WCU’s Young Authors Celebration gives grade schoolers a chance to explore writing

This one made me genuinely happy. About 65 grade school students got to spend a day on William Carey University’s campus for the 18th annual Young Authors Celebration—sitting in breakout sessions with published authors/illustrators and talking about the fun parts of the craft: imagination, revision, editing, and what it actually takes to turn an idea into something readable.

I loved the way the kids described it, too—one fourth grader said he likes writing because you get to “use your imagination and speak your words,” and another shared she writes poems, rhymes, and her own stories. That’s the whole spark right there: giving kids permission to have a voice and the tools to shape it.

Link:
http://dlvr.it/TRT1rB />
Question for writers: what’s one moment (a teacher, a contest, a compliment) that made you think, “Oh… I might really be a writer”?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Write a Mystery Plot with Clues and Red Herrings That Keep Readers Hooked - Matthew Pearce, Author

Image
How to Use Red Herrings in Fiction Without Losing Your Reader Red herrings can make fiction stronger, sharper, and far more addictive when they are handled the right way. A well-placed red herring keeps readers guessing, stirs suspicion, and adds tension without making the story feel cheap or confusing. When writers understand how to use red herrings in fiction, they create plots that feel layered, intelligent, and emotionally satisfying. A red herring is a clue, suspicion, or line of thinking that leads the reader in the wrong direction. It is designed to distract from the truth without feeling fake. That is the key. If the misdirection feels forced, readers will feel manipulated. If it feels natural, they will stay engaged and eager to keep turning pages. The reason writers want to learn how to use red herrings in fiction is because they help create suspense. They make the reader question what they think they know. They plant doubt. They create possibilities. In mystery, thrill...
Read more

How to Write Realistic Dialogue Without Sounding Boring - Matthew Pearce, Author

Image
Realistic dialogue in writing can completely change how a story feels on the page. When characters speak in a way that sounds natural, specific, and true to who they are, readers connect faster and stay pulled into the scene. Good dialogue adds movement, reveals personality, builds tension, and makes emotional moments land with more power. The strongest dialogue does more than sound real. It helps shape relationships, uncover conflict, and give every character a voice that feels distinct and memorable. When that happens, the story feels more alive from beginning to end. http://dlvr.it/TSGQNc
Read more

How to Structure a Novel Using Three Act Structure

Image
Learning how to structure a novel is one of the most important parts of turning a good idea into a story that truly works. Structure gives your novel shape, momentum, and direction. It helps every scene, chapter, and turning point feel like it belongs, rather than feeling like a collection of disconnected moments. When writers think about how to structure a novel, they are really asking how to guide readers through a journey that feels satisfying from beginning to end. A strong structure creates a clear beginning that pulls readers in, a middle that builds tension and deepens conflict, and an ending that delivers on what the story has promised. Good structure does not take creativity away. It supports it. It helps writers see where the major shifts happen, where stakes need to rise, when a character must face harder choices, and how each part of the story should build on what came before. That kind of clarity can make writing feel far less overwhelming. Understanding how to struc...
Read more