Hi-Lo Books and Work-for-Hire Novels
Halli Gomez explains both, plus TONS of writing links and resources!
*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*
Why we need hi-lo books
I used to be a high school math teacher. (I’m a creative writer who also enjoys factoring polynomials.) I taught at a low-income school in New Orleans and later at a school in the DC-area for students with language-based learning disabilities like dyslexia. In both cases, many of my students (though they were of average to above-average intelligence) were reading below grade level.
Guess what doesn’t make a struggling or reluctant teen reader want to practice reading? Giving them a book that’s on their level but written for someone much younger.
I remember a particularly depressing event that happened my first year, teaching ninth grade math. My classroom was next door to a Freshman English teacher, none other than poet and writer
, and she had received a large box of books from Johns Hopkins University. Hopkins had apparently looked at the test scores of her students and sent books on their reading level.Nancy opened the box to find a bunch of picture books. I don’t remember the actual titles, but it was stuff like “Dogs!” and “Pretty Pretty Princess.” “I can’t give these to my ninth graders,” Nancy said. “This is embarrassing.” If she was embarrassed, imagine how our students felt.
That’s why I was so happy to hear about hi-lo books (high interest/low reading level), such as those from Horizon. Horizon hi-lo books have short chapters, simple sentence structures, and low overall word count. They are written at a 2nd-to 3rd-grade reading level, but the main characters are teenagers, and the subject matter is appropriate for ages 14 and up. How I wish these had existed back then for our ninth graders.
Work-for-hire novels
My friend Halli Gomez recently wrote a hi-lo book for Horizon called LOCKED IN, which came out today. It’s pitched as The Breakfast Club in an escape room and is about four very different teens who find themselves in a strange (and possibly deadly?) escape room.
Halli was commissioned by the publisher to write the novel, and in our recent interview, she discusses the work-for-hire process. (In addition to LOCKED IN, she’s written three work-for-hire middle grade novels.) She also talks about hi-lo books, the importance of mental illness and neurodiversity representation in books, and her award-winning YA debut novel, List of Ten, about a boy with Tourette Syndrome.
Read my full interview with Halli here. And if you purchase LOCKED IN or List of Ten from the indie bookstore where she works (Park Street Books), you’ll receive a signed copy!
My Grandpa Turned 100
My grandpa turned 100 on July 11, and here he is at his party. If you didn’t get a chance to read about my grandpa’s life as a devoted reader and writer, check it out.
Writing News & Resources:
For All Writers:
A little pick-me-up for us writers age 40 and over.
Free online workshops from Good Story Company:
Writing Irresistible First Pages on August 8.
Story Snobs Pitch Contest on August 28 (pitch your work to editors for a chance to get feedback!)
Writing an Irresistible Query Workshop with Mary Kole on August 29
Listen to the latest episodes of This Mama is Lit, a podcast from
Literary Mama featuring interviews with writer-moms. (P.S. We’re looking to hire an audio editor! In the meantime, I’ve learned how to audio edit podcasts.)
All About Fantasy Virtual Full-Day Retreat on Sept. 28 from Bianca Marais, fantasy author and host of the great podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing.
Check out the free event replays of various workshops at Manuscript Academy.
CRAFT First Chapters Contest: Deadline Aug. 4.
NYC Midnight’s Rhyming Story challenge starts September 20. Register before then!
The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.
Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.
Check out all the many upcoming online craft workshops from Savvy Authors!
Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.
Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.
NewPages has tons of submission calls from literary magazines and journals.
For KidLit Writers:
Applications for the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program will open August 15.
Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. Contests for PB, children’s, and YA writers. Deadline Sept. 1.
Each week Kidlit411 posts The Weekly 411 with links with articles and opportunities for writers of picture books through YA.
Mary Kole has a new book: the Writing Irresistible Picture Books Workbook
Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.
Register by July 22 for a chance to win prizes like critique packages from agents and editors.
A list of places that publish stories for children from The Write Life.
Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.
Submit your children’s book to these publishers: no agent required!
Here’s an incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
Check out SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) fir events, conferences, critique partners and more. (Picture book through YA.)
For Querying Writers:
Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.
A query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.
Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters (many of them thrillers).
Pitch contests on Twitter(“X”) seem to be coming back. These events can feel like a bunch of authors screaming into the void, but it doesn’t hurt to try. After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. So read my article:13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events then mark your calendar for these upcoming pitch parties:
#PitchDis on Sept. 10-12 will take place on the PitchDis website and is for writers who self-identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill. To make sure everyone's comfortable with the new pitching format, the form will be posted Aug 5-9. Use the form to practice, but any info submitted during this time will be deleted. Pitches will ONLY be accepted September 10-12
#PitBLK on Sept. 21-24 for all authors of African descent will take place on the PitBLK website.
#KidLitGN on Oct. 2 for for writers and illustrators of middle grade and younger graphic novels. This event will take place on the KidLitGN website.
I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query and first two pages, and, if I chose your submission, I will send you in-depth feedback on both. Fill out the form here.
Writing Conferences & Events:
Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away?
2024 Writing Retreats at ZigBone Farm (Just one hour from DC/Baltimore area in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains). MD residents can apply for a grant to help cover costs!
September 22-27: Fall-on-the-Farm Women's Poetry Writing Retreatwith Award-Winning Poet and Writing Instructor Ann Quinn
The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm. Open year-round, the only requirement for this peaceful retreat north of Baltimore is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.
The James River Writers Conference in Richmond, VA is happening Oct. 4-6.
The Maryland Writers’ Association Conference is happening Oct. 19-20 in Baltimore.
Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.
YALLFest, the Book Festival for writers and readers of Young Adult will be held Nov. 15-16 in Charleston, SC.
Are you an author who's had a book published in the last two years? The Annapolis Book Festival is now accepting submissions for our 2025 Festival which will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. For online conferences, attend from anywhere in the world! Check out the upcoming conferences:
Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.
Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.