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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Interview with Author/Illustrator Deborah Freedman

July 1, 2022 René Bartos

René Bartos: I am so excited to be able to chat with author/illustrator Deborah Freedman today! Welcome to Writers’ Rumpus, Deborah! Can you tell me

THE BIG SCREAM, by Kirsti Call, illustrated by Denis Angelov

June 28, 2022 Kirsti Call

The very first picture book I ever wrote was called Wilma and the Big Scream. It featured dramatic lines like: The scream was so loud

JULY Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

June 24, 2022 Lexi Donahue

Welcome to the MG/YA Opportunities post! Find all of the monthly opportunities on the MG/YA support page! All opportunities listed are available to anyone with an

SETTING: Books That Hit the Sweet Spot

June 21, 2022 Laura Fineberg Cooper

What is setting in literature? In the simplest of terms, it’s where and when the action of a story takes place. Whether set in a real location or a world drawn from your fertile imagination, in the past, present, or future, setting forms the foundation of every story.

Five New YA Books Perfect for Pride Month

June 17, 2022 Rebecca Moody

If you’re looking for a little queer lit to dive into this pride month, you’ve got no shortage of options. But just in case, here are five new YA Reads published just this month to help you celebrate!

Meet #kidlit author Lindsey McDivitt

June 14, 2022 Carol Gordon Ekster

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Lindsey McDivitt is part of my marketing group, PBRockiteers22. Groups are a wonderful way to meet other #kidlit authors who have books