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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Interview with Brian Weisfeld: On Developing and Co-Writing a Series to Inspire Entrepreneurship
The four years of creating that original manuscript were the hardest and most humbling of my entire career. But my journey is also a reminder that there are a lot of different paths to publication.
Catching Up with Lindsay Lackey--a debut author's first year
Get to know our September featured author, Lindsay Lackey! Lindsay's debut middle grade novel All the Impossible Things came out on September 3, 2019. Read on to find out about everything from her book launch to school visits to writing the next novel, as well as the biggest surprise moment of her 2019.
An Interview with Mae Respicio: Learning Craft Will Always Set Writers Off on the Strongest Foot
Learning craft will always set writers off on the strongest foot.
Day Job Connection: Laura Stegman, actor and publicist
"Like querying, acting is full of rejection. Give up, and you're done. So, armed with an actress' resilience in the face of rejection and a publicist's ability to attract a reader's eye, I have been well trained for an author's career. As Lady Gaga says, 'If you have a dream, fight for it.'"
A Novel-In-Verse is a NOVEL first: An Interview with Aimee Lucido
"Craft study has helped me tremendously to make better books, and to hone my ear so that I know when something is working or not. I've become so much better at writing stronger characters with more compelling arcs, I can tell when my language is pitch-perfect and when it's falling flat, I can revise more quickly than ever before, I can look at comp titles when I get stuck, I can pull from a wider range of craft techniques when I'm struggling to convey something . . . the list goes on and on. Learning craft has helped me become a better writer in countless ways."
Interview with Kate O’Shaughnessy: Writing with Honesty and Heart
Ignore trends entirely, and write the book that truly calls to you.
Interview with Lindsay Lackey: Craft and Community--a Perfect Fit
I love the deep sense of wonder writers of children’s books possess, and how we all—deep down—still believe in magic. The world is so often dark and stormy, but kidlit writers relentlessly gather around the flickering candles in the darkness.
