by Stephanie Dethlefs | Aug 9, 2022 | First Draft, Planning your book, Reading for Writers, writing craft, writing life
We all know that writers should also be avid readers. But do you know what it looks like to actually study a book to see what makes it work? In this episode, we’re exploring what it means to read like a writer by using a “mentor text” to study specific craft...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Dec 7, 2021 | Audience, First Draft, Planning your book, Writing for Young Readers, Writing middle grade, Writing YA
There are those who believe that writing for young readers is easier than writing for adults, but they couldn’t be more wrong! When we write for young readers, we need to consider the same things for them as we do adult readers, with the added understanding of their...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Sep 7, 2021 | First Draft, Planning your book, Revision, writing craft
When I think of tension in a story, my first thought is of suspense. We are waiting for something to jump out of a dark corner or for the final confrontation between hero and villain. Our bodies are tense, preparing for what my 13-year-old son calls “the jump-scare.”...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Aug 10, 2021 | Mindset, Reading for Writers, Revision, writing craft, writing life
You’ve likely heard the nugget of wisdom that to be an effective writer, you should also be an avid reader. This is true for many reasons. You get sparks of ideas. You understand how a story is structured. You internalize what is effective and what isn’t. You grow...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | May 1, 2021 | Planning your book, writing craft
This post originally appeared on Medium in April 2021. Highlights are from readers. There are three steps we should all take to clarify and confirm the genre of the books we are writing. Let’s talk first about why it’s important to know, I mean really know, the...
