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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Jenn Bailey: Crafting the Ultimate Payoff
Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman

Jenn Bailey: Crafting the Ultimate Payoff

“If your climax feels a little flat, or if you aren’t feeling the emotional payoff you’ve expected, look at earlier chapters and scenes. Make sure you’ve written in the reasons that make this climax inevitable. And that you’ve positioned your main character in the kind of emotional state where this final scene will let readers feel a satisfactory resolution.”

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Cindy Chang: Playing with the Past
Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman

Cindy Chang: Playing with the Past

“Writing about a lived experience, especially a difficult one, can be challenging. As much as you may want to share exactly how the events unfolded in reality, it’s okay to take some creative liberties. Ultimately it’s more about figuring out the story and focusing on communicating the wants, conflicts, and lessons learned through your lived experience. And in doing so, you may find yourself feeling a little freer from the past.”

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Casey W. Robinson: Writing Stories with Heart
Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman Author Interview Anne-Marie Strohman

Casey W. Robinson: Writing Stories with Heart

“Find a book you loved from your childhood and re-read it. How does (or did) it make you feel? What was it about the language, the read aloud, the characters, the storyline that captivated you? I've noticed that I connect to these “old” heart stories differently than I do newer mentor texts. As writers for kids, this kind of first-hand knowledge can help our subconscious brains make smart editorial decisions when we’re drafting.”

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Lea Lyon: Following Curiosity and Trying New Things
Author Interview Kristi Wright Author Interview Kristi Wright

Lea Lyon: Following Curiosity and Trying New Things

“If you're researching for a nonfiction project, search beyond library databases. Reach out to librarians and archivists. Visit locations where events from the story you're researching took place, and visit archives and libraries in the area. Above all, reach out to experts in the subject matter. They are invaluable resources and are invested in the public (especially children) knowing more about their area of expertise.”

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Seina Wedlick: Deconstructing Story Structures
Author Interview Kristi Wright Author Interview Kristi Wright

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.”

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Writing for Everyone: A Q&A with Patricia Tanumihardja, author of Ramen for Everyone
Author Interview, Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman Author Interview, Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman

Writing for Everyone: A Q&A with Patricia Tanumihardja, author of Ramen for Everyone

"I focused on just his family members because I realized that I wanted to weave together themes of food and family, in particular the father-and-son relationship. Food has always been a very important part of my family, both when I was growing up and now that I have my own family. My mom liked to cook and it was her way of showing her love for us. Similarly, I like to cook my husband’s or son’s favorite dishes and/or add in favorite ingredients here and there, just because I want to show them I “see” them and I love them."

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