Alison Weiss

If you're in Dallas County and were turned away, you have until 9 to find your precinct and vote. Judge ruled it.

And if you're still in line when the polls have closed, stay in line. You have a right to cast that ballot.

If you're in North Carolina, Arkansas, or Texas and voted today, thank you! Your voice matters!

a penguin is sticking its head out of a hole next to an ask zin label ALT: a penguin is sticking its head out of a hole next to an ask zin label

Shall we #AskKidLit? Come with your best publishing questions! If you'd rather DM, just let me know!

Thanks! I'm really proud of them and of the amazing authors! Somehow, we'll figure out how to get more of these incredible books into kiddos' hands.

I love middle grade with all my heart. There's so much great US MG out there (and so much more to come)! Getting the right books into the right hands and getting kids excited about reading again would help a lot. Big problems that require thought and investment (that's not always there).

a little girl with pigtails and a bow on her head says so excited ! ALT: a little girl with pigtails and a bow on her head says so excited !

#KidLit friends, I am hearing rumblings that the desire for middle grade is slowly inching up again. Your moment may be closer than you think, so maybe it's time to consider dusting off that manuscript you've been too afraid to even think about.

And adding a little shameless self-promotion, but if you want help with getting that project in shape or wrestling with your query letter or synopsis (or both!), feel free to reach out. www.alisonweisseditorial.com

a little girl with pigtails and a bow on her head says so excited ! ALT: a little girl with pigtails and a bow on her head says so excited !

#KidLit friends, I am hearing rumblings that the desire for middle grade is slowly inching up again. Your moment may be closer than you think, so maybe it's time to consider dusting off that manuscript you've been too afraid to even think about.

I’m so sorry. Sending hugs to you. You are a light, and you can’t fathom how much reading your boost for love at this moment meant to me.

Great news, authors: The 2026 Unpublished Novel Award is now OPEN for submissions! Four writers will receive a $10,000 grant to support their manuscript on its journey to publication.

Learn more here: blcklst.com/programs/202...

My little skateboarding tourist duck! Anybody else dreaming of a little get away? #kidlitart

I LOVE your little skateboarding tourist duck!

I have openings, and I'd love to help you! Reach out with any questions.

The best advice I can give writers at any stage of the process is to find your community, whether it be online, in person, or a combination. Find the people who will buoy you when you feel like you’re drowning and who’ll cheer you on in your successes—and then do the same for them.

"Some people talk in a whisper,
And some people talk in a drawl;
And some people talk-and-talk-and-talk-and-talk-and-talk
And never say anything at all."
--"Thoughts on Talkers," The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig by Walter R. Brooks

In terms of the feedback you've gotten, it's hard for me to gauge without seeing the text, but maybe it still needed more development to feel satisfying as a chapter book narrative. I really can't make that call, though!

The chapter book market is always incredibly tricky. It's just such a limited space, kids move in and out of it so quickly, and the series there tend to dominate the shelves. But there's always hope. I think it's just finding the right fit at the right time. #askkidlit

a woman is making a funny face and saying just ask ALT: a woman is making a funny face and saying just ask

Shall we have an #AskKidLit session? Hit me with all the questions. If you'd rather DM, just let me know.

I can't stress this enough. Being a great writer requires you being an enthusiastic reader. Read in your genre and out of it. (Yeah, even those kinds of books you swear aren't for you occassionally. You might be surprised.) Devour as much as you can.

Post a monster! 🧌
#art

Read the comic for free here--->
wildskies.webcomic.ws

two men are looking at each other and one has a shirt that says beauty on it ALT: two men are looking at each other and one has a shirt that says beauty on it

Come #AskKidLit. Let's get you some answers for those frustrating publishing questions keeping you up at night.

two men are looking at each other and one has a shirt that says beauty on it ALT: two men are looking at each other and one has a shirt that says beauty on it

Come #AskKidLit. Let's get you some answers for those frustrating publishing questions keeping you up at night.

I think you need some ice cream!

I've seen some pushback against is idea, but I strongly agree: To be a great writer of novels, one must read (and study) well-crafted novels. Other forms of storytelling also teach us valuable lessons, but the lion's share of insights are going to come from the same medium you're trying to work in.

Besides, you want folks to read your book one day. Be a good book citizen so they can do the same for you. Support others' work. Share what you love. Write reviews. Request titles at your library. Help the book community to thrive so we can all keep creating great work for a long time.

Some folks are like sponges. They can't read books like theirs as they're writing or elements unconsciously slip in. Okay. No prob. Go read something totally different while you're drafting. I bet you'll pick up something surprising that helps with this project or a future one.

I know we often groan about cliches, but there are conventions and tropes specific to different genres, and you need to immerse yourself in those types of stories to know what's expected. Of course you want to do your own thing and stand out, but you need to know the rules to break them.

Are you stuck? Go pick up a favorite book. Wrap yourself in the language. Hang out with the characters like old friends. Draw energy and inspiration, refilling the well, and then dive back in.

Study a scene that resonates with you. Step back and analyze why. How has the reader approached developing the protagonist? How did they begin setting up that plot twist way earlier? How could you draw on those techniques in your open project? How do you do it your own way?

I can't stress this enough. Being a great writer requires you being an enthusiastic reader. Read in your genre and out of it. (Yeah, even those kinds of books you swear aren't for you occassionally. You might be surprised.) Devour as much as you can.