When approaching a new market, the more familiar you are with the particularities of that market, the greater your chances of success. Writing for middle grade readers is no exception – this market has its own nuances and best practices just like any other. If, like so many of us, you are interested in writing for this special age group, there are a few things you should know. Voice is queen What are middle grade editors and agents looking for above all? Voice. That ineffable je ne sais quoi that sets your work apart, your own particular and individual nuance and timbre that nobody else can imitate even if they tried. Big ideas and high concepts are as splashy in middle grade as they are in any other market, but even in a quiet story, if your voice sings, editors and agents will take notice. Less is more Middle Grade novels were already on the short side (check out this old but still remarkably relevant word count gauge) and the trend is getting even shorter. (You can check out the AR Bookfinder to find the word count of your recent favorites.) Many in this age group tend to be more willing More
Freelance Writing Teams
/ 2021-02-05This day and time, writing “teams” are making appearances across social media and emails. I get inquiries from them at least every other day. Sometimes they come across as individuals. Other times they openly state they represent teams. As an editor, I have a problem with them, in whatever guise they present themselves. Today, this is my rant. Recently one individual pitched a piece about writers capitalizing on Pinterest. As I usually do, I Googled the writer. She indeed understood the subject and had been published as a freelancer, to include about this topic. So I told her I was interested. A couple weeks later, she said the holidays put them behind. Them? She went further to explain that she had a team who edited pieces before they went out. Finally she sent the piece, and made mention of “the writer” and “the team,” and I put on my brakes. I asked who this person was who actually wrote the piece, because I needed to vet them. I had only vetted her. She explained that she was part of a team that functioned this way. I said I still had to vet the writer. She instead pulled the piece, not wanting More
Want to Make Money Writing? Try Social Media Management
/ 2021-01-29When old friends ask me what I do now, I laugh. No one’s more surprised than me! I fell into social media management by accident. Back when I promoted my books online, I noticed opportunities. Then a local cafe owner and I started kicking around ideas one afternoon, and it happened—she hired me for a monthly fee to manage her social media. But the opportunity shouldn’t have been so surprising. As writers we already have many of the skills required to transition into online marketing. For example, we already know how to write beginnings, middles, and endings. Social media copy has the same structure. We know how to write with an authentic voice and to keep it consistent. The truth is, a social media account is like a character. Have you ever read a post and thought that it sounded out of character for the person you’re following? That’s called unauthentic. As writers—especially in fiction—we already juggle different voices and characters. The posts that I write for my Mediterranean restaurant client are sunny and vibrant with mouth-watering photos. But the content I post for my supplement store client is punchy, informative, and often highlights the benefits of one product against More
Writing What You Know
/ 2021-01-29We hear that phrase all the time. Some say it is the basis of good writing, especially for new writers. Others claim it’s false, that writers should be able to write anything, or they are at their best when having to dig down and research. But there’s more to writing “what you know” than to reference the education, history, experience, hobbies, and profession of a writer’s life. I recently ran across this quote from Virginia Woolf in an essay in The New Yorker. “Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each sight or incident scores upon the consciousness. Let us not take it for granted that life exists more fully in what is commonly thought big than in what is commonly thought small.” ~Virginia Woolf Writing what you know isn’t necessarily from a macro viewpoint. In other words, not necessarily from a big picture or factual knowledge aspect. Writing what you know could be defined as how well you picture life. In other words, you don’t necessarily see a boat on the water. You see the spray leaving drops More
Want Publicity? Go Local
/ 2021-01-22Writers appreciate that reviews are golden, but self-promotion is also key. Sometimes that means promoting ourselves through guest blog posts or interviews with a podcaster. But in addition to all the work to reach a wider audience, it’s also important to remember where we came from, or where we are. I found as a writer that home, whether my hometown or the place I currently live, will always support my work, whether through a local newspaper article or a talk at the library. When promoting, go local as well as far and wide. I’ve come up with a few tips and ideas that have helped me in my search for local exposure. No Matter How Big the City, There’s a Local Somewhere When I published my last literary novel, The Beekeeper’s Daughter, I lived in New York City. I asked the Barnes and Noble on the Upper West Side if I could do a reading there as a local author. They told me there were no fewer than 500 “local” authors within a five-block radius, but even in New York I managed to find a local angle. I taught at an all-girls school in the Bronx and realized that the headline “Bronx More
An Annual Rant about the Art of Critique
