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Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers Paperback – December 4, 2012

by Mary Kole (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 245 ratings
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Captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers!

Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit! The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to:

   • Recognize the differences between middle grade and young adult audiences and how it impacts your writing.
   • Tailor your manuscript's tone, length, and content to your readership.
   • Avoid common mistakes and cliches that are prevalent in YA and MG fiction, in respect to characters, story ideas, plot structure and more.
   • Develop themes and ideas in your novel that will strike emotional chords.


Mary Kole's candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children's book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career.

If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you.
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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Writer's Digest Books
  4. Publication date
    December 4, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    5.56 x 0.84 x 8.42 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1599635763
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1599635767
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Kole has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and now spends her days as a Senior Literary Manager at Movable Type. She holds her MFA in creative writing from the University of San Francisco, which is where she cemented her love of learning and teaching the crafts of writing and storytelling. Mary blogs at Kidlit.com, named one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" by Writer's Digest Magazine for three years running, and lives--and explores the vibrant food scene!--in Brooklyn.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Writer's Digest Books (December 4, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1599635763
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1599635767
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.56 x 0.84 x 8.42 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 245 ratings

About the author

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Mary Kole

Mary Kole

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Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance and memoir. She founded Good Story Company in 2019 with the aim of providing valuable content—like the Good Story Podcast and Crit Collective writing forum—to writers of all categories and ability levels.

She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
245 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book instructive, informative, and detailed. They also appreciate the concise, clear advice on sentence structure, point of view, narrative, and dialogue. Readers describe the writing style as top-notch, with honest input on writing for publication.

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Information qualityWriting styleValue for moneyHumor
69 customers mention "Information quality"69 positive0 negative

Customers find the book instructive, informative, and detailed. They say it provides helpful guidance on the craft of writing. Readers also mention the insights and examples are perfectly tuned. They describe the book as a thorough workshop in the craft.

"...'re a novice or a pro or somewhere in between, this book can help you navigate the waters of your current and future stories in a way that keeps..." Read more

"...How? The insights and the examples are perfectly tuned and they resonate in your writer's dreamscape and the music they make inspires...." Read more

"...love of the craft sparkles on each page even as she gives very solid and applicable tips. It was a joy to read as a total beginner!..." Read more

"...The first couple of chapters are especially valuable for aspiring kidlit writers, as they cover specifics of the market for midgrade and young adult..." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing style"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style clear, concise, and motivating. They appreciate the tips for writing, pitfalls to avoid, and honest input on writing for publication. Readers also mention the book is thoughtfully formatted and provides excellent examples.

"...Mary Kole is both practical and plain-spoken, making the complex comprehensible...." Read more

"...She respects writers. She feels for writers. She understands writers. She knows exactly what insights writers need as they work...." Read more

"...picked up over the years through other sources as well, but Mary writes in a clear, easy to understand, and amusing way, which is hard to do with..." Read more

"This is a thorough, top notch writer's guide...." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth the money.

"...It is well worth the money. Good job, Mary." Read more

"...the angle it gives, and the insight into kidlit, is priceless for any middle grade or young adult authors...." Read more

"...are writing kidlit or even thinking about it, this book is definitely worth purchasing. Mine is already dogeared after only a few weeks!" Read more

"clear. precise. fully worth it...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous. They say it's written in an informal way with humor and simplicity.

"...as well, but Mary writes in a clear, easy to understand, and amusing way, which is hard to do with anything nonfiction...." Read more

"...There is a clarity that makes it easy to read. It is written in an informal way with humor and simplicity...." Read more

"Excellent resources for writers, both new and published. Adds humor to make her points and her guidance is invaluable." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Flickpen
5.0 out of 5 stars MG writers, this is *it*
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
After spending nearly 20 years writing and rewriting (and rewriting, and rewriting) film scripts, I made the move to novels. What a surprising relief! After narrowing my focus to middle grade, I searched for a solid resource to guide me through a decent first draft, with a broad overview of the children's book industry.

Enter "Writing Irresistible Kidlit."

I knew from the reviews it would be good, but until I cracked the spine - well, I had no idea what I was in for. Mary Kole is both practical and plain-spoken, making the complex comprehensible. (She could also teach pricey script doctors a thing or two about high concepts.) And while I may be new-ish to writing for the page, I'm far from a novice writer. Those who say this is a book for beginners either have no room left to grow (because they already know it all) or they chose to skim through rather than diving deep and applying the lessons therein.

Whether you're a novice or a pro or somewhere in between, this book can help you navigate the waters of your current and future stories in a way that keeps your head from spinning, while moving you off of Eternally Stuck and into the Fresh Terror of Writing Pages.

It looks as though this is Kole's only published book - she stays publicly active through blog posts - and it's clear she poured everything she had into it. Thank you, Mary Kole, and well done.
12 people found this helpful
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Sprocket
5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
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I taught writing at university level so the search for a solid text on the craft was always a top priority, and there were not many.

Until now.

Disregard the 'Kidlit' name in the title. This book is for every writer in every genre. It is thoughtfully formatted as well so that each topic is clearly set out. Each topic is explored from the point of view of a publisher and an agent so the craft insights are pure gold for authors.

I don't know who this Mary Kole is, but from now on if I see a writing craft book with her name on it I will hit the 'one click purchase' button without a second thought. She respects writers. She feels for writers. She understands writers. She knows exactly what insights writers need as they work.

