Welcome to The Middle-Grade Writer.

Our goal is to create a place for aspiring and current middle-grade authors to grow in their craft. This publication sits at the intersection of craft and commerce, helping writers build more sustainable businesses that allow them to thrive while creating work that lights them up inside.

The goal here is to empower middle-grade authors in a world that too often seems intent on stripping it away from them.

I’m JJ Johnson. I’m a two-time award-winning middle-grade author and father of two.

I started writing middle-grade because I wanted to write clean and fun adventure stories for my kids. But when I started out, I had no clue what I was doing. Everywhere I turned, the advice was contradictory or confusing. So, I sat down and wrote a middle-grade story, hoping I was getting it right.

Each week, this newsletter will go out with a short writing tip or essay on writing middle-grade stories. Most will be written by me, but several will be written by guest contributors. The goal is to cover everything from writing, plotting, and creating characters to connecting with schools and homeschool groups and marketing to a broader audience.

Personally, I hope to grow as much as you.