/ 2021-01-22Critiquing has an etiquette all its own, but way too many people have never been taught those manners or do not care to follow them. As a result, they impact their own character. They will argue that character does not play into the equation; however, critiquing, like any human interaction, comes with best practices. The person who boldly steps outside those rules is often remembered, and not in a good way. Worse, even though they might have the best of intentions, the party upon which they heap their criticisms will not only remember them in a bad light, but will also not heed the criticism. Thus, time wasted for all. Excellent and famous writers recall fondest memories of mentors. And they often remain attached to those mentors over the years. That is because there is a fondness infused into the lesson. There is a respect for the writer woven into the delivery. If we’ve learned anything during these times of pandemic, it should be a respect for humankind. After a year of teeth gnashing and condemnation of anything spoken in public, we are beginning to feel like we might be settling down a tad. That effort should include critiquing. I recently More
The Daring and the Tentative
/ 2021-01-16The difference between the tentative and the daring is that the tentative ask too many questions beginning with BUT or WHAT IF. The daring, however, are too busy forging ahead, diagramming how they will arrive at success. The daring and diligent are focused. The tentative are scouting for obstacles so they are not blindsided. The daring push forward, willing to make mistakes. The tentative hunt for ways to not make mistakes. Thomas Jefferson said, “Act! Action will delineate and define you.” All too often we study and study and never get around to applying ourselves. I know authors who have 30 how-to books on their shelves, afraid to put pen to paper until they’ve read all there is, to avoid any and all mistakes. Others, however, start writing and choose to learn from the doing. The truth is, when you believe something is doable, you find ways to make it so. You accept the challenges, which, according to Bette Davis, is the key to life. Then there’s this piece of advice, which I absolutely love: “I don’t run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run towards it because the only way to escape fear is to trample More
Being Accountable
/ 2021-01-16I’ve had a rash of queries from folks asking how they find a way to be accountable in their writing, because while they are still quarantined, they are wasting the time away. Would you want to be the person who says, “Hey, how many words did you write today?” only for the other person to get testy about being nagged. Frankly, you want to write or you do not. Or you like what you are writing or you don’t. So are there any accountability options? Sure. 1) Join a writer’s group that requires X number of words per visit. 2) Keep a spreadsheet or calendar and set a minimum number of words per day. Mark the missed days with fat, red Xs. 3) Stay up later or get up earlier, with that time solely dedicated to writing. See Monk Mode Morning 4) Deny yourself privileges until a word count is done. 5) Set one hour per day, and dictate the hour. No exceptions. 6) Find reminder apps like Beeminder 7) Pay money for a personal coach (my least favorite). But you know . . . the responsibility is yours. If writing is not your thing, find something that is. It isn’t a mortal More
Connecting with Clients and Writing Markets
/ 2021-01-08Connections with our clients and writing markets form the cornerstones of a successful freelance business. When people remember YOU ARE THE WRITER, they hire you – but if clients forget your name, other writers get the job. When starting out, I had a small handful of customers. Building and maintaining client relationships has increased my number of active clients, and I’m still connecting with new potential markets every month. There’s no single secret. It took work, time, and trust. Here’s how to spark and maintain lasting professional relationships with your client list as a writer. Get to know more people Most freelance writers know people. Get to know business owners, budding entrepreneurs, fellow writers, local and international bloggers, and marketing teams. Join the Chamber of Commerce. Anyone you know can be a potential client or referral route, either now or in the future. I play regular contract bridge. I started corresponding with the team of Bridge Base Online some years back. Today, I write a daily column for one of Bill Gates’ favorite online bridge websites. Connect over questions Asking questions can establish a connection. Use questions to contact new markets, or probe clients that have been quiet for a while. More
Could UX Writing Be for You?
/ 2021-01-02UX writing is a growing area that generally pays well and is specialised without being impossible to break into. So what is it and could it be for you? What is UX writing? UX stands for usability or user experience, which is basically about how easy it is for people to use a website or app. UX writing basically refers to all the little bits of copy that guide people through processes on apps, websites, games consoles, software and more: instructional text, calls to action, labels, buttons, menu items, error messages, Help text and acknowledgment messages. Why is it growing in importance? More and more of us are carrying out tasks online, from registering to vote to joining a dating app to buying foreign currency. All these interactive processes, or user journeys, involve an interface between a human and a computer. Increased use of apps and mobile has created many more such interfaces. All the big players like Google, Facebook and Apple have UX writers in their design teams. If people (users) don’t have a user-friendly experience when they try to navigate a business’s processes, lost customers and money could result. Businesses have realised that it’s not just the design More