MAKING IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG

A how-to guide from Ireland for young writers and readers that’s jam-packed with practical tips and ideas.

Laureate na nÓg Forde’s warm, enthusiastic tone and wealth of prompts offer readers a solid grounding in story construction. Chatty contributions by notable authors like Eoin Colfer, Derek Landy, and Sheena Wilkinson go behind the scenes through letters to readers that follow each short but information-packed chapter. The first seven chapters suggest ways to create and structure a story, from finding inspiring narrative catalysts to building convincing characterization, developing a plot, creating a setting, starting your story, crafting an ending, and worldbuilding. The next four chapters decode popular genres: comedy, mystery, historical fiction, and legends and fables. The final chapter advocates for thorough editing. The book avoids hard-and-fast writing rules: Imagination and fun are clearly as important as craft. Inventive exercises support practice and can also free a stuck writer. The book is especially valuable because it offers readers a springboard to understanding how the various elements of narratives work—Forde introduces point of view, voice, protagonist, conflict, arc, tone, exposition, motive, and much more. Murphy’s clever spot-art vignettes, depicting children with different skin tones and abilities, and diagrams clarifying the writing principles add energy and humor and helpfully present the material. The friendly voice, useful strategies, and excellent advice make this a valuable and accessible resource.

Entertaining, comprehensive, and encouraging; for anyone who’s curious about how stories work.