For Young Wordslingers to Be! Creating Characters!

Planning Your Story
A Four Square Writing Plan for Youth 2nd through 4th Grade!

May the Fours Be With You!

Laura Mizvaria's Young Writers' Treehouse - a Great Resource for Writers of All Ages

Welcome to Young Writers’ Treehouse, a place where young writers can come together to learn from each other, find support, connect with other writers, and share their writing in a safe environment. If you’re looking for inspiration, motivation, advice, camaraderie among fellow writers, and a place in which to share your writing with others, this is the blog for you! No matter where you are in your writing journey, whether you’re just starting out and want some pointers on the road, or are previously published and looking for other writers to connect with, we hope you will find something helpful here in our little community.

Young Writers’ Treehouse is run by team of young writers, for young writers. Our team is dedicated to improving their own writing craft, supporting others, and creating a community based on respect and a mutual love of words. Read more about the team members and connect with them individually, HERE.

The Importance of Cadence in Writing & Jamie Fessenden's newest book, Violated.

I'm over at Love Bytes Reviews today talking about the importance of Cadence in Writing and Jamie Fessenden's newest book, Violated. Check it out!

Writing Takes Cody! Will Writing Give Him Back?

I'll be back August 1st!

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Str8washing v. Gaywashing in Young Adult and Teen Literature

It’s no secret that Hollywood has a long-standing history of “straightening” depictions of historical figures in film. With the adoption of the Motion Picture Production Code in the U.S. in 1930, it was forbidden to portray “sex perversion” in the movies (film industries in other countries were subjected to similar restrictions). Coincidentally (or not), very few films were made about people known to be gay or bisexual.

How well do you think we do, as authors, in young adult and teen literature today? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Read my article "Str8washing versus Gaywashing" at Divine Magazine! 

And don't forget to check out my newest book, Slaying Isidore's Dragons!

Now available in print and ebook at

Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press

Amazon GooglePlay Barnes & Noble OmniLit/ARe Beam-eBooks in Europe

Ingram Books for Libraries and Schools

Slaying Isidore's Dragons Book Tour! I'm over Anna's Lund's today with What's a Prove-Up?

In the world of writing, we can't simply quote the words and phrases of others as we wish. We must prove up who we're quoting and quote them accurately. Even when it comes to Humpty Dumpty. Check it out!

Follow Slaying Isidore’s Dragons’ Book Tour!

Now available in print and ebook at 

Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press

Amazon   GooglePlay   Barnes & Noble   OmniLit/ARe   Beam-eBooks in Europe

Ingram Books for Libraries and Schools

Slaying Isidore's Dragons Book Tour! Happy Easter! I'm at Sara Alva's chatting about the Difference between a Writer and an Author!

I'm over at Sara Alva Stories today with

What are the Differences between a Writer and an Author? 

Check it out!

Now available in print and ebook at Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press
Amazon   GooglePlay   Barnes & Noble   OmniLit/ARe   Beam-eBooks in Europe

Ingram Books for Libraries and Schools

Follow Slaying Isidore’s Dragons’ Book Tour!

Seven Facts About My Writing Life You May Not Know

I'm over at Love Bytes Reviews today with Seven Facts About My Writing Life You May Not Know! Check it out!

The History of the Book

“The book is one of humanity's most enduring cultural artifacts and treasures. As it evolves, the greatest threat to its future is therefore not from technical advances but from the danger of new generations losing the inclination to read. The ability to read and write is our greatest tool in education, and, apart from the family, the single most important medium existing for the transmission of ideas and the continuance of an evolving human culture. Why should we continue to value, preserve, read, and write books? Simply because of what they represent. Books record our past and progress; contain our experiments, fancies, knowledge, and accumulated wisdom; proclaim our fears and ideas; and champion our ideals, dreams, and hopes for the future. More than any other medium, books carry the heart and soul of our civilisation forward, and keep it accessible. Long live the book!” Read Bruce’s wonderful history of the book here.

Write At Home

WriteAtHome.com is a company dedicated to improving writing skills among middle and high schoolers. We provide a variety of effective, engaging, online tutorial classes.

Our goal for our blog is to support and encourage young writers and teachers of writing and to create an online community where they can rub virtual elbows.

You can help make that happen. If you enjoy the articles and resources we provide, would you consider:

1. Using comments to introduce yourself, ask a question, and, well, comment on posts. We welcome disagreement too. We want honest, helpful conversations here!
2. Sharing and pinning articles you like on Facebook, Pinterest, Stumble Upon, and other social media.
3. Subscribing to our blog via email or by RSS feed.
4. Following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and/or subscribing to our YouTube channel.
5. Spreading the word by emailing your friends, recommending us in online forums, or posting on your social media sites.
6. Linking to our articles and posts on your blog, or social media sites.

We are very grateful for any of these efforts that you are able and willing to make!

A Note from Cody: 

Their Resource Library provides an alphabetized list of previously posted material.

Brian also offers a free guide for teen writers. Learning to write is hard. This ebook makes it easier! The Top Ten Mistakes Teen Writers Make

Change Paragraphs When....

• A new character comes along
• A new event happens
• A new idea is introduced
• The setting changes
• A new person is speaking
• Time moves forward or backward a lot
• The “camera” moves

Go Teen Writers: An Extensive List of Their Most Popular, Helpful Posts

GO TEEN WRITERS

♫ IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BETA (you rebel) ♫

Timmy and I are over at Love Bytes Reviews talking about 

what it is to be a beta reader. Come check it out!

Go Teen Writers - Contests, Encouragement, & a Community for Young Writers!

GO TEEN WRITERS!

This is one of my favorite sites for youth authors. Check it out. Very worthy. 

Young People Should Read About Life As It Is Lived

I have oft been asked about writing sensitive content in young adult works; more particularly, writing sex and violence in young adult literature. I believe young people should read about life as it is lived and have written a few articles on this polarizing and unwieldy controversy. For ease of access, I have listed links to the articles here. Please feel free to comment and leave questions below. I'll do my best to answer them. 

Young People Should Read About Life As It Is Lived Series

Age and Law

Minors' Rights

Popular Opinion

Authorship & Publishers

Additional Articles on Writing Romance, Sex, and Violence in Young Adult Works

Queer Romance Month 2014: Queerily Every After - Writing Romance in Young Adult Works
Boys on the Brink: Writing Sex and Violence in Young Adult Works

Boys on the Brink: Q&A with Cody Kennedy about "Safe"

How Are Your Characters Feeling?