[Morgan]

Hi Gordon Korman! I'm one of your biggest fans at my school. I've just got Old School, and it's so cool! I love all your books! How do you write your books so good, so fast! I'm eleven-years old, and i want to write a book! I haven't told anyone in my school about my dream to be an author someday because i think they might think i'm weird because no one likes to read or write really. I have an interest to write a book, i've started, but i never finish. I've started ideas, but i always get stumped soon. Do you have tips for me? I really want to start, and accomplish my goal. I want to create a treehouse in my backyard,  but i don't exactly have money either. I've always wanted my own book, hanging proudly arounf all my other books i've read. Your writing style is so good, and i've only grasped an inch of your technique. I hope you'll respond, thank you for readin! I really appreciate it. I've never been able to talk to someone as special.

           Thanks, Morgan. I've also sent this to info@gordonkorman.com too.

[J.R.]

This is not Gordon, but I have a small tip that can help out a bit.

Step 1: Find your style. For me, it’s a Lemony Snicket hybrid with a sprinkle of Douglas Adams, but I can also switch to a quick, punchy James Patterson if need be. The best way to find that style is compare your writing to other Author’s works. 

Step 2: Now, read every single darn book you can get your hands on of that Author’s. Don’t be afraid to branch out either, because the more style hybrids you can lodge in there, the more unique your writing style will be.

 

I do have a couple book suggestions if you don’t mind, but Gordon can give you way better advice.

Restart (Of course!), Gordon Korman

The Hitchiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams

Bridge Of Clay and The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

The Fort, Gordon Korman

The Lord Of The Rings, J.R. R. Tolkien (Hard read, but I was your age when I read this one)

Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban-scratch that, the whole series, J.K. Rowling

The Sirens Of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut

Lastly,

Any book you can get your hands on. These are my personal favorites and ones I believe advanced my writing.

htiw sneaB!

J.R.

[Gordon]

Hi, Morgan,

Well, JR has covered this pretty well. I was going to tell you that first and foremost, you have to have something you want to say. And you have to be able to say it. Story is advisable, but grammar is a must!

You will never be "stumped," as you describe it, if your story is properly planned. You MUST have the whole thing well-planned before you start to write. Nobody ever wrote anything worthwhile by making it up as he/she goes along. You can't say anything well unless you know exactly what you're trying to say. And you can't know that unless you plan. Then, when you have your climax/conclusion all ready. you spend the whole book writing TOWARDS something.

That's how it works for me.                                                                      ---GK---

 

[Morgan]

Thank you Gordan Korman! This helps me a lot! What I always did, was striaght up write, and then start a new story. Rinse and repeat. In the end, all I have is lots of started stories! I don\\\'t know how to stay on one story, but like you said, I have to spend the whole book writing towards something. Some sort of goal. I can picture it in my head. I have a small story to tell, and it\\\'s very sad for me. Once you came to my school, but I wasnt in yet that school yet. My sister was there when you came, and she got to chose 3 of your books at Indigo. I asked my principal if you could come again, but he siad probably not. ANyways, thank you a lot! This is really special for me.

[eli]

hi Morgan this is not mr. Korman but I also want to write a book but I never told anyone yet. I started writing a story a few weeks ago and then I saw these  messages. mr. korman, is it better to write the story then fix it or to write ideas and stuff first then write the story. if if I do end up writing a book  who's gonna edit it and how am I gonna sell it? I know I'm getting ahead of myself but I don't want to write something that won't even be published that would be soooooo sad. but I like how you told Morgan that she should write towards something because I have no Idea what the ending would be. but thank you for writing all these books you are like the best author I have ever read books from. 

[Morgan]

Hi, I'm not Mr.Korman either, though I agree with Eli! I've never told anyone. For me, I just write. I'll go back and back and make an edit, than continue. I've gotten ahead of myself and instead planned my second story!

Hi, guys. Sounds like you're on the right track, different, but right just the same. 

Morgan, I would add that worrying about how to get it published is putting the cart before the horse. Write something, and then worry about who to send it to for consideration. The first one who has to be pleased with it is you.

Scribble away, proplr. That's how it's done.                                                                           ---GK---