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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SUMMER RETROSPECTIVE: TAKING A PAGE OUT OF CLASSIC MYSTERIES TO KEEP TENSION ALIVE AND WELL
Middle Grade, Uncategorized, Young Adult Kristi Wright Middle Grade, Uncategorized, Young Adult Kristi Wright

SUMMER RETROSPECTIVE: TAKING A PAGE OUT OF CLASSIC MYSTERIES TO KEEP TENSION ALIVE AND WELL

To find good mentor text for “tension till the bitter end,” I went directly to one of my most beloved authors—Agatha Christie. Yes, I know. She’s not a middle grade author. However, when I was in my middle grade years, I devoured her books. Surely, that counts. Plus, for a mentor text, why not go straight to the Queen of Mystery?

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It’s All About the Set-Up: Secrets of the Sea by Evan Griffith
Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman

It’s All About the Set-Up: Secrets of the Sea by Evan Griffith

In Secrets of the Sea, Evan Griffith keeps the story active by providing context to explain how important her work was, providing detailed descriptions and examples to prove his points about Jeanne, and employing effective sentences at the ends of spreads that make readers want to turn the page. In each instance, he sets up expectations, context, or questions that lead readers through a delightful story.

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The Secrets to a Great Non-Fiction Picture Book: Q&A with author Evan Griffith
Author Interview, Middle Grade, Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman Author Interview, Middle Grade, Picture Books Anne-Marie Strohman

The Secrets to a Great Non-Fiction Picture Book: Q&A with author Evan Griffith

"This isn’t specific to PB writers, but I would just say to any writer: Be kind to yourself and your drafts. Many writers, myself included, struggle with self-criticism or perfectionism, so I try to give myself this advice daily. First drafts can and should be messy. Second and third and seventh drafts, too. There is beauty in the mess. Writing is mostly re-writing. When you’re feeling discouraged, reach out to some writer friends for support. Seek community."

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Writing Action Beyond the Play-by-Play: Dangerous Play by Emma Kress
Young Adult Anne-Marie Strohman Young Adult Anne-Marie Strohman

Writing Action Beyond the Play-by-Play: Dangerous Play by Emma Kress

Emma Kress’s debut YA novel, Dangerous Play, has plenty of action and a lot of games. It’s a book about a girls’ field hockey team who uses parkour to supplement their summer training, and puts those skills to use as vigilantes against perpetrators of sexual assault. It takes place over an entire hockey season, and Kress makes smart choices about how to condense the many field hockey games so that each one serves the story, especially by manipulating pacing and creating tension.

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