I try to make my WIP updates come on Wednesdays, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Today, however, we’re right on schedule. As I mentioned last week, I’ve been juggling a few WIPs. This week I’ve been working on revising a (hopefully) funny MG adventure.
Originally, I started this manuscript as a break from some of the more serious stories I was working on. I love the concept and it’s been fun to write, but it’s taken me a while to figure out how to make the plot work. When I sent it to my agent a few months back, she pointed out exactly what the problem was: there were too many twists and turns in the story; I needed to simplify and streamline the plot. So that’s what I’ve been doing.
It’s funny the things you don’t notice when you’re so close to a manuscript. But after being away from it for a while, I realized that there were a few pretty major characters I could easily cut out. I also switched some things around to try to make the sequence of events more logical. I’ve never been great at plot, so as I approached this revision I made an outline of what I wanted to happen in the story. Hopefully that helped keep me on track.
The manuscript is now out with a couple of my beta readers. Hopefully they’ll finish reading it and gush about how wonderful it is; but more likely, they’ll probably point out all the gaping holes my latest round of revisions has left behind. I’m also afraid that after so many revisions, the humor has dimmed a little. To remedy that, I’ve started reading Larklight by Philip Reeve which is funny and quirky. I’m hoping the off-beat humor will inspire me. (I might also go back and reread Whales on Stilts for the millionth time.)
How are you doing with your WIPs? Have any recommendations for funny MG books that could help inspire me?
- Categories: WIP, Writing Rants
I’ve also been working on revisions for a funny (I think) MG adventure! Some funny MG books I can recommend are Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot and Flush (he’s got a new book out that I haven’t read, Scat) and Lisa Yee’s Millicent Min Girl Genius (I just picked up her new one Bobby Versus Girls Accidentally, but I haven’t read it yet). Hmmm…I thought I had more, but without my books right in front of me, I seem to be drawing a blank. Good luck with the rest of the revisions. I’ll see if I can think of anymore books!
Yay for funny MG adventures! Thanks for the suggestions, Katie. I keep hearing great things about Lisa Yee – I’ll have to check out some of her work. Happy revising.
I can’t offer suggestions, but thanks for talking about this — I’m interested in the same thing to help inspire my MG! Great list, Katie!
Thanks for stopping by Jennifer! I’ll make sure to post about any books that help me get my “funny back.”
I found the Percy Jackson series (Okay, so far I’ve only read #1 and #2) to be funny … and action packed!
Thanks Valerie! I really enjoyed the Percy Jackson books – they certainly are action-packed! I think what makes them funny is the narrative voice and also the unexpected characters. I’ve been trying to play around with both in my WIP, though I think I could still have more fun with voice.
The WIP is finally making its way to Round 1 of X, LOL.
Here are some funny MG’s (at least I thought they were, LOL):
Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty
Dounutheart by Sue Stauffacher
Every Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O’ Connor
Savvy by Ingrid Law
There’s A Dead Person Following My Sister Around (a personal favorite) by Vivian Velde Vande
There’s A Dead Person Following My Sister Around – with a title like that, I pretty much have to read this book! Thanks for the suggestions.