great list.RaShelle Workmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582252557500502186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-50412281213857603702012-01-30T11:56:12.197-05:002012-01-30T11:56:12.197-05:00Great list! For middle grade writers this is golde...Great list! For middle grade writers this is golden.Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-37885059327891304372012-01-30T11:52:19.739-05:002012-01-30T11:52:19.739-05:00LOVE this, Sheri! The middle grade years are a ble...LOVE this, Sheri! The middle grade years are a blending of wonderful and horrible, active and awkward, shyness and longing for attention... Great list and great post! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-24307941405730345392012-01-30T11:25:58.252-05:002012-01-30T11:25:58.252-05:00Great list! MG is a lot of fun to write.Great list! MG is a lot of fun to write.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-49487734643407362682012-01-30T10:21:58.344-05:002012-01-30T10:21:58.344-05:00ugh, Sheri. This list reads just like my NINE year...ugh, Sheri. This list reads just like my NINE year old... *ugh!* not looking forward to MS years... But this is also a great list for folks writing MG novels. I think a lot of this continues all the way to 11th grade, too? Yes? When I taught 10th grade, a lot of these things were still happening--with the possible exception of the awkwardness. Good stuff~ :o) <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-83461785811797175422012-01-30T09:23:37.540-05:002012-01-30T09:23:37.540-05:00All great points. It was definitely one of the mos...All great points. It was definitely one of the most awkward stages of youth!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-54028714944459475382012-01-30T08:45:11.005-05:002012-01-30T08:45:11.005-05:00I have a middle grader, but I'm not interested...I have a middle grader, but I'm not interested in writer for his age group. I'm just trying to survive it. The first book I wrote was MG, but then I realized it was supposed to be YA. I started reading more YA (and less MG) and fell in love with writing for that age group. <br /><br />I love this list!Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-79962610972351440412012-01-30T08:32:17.505-05:002012-01-30T08:32:17.505-05:00You got the drama part right. At that age, most ki...You got the drama part right. At that age, most kids are well on their way to being an emotional basket case for a few years.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com