By Alli Brydon When Lonely Planet Kids approached me last year to write a children’s book of myths and legends from cultures across the world,
Category: Writing – Middle Grade & Young Adult
Finding the Beats: Plotting for Pantsers
Do you ever get a book idea in your head but don’t know where it’s going? Do you find that you have a saggy middle?
GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE by Natasha Ngan
I recommend GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE not only as a compelling, gorgeously written YA novel, but also as an exceptional world building mentor text.
Making the Modern Spooky Middle Grade Novel: An Interview with author Josh Roberts
As Halloween approaches, author Josh Roberts talks with us about what makes for a great spooky middle grade novel.
Balancing Writing With Life
A friend once told me that if she didn’t have to write, if there weren’t stories building themselves in her head constantly, her life would
A Launch Day Ode To My Editor
Sure, authors get acknowledgement pages to wax poetic about all the many, many people who help turn a manuscript into an actual book, but sometimes an
What Kids Can Teach Us About Writing for Kids
The past few months I have been revisiting a musical that I wrote about ten years ago, Jack and the Beanstalk, the Musical. I am
Show and Tell for Writers
SHOW, DON’T TELL! Most of us have received that advice at least once in our writing careers. What does it mean? And how should you
The 7 Layer Cake Writing Method
Baking a 7 layer cake is like writing a story. You have so many tempting and tasty choices to make, and each new layer builds
Getting Back Into the Swing of Things
I have a confession to make. I haven’t written anything new in six months. My hiatus started after writing 12,000 words of a new novel,
The Writers’ Rumpus 2018 Review
Racing through the mall Voice croaking like a frog Wishing you were home sweet home Perusing your favorite blog! Is it my imagination, or does
YA’LL Fest Survival Guide
It’s the end of November, and with it goes another YA’LL Fest. This was my third YA’LL Fest, and each year I learn valuable information.
