You are growing in a thumbs-up/thumbs-down world. Everywhere you look, someone is telling you whether something is “good” or not. And it’s not just movies and books—people have … Read the rest!
Have you noticed that people around you are having some BIG feelings these days? Have you been having some yourself?
Here’s the first and most important thing I … Read the rest!
Good writing creates a complete little world on the page. Whether it’s a story, a poem, or an essay, … Read the rest!
I teach writing classes to kids, so it’s not surprising that I like kids’ writing. But what do I like about it? Why should you … Read the rest!
Recently I read a Young Adult novel that one of my students recommended. There were many good aspects of the story, but one thing bothered … Read the rest!
Have you ever heard the phrase “snake oil salesman”? Maybe not—no one has sold “snake oil” since before your grandparents’ time.
But snake oil is sold in … Read the rest!
I bet you think you know what success is. We all do, right? It’s not like every little kid doesn’t learn the meaning of that word.
But in … Read the rest!
I had a realization at some point which was really helpful: I don’t really know what I think about something until I write about … Read the rest!
One of the things that my book club students often notice in children’s books is the Dead or Missing Parent Syndrome. In one … Read the rest!
A lot of kids say they “don’t like” old books—otherwise known as “classic literature.” I’m not surprised to hear this: old books can be quite different from … Read the rest!
