You Wrote a Middle Grade Book. Now What?

You had an idea. You wrote. You slept. You wrote some more. You edited. You cried. (Just me? Oh. Okay. Never mind.) You shared. You revised. You reviewed. 

Now you wonder: How does my story magically leap from my hard drive to the shelf?

If you’ve already bought your copy of Writer’s Market, kudos to you. But if you’ve drafted a generic cover letter that you’re ready to send to every children’s publisher, editor and agent listed, I’d like to politely ask you to pause a moment. Put the postage stamps away, and keep reading. It’s going to be okay.

Ask yourself some tough questions:

1) Is the story well-told?

2) Is it within the generally recognized middle grade word count?

3) What books currently on shelf is it most like?

4) What makes yours different?

5) Who should read it? (the answer is NOT ‘everyone.’)

I want to talk about item number one, is the story well-told?

Of course you’re going to say ‘yes.’ You believe in your story (you should).

But the truth is, you need other writers to help you make this determination. You need a critique group, or an editor, to read your story and help you shape it into the best it can be. Make sure this happens before you begin the submission process.

Your critique group or editor will find plot holes, characterization issues, and continuity issues. They will find any awkward word choices, filler words, or phrases that don’t make sense to this generation of readers. You need this feedback, even when it’s hard to hear. It’s given with the desire to see your story on shelf.

Once you have received feedback and revised, and you can answer the rest of the questions above, you’re ready for the next steps in the process.

If you plan to self publish, at a minimum you will need to know:

1) how to format your manuscript for print and e-reader.

2) how to choose cover art

3) how to market your book

Click here and here for some additional excellent resources.

If you plan to pitch your book to agents and editors, you will need to:

1) research so you find the best agent/editor fit for your story

2) write a concise, persuasive query letter

3) possess patience by the bucket – this can be a slow process

4) separate yourself from your work – rejection is a normal part of the path to publication, not a reflection of your worth as a person.

The fact that you’re reading this is a great start. For what it’s worth, I’m traveling this road with you. AlmostAnAuthor has a number of resources that have helped and encouraged me along the way. What questions do you have? Let us know in the comments and we’ll find an answer for you.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.