Mastering Middle Grade
Beating Writer’s Block
It’s happened to all of us. The dreaded b l o c k. It’s the intersection of panic and…
November 16, 2023-
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Mastering Middle Grade
Pitch Perfect
You’ve worked hard to write your middle grade novel, and now you’re ready to sell it to a publisher.…
October 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Why You should Tackle Tough Topics in Middle Grade Writing
If you love middle grade novels, you’re probably familiar with some of the unique characteristics of this genre. You…
August 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
How to Make a Cliché Work for You
In middle grade novels, do you know what gets my goat? Stories riddled with clichés. Let’s address the elephant…
July 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
How to Persevere in Your Writing
When I first started writing, I assumed publishing occurred as writers often presented in Hollywood films. Authors complete a…
June 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Elements That Work
When it comes to writing middle grade fiction, authors might wonder what works best for this 8-12 years old…
April 21, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development as a Writing Tool
As an aspiring middle grade author, you’ve probably heard this before – if you want to write compelling, relevant…
March 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Motivation
What motivates the main character in your middle grade manuscript? If you struggle to pinpoint what drives them, you…
February 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Five Writing Goals to Start the Year
Hey, all! Now that the winter holidays are past, it’s high time to focus on goals for the upcoming…
January 16, 2023 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Just For Fun-The Christmas Book Title Game
Christmas is my favorite. I adore everything about it. I love the decorating, the baking, gathering with friends and…
December 18, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
I’m an Author
My co-host Lori Scott has an exceptional series about bringing her YA novel from concept to reality, but for…
October 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Inside the Ten-Foot Line: From Conception to Publication (Part Two)
Last month, I detailed the first half of my journey to publication for my MG/YA sports novel Inside the…
September 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Inside the Ten-Foot Line: From Conception to Publication Part One
As I wrote this article, I got an email from my publisher letting me know that the pre-order sales…
August 8, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Show, Don’t Tell
“Show, don’t tell” should be the mantra of every writer, especially Middle Grade authors. What is ‘Telling’? Telling is…
July 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
What Rejection Really Is
Behind every book on the shelf, and every story waiting to be published, there’s an author who has experienced…
June 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
What Rejection Really Is
Behind every book on the shelf, and every story waiting to be published, there’s an author who has experienced…
June 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Hooks
I recently read a few middle grade novels I could not put down, even when sleep called loud and…
May 18, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Building Platform
You’ve poured hours into building a plot, developing characters, and revising. Now that your baby is written, how do…
April 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Marching to Their Own Drum – Writing at a Pace Middle Grade Readers Love
Middle grade books are set apart from other genres by a few things. We’ve talked about these in other…
March 16, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
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…
September 16, 2021 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Getting Started on Instagram Part 1: Sign Up, Bio, and Engaging Posts
Today’s authors must have a platform to market their books. In addition to a personal website, email lists, speaking…
March 28, 2021 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Middle Grade Goes Back to School
Ready or not, September means it is time for heading back to school. As an adult, the phrase “back…
September 16, 2020 -
Mastering Middle Grade
The Time is Now By Kell McKinney
I had grand aspirations for this month’s post, involving a poll, some original photography and maybe even a snappy…
March 15, 2018 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Want to Write Middle Grade Fiction? Here’s Three (Content) Issues to Consider By Kell McKinney
One of the first writing rules I learned in journalism school is that you have to know your audience. …
February 15, 2018