When I read McKee's 'Story' I was grateful for the knowledge he packed into his book, but I felt slapped about. When I read Kole's 'Writing Irresistible Kidlit' I wanted to have her children. Why, because on every page the approach she takes makes sometimes wonderful ideas to pop into your head as you read - and then again later as you reflect on what you have read.

Every page is wise and rich and full of craft and works to stimulate your imagination. How? The insights and the examples are perfectly tuned and they resonate in your writer's dreamscape and the music they make inspires. With no other craft book on writing have I needed to have a notebook next to me just for new ideas.

This is wisdom that you remember as you are dropping off to sleep - that dreamtime that brings new ideas into the world. You absolutely must have a notebook with you if you intend reading Mary Kole's book.

In summary then - possibly the very best book on writing craft I have read in 25 years.
51 people found this helpful
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Lola Amica
5.0 out of 5 stars very useful for beginners
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
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Kole’s love of the craft sparkles on each page even as she gives very solid and applicable tips. It was a joy to read as a total beginner! Yes, she does ground you a little bit if you have illusions of immediate grandeur and emphasizes the revision process, but expecting writing for kids to come easy is disrespecting your audience.
2 people found this helpful
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Tom
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book for beginning writers
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2014
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This is another book about the writing craft. Your impression will depend on how many craft books you have previously read. Having read a few I must say I didn't find much new here, but others may find the ideas valuable and for this reason I'll give it one more star than I spontaneously would. The book stands out (which is rare in this genre) by addressing those of us who write for children. The first couple of chapters are especially valuable for aspiring kidlit writers, as they cover specifics of the market for midgrade and young adult fiction, and the mindset of the young audience. I also found the last couple of chapters useful, giving advice for anyone interested in a career in kidlit. Between those sections you will find the usual methods, concepts, rules of thumb and advice that you find in most other books on the writing craft.

Kole gears the text towards children's writers mainly by providing ample examples from MG and YA books. (Similar snippets and examples are found in most writing books and for some they may do the trick, but I personally prefer to read examples in context.) Overall, Kole does a good job presenting the elements of the craft. I would read these, but do it critically, because writing is not a game with a fixed set of rules. Anyone who reads real books (even bestsellers) with these writing rules in mind know that they are broken all the time, so (1) readers don't know and don't care much about these rules, and (2) the only fixed writing rule is 'what works, works'.

If I may mention one thing that I didn't like about this book, it is when Kole (and the authors and publishers she quotes) tells us what not to do, sometimes in a slightly bantering tone. Which types of characters to stay away from, for example. I would say that many of the most memorable characters in fiction are stereotypes on one level or another. Harry Potter is just one example. Stereotypes abound, so it's clearly not about what these characters do in the plot. It's about how you write them and how they come alive on the page. Everything in writing is about application and workmanship, not about dos and don'ts. And teaching by negative example isn't always very effective. Negative examples (showing us what not to do) are often limiting and confusing, whereas positive examples give us models to strive for.

At the end of the day, this text covers most of the basics and I would recommend it for those who haven't read much in the genre before. At any rate I would stay way from the Kindle version of the book, as the advanced formatting with quotes and boxes doesn't work well on the screen. To those who have read a couple of these books I would heartily recommend Elizabeth Lyon's Manuscript Makeover -- a gem that I find myself dipping into a lot. Lyon covers all the craft elements of Kole's book in greater depth and also provides invaluable advice on the revision process. And if/when you are fed up being fed the rules of the craft, read Stephen King's On Writing. It's an eye-opener.

Finally, for what it's worth, you don't learn to ride a bike by reading books about it. You have to get on a bike to see what works and what doesn't. You learn to write in the same way -- butt in chair, writing. These craft books will be useful to help you diagnose problems in a text that doesn't work, but they are no substitute for your own work and reflection on it.
55 people found this helpful
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Rob Skidmore
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I’ve read on writing in general
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2023
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So fantastic. This book covers every aspect of writing craft in depth with examples. This is definitely one I’ll turn to again and again.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Linda Clement
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful to put you on the right path
Reviewed in Canada on April 19, 2024
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Another great books with lots of useful information. Says a lot of the same things as other books, so it makes it clear how important this information is.
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Mrs M B Holman
5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot recommend it highly enough
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2018
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Mary Kole really knows what she's talking about! This book has completely turned around how I was approaching my children's and YA writing. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Each chapter contains relevant, useful and insightful information about writing and about the book world. Kole doesn't just tell us things from her own point of view. She refers throughout the book to contextual examples from current books to support her points, and asks also writers and agents for their thoughts and contextual choices. I'll always have this book within easy reach when I want the best children's and YA writing advice!
3 people found this helpful
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V Neely
5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable resource
Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2020
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What a great guide ! Wonderful tips with lots of detail and examples . Although dealing with kidlit, the advice applies any genre .
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2020
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Excellent book well worth the purchase, I would highly recommend you buy a copy. It is easy to understand and follow. It gives lots of tips and examples but doesn't go overboard like some writing books.
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GenuineSuede
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2014
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This book is a great resource for understanding what kids like and want to read and how to give it to them. Mary Kole has a vast background of experience that she shares in an enjoyable, easy to read and upbeat manner.
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