How To Sell Your Middle Grade Novel and Make It a Hit with Kids - Alyson Gerber

Alyson Gerber is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Liars Society series, a middle grade mystery set at a New England prep school. The Liars Society has been picked as a Best Book of the Year by the American Booksellers Association, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop and has been nominated for six state book awards, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award. The Liars Society #3: A Secret Escape will be in stores April 7. Alyson has an MFA from The New School in creative writing. She grew up in New England and now lives in New York City with her family. 

A key to writing for middle grade is knowing your audience. So, Alyson moves through the whole room getting to know us (our names and where we live) before she gives us the secrets to writing bestselling middle grade. 

Alyson believes where we are from defines a lot about us. 

Who is your audience? 

Middle grade readers are 3rd to 8th grade, a very wide age of readers (3rd graders and 8th graders are very different). Can you tap into each of those ages within in the story? Alyson find a sweet spot with 5th grade.

With middle grade readers, short chapters are a key to success. 

Tip: Study the way publishers or others pitch a book to help you craft yours. For example, check out this one for Alyson's Liar's Society. Watch it HERE.

Alyson emphasizes that as writers of middle grade, we need to be able to get back into that middle grade experience. It's a time when kids are experiencing things for the very first time. We need to get back into recalling what it was like to have experience for the first time (first heart break, first betrayal, first dismissal by adults). 

Work on your pitch, and the many different versions of it. You will always need it.

Alyson, suggests going outside your genre to find great comp titles. 

Think about your aesthetic and vibe! 

Alyson shares some highly recommended middle grade reads. 

The room is energized with attendees sharing their pitches with each other. Do I even spy Tiffany Jackson (author of the above Blood in the Water, and many other great novels)?