The Lure of Magical Worlds
I have a thing for magical worlds. Every time Lucy opens that wardrobe, brushes past the musty fur coats, and walks into Narnia, I get a...
Six Tips for Worldbuilding in Middle Grade Fiction
Every novelist builds a world, but if you’re writing fantasy or science fiction, worldbuilding is a bigger job—one I’m often tempted to...
Charles Baxter's Captain Happen in Middle Grade Fiction
Meet Captain Happen—troublemaker, narrative enabler, change agent. The novelist, essayist, and poet, Charles Baxter talks about Captain...
Making Magic: Six Steps for Creating a Magical System
Conjure, enchant, shape-shift, or summon—endless possibilities exist in the world of magic. Cast a spell, fight a dragon, wave a magic...
Writing the Murky Middle: How Blake Snyder's Save the Cat Can Help
I was floundering in the Murky Middle of my novel. You know that place—the one that happens after you’ve sent your hero off to find her...