How to become a published author

Even after 30 years in newspaper reporting, I can tell you it's still a thrill whenever I see my work in print. So how do you get started? Here's a baby step, especially for middle school students: write a book review for the Democrat and Chronicle's Our Towns section, which is published on Fridays.
Each week Our Towns features a review written by a local student in eighth grade or younger. The reviews are pretty short. It doesn't matter if someone else has already reviewed the book (there are always new readers who need the information,) or if the book is something kids have to read for school. This week's review, for instance, is The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963, which is a standard on local school reading lists.

If you want to try it, contact Denise Young, the editor of the section. She can be reached at DEMYOUNG@democratandchronicle.com, or by calling (585) 258-2565. Besides your inspiring words, you'll need a "mug shot" of yourself, preferably in digital form. It can be a school picture you don't hate too much. If you're thinking "Oh, they don't need my review, they probably have tons of other kids waiting to be picked," you couldn't be farther from the truth. They're dying to get new submissions. Really.