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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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.
What We Read in 2022: Middle Grade
A list of the books we read in 2022 for our in-person middle grade book group for middle grade authors.
What We Read in 2021: Middle Grade
This blog grew out of a middle grade book group for writers, held in Menlo Park, California, and we're still going strong. Each month, we discuss a middle grade book with an eye to craft. (Last year, I wrote about strategies for starting your own craft book group.) Here's our list of books from 2021, with a sneak peek at our first few books of 2022. We hope they inspire your reading!
Reading List: 2020 Books
This blog emerged from a book group that meets monthly in Menlo Park, California, to discuss middle grade books with an eye to craft. We don't always create posts on the books we read, but we do have great discussions! If you're looking to expand your middle grade reading or to start your own discussion group, feel free to read along.
