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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Meet Phaea crede, debut #picturebook author

April 13, 2021 Carol Gordon Ekster

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Your debut picture book, JET THE CAT (IS NOT A CAT) Barefoot Books, comes out May 1, 2021. I was lucky enough

INTERVIEW WITH DEBUT AUTHOR, NONIEQA RAMOS

April 9, 2021 Kim Chaffee

Interview with debut picture book author, NoNieqa Ramos.

LET’S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING part two…

April 6, 2021 Marti Johnson

On June 26th, 2020, I posted an article here titled, Let’s Keep The Conversation Going…, The daily news of the gruesome death of George Floyd

Picture Book Toolbox

April 1, 2021 Joyce Audy Zarins

There is a surprising range of tools available for you when constructing a memorable, even classic, picture book. Some are obvious: You will want the

April Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

March 26, 2021 Lexi Donahue

Events, classes, contests for Middle Grade and Young Adult writers for April, 2021

Interview with debut author, mindy yuksel

March 23, 2021 Kim Chaffee

In My Mosque is equal parts stunning art and beautiful, important text. It shares with the reader the joys and traditions found in mosques around the world and showcases the friendship and community found inside.