Writing the Middle Grade Novel: From Beginning to End: Part One

Are you eager to write a middle grade novel but don’t really know how to start let alone finish such a project? So here are some tips to help you get going:

1. Start with a main character: your protagonist. Ask yourself: What does this person want more than anything in the world? The way in which your protagonist strives to get what he wants will become your main plot or plot. Your protagonist should not be perfect. If he is, he won’t be believable, so don’t forget to give this character some flaws. But remember to give readers a reason to like this person. Readers have to like your protagonist to care what happens to her. If they don’t care what happens to it, they won’t want to read your book.

2. Create another character (or situation) that will try to prevent your main character from getting what they want most. This character (your antagonist) does not have to be evil. He or she just has to disagree with your main character for some reason.

3. Meet the people who will be in your story VERY, VERY WELL. To do this, create a profile for each of your main characters, or create a series of questions to ask your characters and then interview them to get their answers to these questions. One of the questions you ask your protagonist should be “What do you want most?” Another helpful question to ask is, “What are you most afraid of?” As you ask each of your main characters these questions, you will discover each of her strengths and weaknesses.

Four. Decide which point of view (POV) you will use to tell your story. Your story should be told from the point of view of your main character. But will you tell it from this character’s first-person point of view or from his third-person point of view?

Try to write the story from a third person point of view first. After you have written it, check the voice of the story. Is it weak or strong? If it’s weak, rewrite the story from your main character’s first person point of view and see if that makes the voice stronger.

These tips should help you get started. Next, he’ll need to know how to plot and write his story to avoid a low middle ground and not run out of energy before finishing his manuscript. Read Part 2 of this article for tips to help you get started writing your story.