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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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.”
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.”
Tackling Different Styles and Genres in Children's Literature: A Q&A with Rajani LaRocca
"I’ve learned that the most important thing is to keep writing about what I love, what’s important to me, what I’m curious about. I’ve learned to put a piece of myself in every story. And I’ve learned that being vulnerable in my writing means that it will resonate with others."
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."
