From Middle Grade Writer to Middle Grade Author

Oh, my friend.

Let me tell you a story.

Ten years, one month, and twelve days after I left my full-time corporate job to become a freelance copywriter, I signed my first publishing contract.

*pause for frenzied happy dancing*

You know what I realized after I signed the contract? All those years of work up to that moment were just the beginning. They were endurance training, I think. I have learned boatloads on this journey – some lessons I learned the hard way, others were less painful.

Here are the most important things I’ve learned about becoming an author.

1) Be teachable.

From high school English to journalism school to my corporate advertising and marketing career, I was surrounded by people who told me I could write, and I believed it.

I was so confident in my abilities, in fact, that I sent first drafts of manuscripts to agents. I entered first drafts in contests. And had no idea why they were being rejected.

Thankfully, my eyes opened at my first writing conference when I learned about revisions and critique partners. I heard other writers’ paths to publication. And I became something I hadn’t been in a long time – teachable. That’s when I started making progress.

2) Be generous.

Over the past several years, I’ve had the incredible good fortune of meeting some of the kindest writers. They’ve come alongside me (and numerous others) and offered advice, encouragement, and inspiration.

That’s the type of writer I am trying to be. I have a lot to learn, but when I meet other writers, I try to be a good resource. I’m still learning, of course, but I have found that encouraging other writers, sharing what (little) I know grows the type of community that I want to be part of.

3) Be persistent.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you I never thought about giving up. Some days the words are easy. Other days it’s like trying to tunnel through an iceberg with a spoon. Writing is hard. But it’s not impossible.

You know when it becomes impossible? When you decide to stop trying. So keep trying. Even if it’s only two sentences a day. Keep going. You know how. If I can do it, you can too.

I have another year or so before my book publishes. It will be a year filled with revisions, platform-building and marketing, not to mention I have another WIP to polish and a couple of ideas for new books to draft.

But I didn’t want this exciting moment to pass without reflecting on the ups and downs that brought me here.

Next – I need to have a conversation with the powers-that-be about changing the name of this website from “Almost an Author” to “You’re an Author, Now What?” (Just kidding)

Where are you on your path to publication? Do you want a travel partner? The A3 community is here for you. Reach out in the comments below and let us know what’s on your mind.

When Kelli McKinney and her family aren’t exploring national parks, she can be found on the sidelines at her son’s tennis tournaments, brewing a cup of cinnamon spice tea, or chucking a toy across the backyard for her English Mastiff to chase.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and her graduate degree in radio/tv/film from the University of North Texas. She enjoyed an eclectic-yet-fulfilling fifteen-year career in corporate marketing before wandering off on her own to be a freelance copywriter.

Now, she is a part-time copywriter, full-time mom, and a children’s author. She lives in Texas but a huge piece of her heart belongs to Oklahoma. Her debut novel, JEFF PENNANT’S FIELD GUIDE TO RAISING HAPPY PARENTS is forthcoming in late 2022 with Chicken Scratch Books.

Kelli loves to hear from readers and writers. She can be reached through her website at www.kellmckinney.com or on Instagram @klmckinneywrites .