iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

#MiddleGrade chat A4 I don’t think any of my characters would do well by themselves in a crisis. I try to write a cast of friends who need to work together and rely on each other’s strengths to achieve their goals.

250

#MiddleGrade chat A3 My most academic character is the best friend who likes to have his head in textbooks. It comes in very handy when there’s puzzles to be solved…

140

#MiddleGrade chat 2 My MCs are usually serious with clear goals, so I am especially fond of my quirky side characters who make everyone laugh. I got a kid who loves to tell everyone corny pirate jokes. Works great for a break in tension.

230

Good midnight #MiddleGrade chat I’m sleepy so may drop out early. Thanks to @rosdando.bsky.social in advance. Despite a busy week, I managed to revise 3 chapters (actually 4 if you count the 2 that were merged) in my YA romcom.

230

#MiddleGrade chat #4 Because I love music so much, I write in silence. 🤔 When I have music on, I end up singing along or looking up a song’s lyrics or meanings or chords to play on the guitar. I’d be just as distracted with TV. 🤫 Writer at work.

260

#MiddleGrade chat 3 I’m an IT project manager at a multinational company and work can spill over into nights and weekends. I’m also a mom. I can’t schedule my writing time. I just do it whenever I can.

280

#MiddleGrade chat A2. Imposter syndrome? I get it All. The. Time. To handle it, I think back on any positive feedback I’ve had about my work. I belong. And because learning from others is the best way to grow, I try to read widely.

060

Good midnight #MiddleGrade chat! This week I made a few edits based on feedback from one of my favourite CPs. I also finished reading a great e-ARC of The Winterton Deception: Final Word, book 1 in a series by @janetsumnerjohnson.bsky.social releasing end of this month. #kidlit

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 11/10/2023

#kidlitchat Character Development, ties to the arc. MC starts with an internal struggle for reasons explained. As they journey through the plot to achieve their goal, the experiences shape them. For me, a lot of this is developed while writing and revising.

160

#MiddleGrade chat A4 I don't force myself to write through writer's block. Either I focus on something else where the words will flow or I allow myself a break. For me, it's more about motivation than not knowing what to write.

030

#MiddleGrade chat A3 I'm one of those writers that started during COVID. I tried writing a YA vampire book when I came out of college 20 yrs ago, but I stopped when I realised I was referring to the trees, grass and plants as "green" and couldn't come up with better adjectives. I've improved since.

170

#MiddleGrade chat A2 Diversity is what drives me to write. I want as many kids as possible to see themselves in my books. Granted, I don't know their experiences to write them all as main characters, but I can write from a multi-racial and third culture kids' perspective.

120

Ros Dando ✨A Gift of Wild available now!✨ @rosdando.bsky.social · 08/10/2023

Good midnight #MiddleGrade chat! I got a little revising done based on a CP's feedback of my earlier chapters. Other than that, I've been busy playing around making promo videos for wonderful MG books debuting in 2024. I don't think we can share videos here, so come follow me on X or Instagram.

240

Reposted by Noël Baris

It's that time of the week again, #middlegrade people! Just over three hours to go... #kidlit #writing #authors #booksky

Weekly middle grade writers' chat!

Join the feed #MiddleGrade

5pm BST Sundays

Join us for question, snippets and prompts, and meet and chat with other MG authors.

0106

#MiddleGrade chat A4 I don’t italicise, but do give it context so that the reader will understand which language it’s in and what it means. My YA romcom is in English with the understanding that the characters are actually speaking Dutch, and it certainly is a mind shift.

140

#MiddleGrade chat A3 I love the use of substitute words which could be understood to be swearing but fit in with the theme, like cursing “Stars!” could be great for sci fi.

140

#MiddleGrade chat A2 My first MG: to my husband and child for being the first fans and always supportive My 2nd MG: to my mother-in-law, the next most supportive person who unfortunately didn’t live to see my first book published

240

Noël (Singapore, 00, Singapore)’s review of Daughters of the Lamp

#MiddleGrade chat A1 Work and life was too much this week to make time for writing. However, I finished an e-ARC of Daughters of the Lamp by Nedda Lewers releasing in February. Check out my 5⭐️ review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

goodreads.com

I love me a well crafted middle grade magical adventure, but there are a couple of things that pushed this book a level above others in the same genre. This story is seeping in Egyptian culture, pres...

340

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 24/09/2023

#MiddleGrade chat A4 My ultimate author dream goal would be a book series turned into a TV show and being invited on set to watch the filming. 🎥

4100

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 24/09/2023

#MiddleGrade chat A2 Absolutely, real places show up in my writing. Having lived and traveled around the world, I love global settings with diverse casts. So far I have: the Caribbean, historical colonial Indonesia, and the Dutch town of Delft.

450

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 24/09/2023

Good midnight! 🦇 #MiddleGrade chat A1 This week I wrote 7.3k words in 3+ chapters of my YA. Hopefully I can complete this rewrite soon.

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

Happy Book Birthday to I AM KAVI by Thushanthi Ponweera! This beautiful middle grade novel-in-verse set during the Sri Lankan Civil War is sure to captivate readers of all ages around the globe. #kidlitchat support #kidlit authors

070

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

A good critique partner is worth their weight in gold. (Mine are worth their weight in diamonds.) #kidlitchat #kidlit career

5250

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

Hi #kidlitchat ! Which are the new #kidlit author accounts here that I should follow?

360

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 19/09/2023

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day! 🏴‍☠️

2238

#MiddleGrade #kidlit A4 My obsession with pirates definitely makes it into my writing! From traveling and living around the world, I try to bring in diversity of characters. Otherwise, not too much of my personal hobbies which means I have to do a lot of research for my books!

191

#MiddleGrade #kidlit A3 Most of my writing is done at my desk in my home office, but sometimes --like right now-- I might have my laptop with me on the couch or in bed. It's almost impossible for me to write with the TV or music on, though. Writing away from home has proven futile.

010

#MiddleGrade #kidlit A2 My writing font of choice will always be Times New Roman size 12 in MS Word unless editors start demanding something different. I also rely on One Drive so I never have to back-up or lose my work.

340

#MiddleGrade #kidlit A1 Despite work and recovering from a horrible cough, I had a fantastic writing week! I managed to write 9500 words (in my YA)! It's got me motivated to keep going.

380

#MiddleGrade chat A4 I couldn’t write a pirate book without a parrot! He has the habit of repeating things you don’t want others to hear. My mystery has a dachshund named Catfish because they weren’t sure which pet to get… dog, cat or fish.

390

#MiddleGrade chat A3 Writing companion 1 wouldn’t move so that I could lay down my keyboard mat! (I have a clean desk policy so I remove everything at the end of the day and put it all back the next day.)

2100

#MiddleGrade chat A2 For me I do my best writing in the afternoons, usually on the weekends. Coincides with coffee time!

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 06/09/2023

Good midnight #MiddleGrade chat! Between work and being sick, I managed to finish one chapter this week. But I’m cheating again because it’s YA.

180

Hi #kidlitchat ! I write MG adventure and mystery as well as YA fantasy and romcom. Love me anything to do with pirates (the shiver-me-timbers kind, not the real modern ones). I also love to help to help authors shout about their new books. If you have any e-ARCs that need a review, contact me!

3120

Noël Baris @barisnoel.bsky.social · 03/09/2023

#MiddleGrade chat A4 Yo ho! This gorgeous art is of some of the adult characters in my MG pirate adventure and was created by Isa Lorono at Isa’s Commissions (isartss.carrd.co)