I am a poetry PB writer. But, my agent would like a mid-grade mystery from me. Unfortunately, I haven’t ever written anything in prose that he likes.
Bummer.
My teacher, Anastasia, tells me that I need to go read a few mid-grade mysteries to get in the groove.
I feel like I’ll never get the hang of it!!!
Since I already have a couple of books, I can’t be a one hit wonder, but I’m currently a one style wonder.
Something pretty. Blah-blah-blah.
Something else pretty. Blah-blah-blah.
Just wait till the book comes out…and the second one. And the one that’s being shopped right now. Oh, and the one my editor requested. ALL THE SAME.
How am I ever gonna learn to write decent prose???
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
You can, because you’re Ivory!
And frankly, if you can make soap, you can do anything.
What exactly is meant by mid-grade mystery?
Of course I’m far from an expert, but why does your agent want you to switch genres? I guess what I’m saying is that some people are brillant in only certain styles of writing. Think Stephen King writing a romance novel, lol.
Don’t force it, read lots in the genre, take notes as you read. Let the ideas come… if they don’t remember your current success!!!
Best wishes!!!
Come play on the Absolute Write forums. You’ll get all the advice you can handle (and then some…) but the MG and YA subforums are full of really nice and helpful people.
D’you get Writer’s Digest? I’d recommend that highly.
I second the question: why the switch? And why this genre in particular for you?
Again, why, why and why? Or are they just “needing” some mysteries right now and you look like a likely candidate?
You probably are aware of this technique but… I read that Agatha Christie used to work out what actually DID happen and then write her story to hide it, to become a mystery, in effect. I’ve never tried a mystery and never will but I suspect that is the only way I could ever do it. Otherwise I wouldn’t know the solution to my own story, LOL!
My DD has 4 prose books written – mystery / police – with interest from an agent. Let’s see how it works out. Sometimes one can get caught up in the logistics of writing and loose the creative factor. Try to balance the two. Good Luck.
Carla—I always wanted to write a novel…
Dolly–I got into kids’ lit wanting to do novels, but started with PB cause it was a smaller bite.
HAndcrafter: ‘middle’ grade. 9-12 year olds. Sounds like ‘mediocre’ mystery if I don’t explain that, huh?