Craft Articles
Join us in exploring others’ craft and building our own.
Here you will find explorations of mentor texts – articles that dive into specific craft elements in published books, interviews with authors, and tips on growing and improving as a writer.
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Thieves’ Gambit: Shifting Desire (KLC Podcast, S2 Ep. 4)
In the fourth episode of the podcast, Nuttall and Strohman focus on desire, specifically shifting desire. In Thieves’ Gambit, the main character, Ross, also has a Shifting Desire because her external desire changes early in the story.
Seina Wedlick: Deconstructing Story Structures
Traditional publishing is often a slow process...There are occasionally books that get snapped up and released really quickly, but, more often than not, it’s a much longer wait . . . It’s so important for writers to plug into a community of other writers they can share this journey with and to use the “waiting period” to work on something new or hone-in on their craft.
Jessie Janowitz: Give Your Narrator a Secret
Understanding your main character’s backstory is essential to the first-person voice. We filter the world through our unique personal experiences, . . . we refer to places we’ve been, people we’ve met, food we’ve eaten, etc. If we don’t know our narrator’s history, we can’t begin to know the language they’d use to describe it.
Thieves’ Gambit: Opening ‘In Medias Res’ (KLC Podcast, S2 Ep. 3)
In the third episode of the podcast, Nuttall and Strohman discuss the opening for Thieves’ Gambit, which manages to do double duty by not only showing readers “the world as it is,” but also by dropping readers straight “in medias res,” or in the middle of things.
Ana Ot: Embrace Patience
I advise everyone to take their time with imagery. Don’t rush it. Let it unfold by crafting each phrase with care until the scene breathes life on the page. Thoughtful imagery has the power to transform a reader’s experience and leave a story lingering long after the book has been closed.
Sam Subity: Keep Writing!
The inspiration for Valor Wings came from my daughter's nightstand. One day the two books on top were Anne of Green Gables and Wings of Fire. Just for fun, I started concocting some scenes that merged the two into a story about a great granddaughter of the famous Anne who led a squadron of dragon riders in World War 2. So my working title for Valor Wings for a long time was "Anne of Green Dragons."
Erin Becker: Go For It!
I want to write books that make people feel good. I wrote Crushing It during the pandemic, during a difficult time in my life. Writing this story was like a warm hug and a reminder that sometimes, things do turn out okay.
Tim McCanna: Embrace Brainstorming
Brainstorming a solid idea for a book is as much a part of the creative process as actually writing the book. Sometimes you’re struck by lightning and that can be exciting. But often it’s about putting on your thinking cap and solving the riddle of “What should I write next?”
Lindsay Lackey: Welcome Ideas Out of Your Comfort Zone
My biggest tips for authors: 1) don't be afraid! New topics and challenging themes ARE possible. And 2) Ask for help! Books are built like houses: the results are much better with the help of a few experts.
Thieves’ Gambit: It’s All About Theme (KLC Podcast, S2 Ep. 2)
Kristi Wright shares highlights from the latest season of the KidLit Craft podcast and its focus on theme in Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis.
Introducing Season 2 of the KidLit Craft Podcast: Thieves’ Gambit
This season, Erin Nuttall and Anne-Marie Strohman are diving deep into Kayvion Lewis’s YA novel Thieves’ Gambit.
The challenge of depicting positive friendships in middle grade books
Three of the top sources of depression and anxiety are loneliness, feelings of isolation and a lack of connection. I also learned that increased screen time combined with separation during the pandemic made it harder for kids to know how to interact with others in person. That cemented my decision to show how friendships can hold together even when interests change.
Weaving Details and Carving Icebergs: Revising a Novel
The story that I hadn’t been ready to tell for the first edition, became my guide for the second. The question was, where to begin? The first edition was like a locked house—I needed to find a way in, rearrange the furniture, and tear down some walls without burning the house down.
Are Critique Groups Right for You? Tips From Gennifer Choldenko
I have been in critique groups on and off for most of my career. I’m here to tell you that they can be wildly helpful and bracingly unhelpful–the trick is how to make them work for you.
TRUSTING CHILDREN WITH BIG IDEAS: Benford Draws a BLANK by Danielle Dufayet and illustrated by Katia Klein
In Benford Draws a BLANK, author Danielle Dufayet and illustrator Katia Klein tackle the concept of being blocked as an artist. This may feel like a pretty advanced theme, more suited to adults than children. But there are very few topics that children can’t be trusted with, if handled the right way.
MANAGING DIFFICULT EMOTIONS IN HEALTHY WAYS: A Q&A WITH AUTHOR DANIELLE DUFAYET
Danielle Dufayet’s picture books plant seeds in children’s minds and hearts about important topics like self-love, inner strength, patience, and letting go of perfectionism when creating art.
How to Write a Big Emotional Scene: Fault Lines by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Nora Shalaway Carpenter’s YA novel Fault Lines is a study in contrasts. It’s the story of Viv, a high school senior who lives in rural West Virginia, and Dex, a boy in her grade who moves to town. Viv lives a middle class life; Dex is only recently out of extreme poverty. Viv is anti-fracking; Dex’s mom works on the pipeline. But Viv and Dex are drawn to each other. This dual point of view novel barrels straight toward a huge conflict between these two characters. Carpenter handles the moment of greatest conflict with deft hands. Let’s take a look at how she helps readers connect with the characters’ emotions without getting maudlin.
Crafting a Story of Contrasts: A Q&A with Nora Shalaway Carpenter, author of Fault Lines
I needed to write what felt right and natural to me, even though I was worried my agent and editor (and readers) might think it was weird. . . . I have always felt a deep, almost spiritual or magical connection with the natural world. That’s what was coming through in my writing.
How to Structure a Thriller: Pacing and Plot in Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Inheritance Games features Avery Grambs, a normal girl who unexpectedly inherits 46 billion dollars. The story has key attributes that engage readers: excessive wealth, a love triangle with hottie brothers, and a twisty mystery. I knew that it was fast-paced, but what exactly did that mean?
Put a Button on It!
A “button” is something that happens at the end of a scene that provides closure, a final touch that seals the deal. It can also be called a “tag” and is a final beat that can be used to close out the scene. Buttons create a satisfying ending that takes the scene just that one more notch. It can add a twist, focus our attention on a particular character or goal or theme, or emphasize an emotion.