Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,
where we answer questions about writing, reading, and author life.
This month’s question:
“What’s your top craft resource for authors or illustrators?”
Valerie Bolling
“Though I suspect you may be looking for specific resources, I’m going to go more general. I think engaging in opportunities where you can learn about craft from multiple speakers, like conferences and 12 x 12 webinars, is the way to go. There’s also no substitute for reading voraciously in your genre to find valuable mentor texts.”
—Valerie Bolling, author of TOGETHER WE RIDE, illus. Kaylani Juanita (Chronicle, 2022)
M. O. Yuksel
“There are so many wonderful free online resources I’ve learned from over the years like Kidlit411, SubItClub, and websites of authors like Debbie Ohi, Josh Funk, Harold Underdown, and Tara Lazar. Attending workshops at the Highlights Foundation (which offers scholarships!), and Storyteller Academy have been instrumental. And I reference books like Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul, and Real Revision by Kate Messner all the time.” —M. O. Yuksel, author of ONE WISH: Fatima Al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University, illus. Mariam Quraishi (HarperCollins, 2022)
Kjersten Hayes
“For me the most valuable craft resource for writing has been reading. I read between 500-1,000 picture books a year (including rereads—when my kids were small, I read well over 1,000 every year). I’ve done this for nearly 15 years. That much reading adds up. I see patterns in how writers approach characters, rhythm, tension, pacing. It’s invaluable. But in addition to reading, a few of my favorite craft books are Writing with Pictures by Uri Shulevitz, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
—Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK, illus. Gladys Jose (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020)
Anna Crowley Redding
“Carolyn See’s The Literary Life. This is hands-down one of the best craft/writer life books I have ever read. Read it from cover to cover. It not only addresses craft, but the writer’s soul. Just love it.
—Anna Crowley Redding, author of COURAGE LIKE KATE: The True Story of a Girl Lighthouse Keeper, Illustrated by Emily Sutton (Random House Studio, August 2022)