Fleshing Out The Characters

I'm not so used to doing that. When you're writing middle-grade novels, you try to keep the action happening. You can't always supply the reader with a lot of inner dialogue.

Recently, an editor who seemed to like SHELTER overall suggested I needed to "flesh out the characters" a bit.

I think she's right and realize that now I'm writing YA, I actually have the luxury of writing more inner dialogue, angst, confusion, etc. into my mss. I have more freedom to portray the inner realities of being a teen or young adult.

So my SHELTER ms. is getting a little longer but it's also getting fuller.

Good thing I like revising.