WRITERS' RUMPUS

HOW TO MIDDLE GRADE

July 21, 2026 Alumni & Guests

Hi! My name’s James Ponti, and I write Middle Grade book series such as City Spies and The Sherlock Society. I’m excited to share some pointers with you, but only with a major caveat. I know a bunch of writers and we all do it differently. I’m not talking plotting vs. pantsing, but radically different approaches.

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SKIPSHOCK by Caroline O’Donoghue: A Master Class in World Building

July 14, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

For writers of fantasy, science fiction, and romance, this genre-blending novel is a master class in how to create details and imagery that pull readers into the plot and keep them riveted from first page to last, and importantly, leave them eager for more.

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Writing Side by Side: Adriana Mather and James Bird on Books, Family, and Finding the Magic

July 7, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

Writing is often described as a solitary pursuit. Most of us spend our days alone with our thoughts, our characters, and a blinking cursor. Yet

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Celebrating America’s Birthday with a talented author/illustrator team!

July 3, 2026 Marcia Strykowski

We’re just in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with Roxanne Troup and Jennifer Doehring. They have a beautiful new picture book, Happy Birthday America,

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5 Places Writers Can Find Inspiration

August 15, 2014 Alison Potoma

I have been a bit busy this summer, traveling and purchasing a new house, and have not been able to write as much as I’d

Addressing Doubt

August 12, 2014 Alumni & Guests

Guest Post by Nancy Goulet It nags at me. Taunts. Like that unraveled thread at the edge of my sweater tempting me to tug, tug,

Continuing our Blogiversary at Writers’ Rumpus

August 8, 2014 Carol Gordon Ekster

by Carol Gordon Ekster In June, Writers’ Rumpus celebrated its first blogiversary. I’m continuing the celebration in this post, making it last the entire summer!