The Perfectly Constructed YA Novel
Meg Medina’s Burn, Baby, Burn is an example of A perfectly constructed YA novel. It’s great storytelling. This didn’t surprise me as I’d loved Medina’s Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. I’d recommend Burn to any teen looking for … Continued
Teen Voices and The Poet X: Keep a Journal
A recent experience with a teen writer had me going back to The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I’d originally purchased and listened to The Poet X on audiobook–a powerful narration by the author herself, which I highly recommend. A … Continued
Submissions Window for Inlandia Journal Open Now!
Inlandia: A Literary Journey Submissions Open! We are open for submissions to our fall 2020 issue. Submissions for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art opened today, June 15 and will close on September 1, 2020. Please see submissions guidelines for … Continued
Time to Support the Local Literary Scene
As shut down orders were put in place to stem the coronavirus contagion, many of us became cheerleaders for our best-loved local businesses. Once we step back out into public life, we want to continue to enjoy our favorite foods, … Continued
Inlandia Journeys Teen Issue is Live!
Submerged by Shaina Boal I’m so excited about the latest teen issue of Inlandia, which is live now! “Despite the notion that we are voiceless, it seems to me that the challenge of a good creative writing instructor is to … Continued
Hunkering Down: Beyond the Usual Writing Routine
I’m guessing everyone is hunkering down to avoid getting or giving the new coronavirus to others. I’m wondering what people are doing to move beyond the usual writing routine. Whenever I read what writers say about their creative routine, it … Continued
Change Genres, Buy Indie, Read Local.
I have three things on my mind concerning reading and writing, and they all begin with trying something new: change genres, buy indie, and read local. Change Genres In the past few months, I’ve written a few pieces of flash … Continued
One Important Secret in ‘Far from the Tree’
Since I am on a YA fiction jag, I want to have a quick look at why National Book Award winning Far from the Tree by Robin Benway is so good. Happily, one important secret that makes this novel work … Continued
Three Elements of Great Writing: Bridge of Clay
This is round two of looking at Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak. In the last post, I looked at why it isn’t really a YA novel although it was marketed as one in the US. This time, I want … Continued
Parameters of the YA Novel: Is Bridge of Clay Still YA?
Bridge of Clay and YA Novels What are the parameters of the YA novel? Is Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay still YA? I asked myself this as I read this gorgeous novel. If you’re writing a novel that focuses on … Continued