January 2017

Nic Stone

Own up

By Nic Stone

Should an author ever write a character outside their identity?

Features

Read like a writer

By Roy Peter Clark

Learn the art of "X-ray reading."

We Need Diverse Books

By Melissa Hart

Half of U.S. children under age 5 are non-white. But only 10 percent of children’s books in the last decade featured multicultural characters. The math doesn’t add up. And one nonprofit organization is determined to even the playing field.

Rising star

By Jeff Ayers

It took Pierce Brown six novels and countless queries before he broke through with his smash-hit Red Rising trilogy. Now he has two television series, a film adaptation, and another sci-fi trilogy in the works – and has never given up on his principles along the way.

Tough crowd

By Melissa Hart

How to wow book clubs for young readers.

Open minds

By Jacqueline Sheehan

Learn how to interview subjects like a psychologist.

Girl (and boy) power

By Eliana Osborn

Shannon Hale creates fun plots and strong characters for all ages and genders. Yet her books are often labeled as “for girls only” – and she’s fighting hard to change that.

Departments

BREAKTHROUGH

Seasonal thinking

By Victoria Fry

How writing cyclically saved a writer’s creativity.

WRITER AT WORK

Home in

By Pat Olsen

Working from home means working in a place of constant distractions, imposed by both ourselves and others. Here’s how to block them out.

WRITING ESSENTIALS

Playing god

By Jack Smith

Tips on handling the omniscient point of view in fiction.

FREELANCE SUCCESS

Double agent

By Will Kitson

Making the transition from editor to freelance writer results in crucial insight into how both parties operate.

CLASS ACTION

Next gen

By Jeff Tamarkin

The Highlights Foundation doesn’t just run a kids’ magazine: It also hosts more than 40 workshops for children’s and young adult writers.

CONFERENCE INSIDER

Elementary

By Melissa Hart

This small-town workshop leads to big lessons in children’s literature.

LITERARY SPOTLIGHT

Make some noise

By Melissa Hart

This literary magazine for young girls aims to empower and inspire.

Also in Every Issue

From the Editor

Take Note

Nic Stone, tips for outline-haters, and more.

Markets

Classified advertising

How I Write

Adam Silvera: “I've found everything I've written to be very therapeutic and to have helped me find answers to questions I didn't know to ask myself.”