READER’S FORUM

January 27, 2026 at 12:26 am Reply

Sam

Hey, I'm a 14 year old boy who's writing a book. I discovered your books this December and your now my new favorite author. My favorites are Unplugged and Snoop. I'm halfway through my book and I'm really proud of it. Do you have any writing or publishing tips? Also, would you be interested in reading it when it comes out?

Thankyou

- Sam
January 27, 2026 at 01:54 am Reply

Daniel Cheng

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Hi Sam!

I also asked him the same question! (Great Minds Think Alike Right?) He said "For instance, how to write an interesting story. It should be something that you yourself are interested in, studded with characters that appeal to you. The biggest thing is planning. I work very hard on filling out my story before I put down a single word. Planning is everything. You can't say something properly unless you know exactly what you're trying to say. And you can't know that unless you plan.

It's also VERY important to make your story work. It must be foolproof, otherwise you'll get a lot of letters pointing out how your plot could never have happened. Or, worse, you editor will return your manuscript and reject it outright.

The basics, being grammar and spelling, and sentence structure. No publisher will read your work if it's full of grammatical errors, or poor spelling. That's why one of my biggest rules is that you should have someone close to you, someone you trust to tell you the truth even if it hurts, to read your work and give you a straight-from-the-heart opinion on it. A Mom, an Aunt, a special teacher -- your choice. And you have to be prepared for his/her opinion -- you might be discouraged, or even insulted! But you need the truth.

And the writing, the actual doing it, is what will tell you if writing is for you. Good luck!

-----Gordon Korman-----" when I asked him!

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Hi Sam!

I also asked him the same question! (Great Minds Think Alike Right?) He said "For instance, how to write an interesting story. It should be something that you yourself are interested in, studded with characters that appeal to you. The biggest thing is planning. I work very hard on filling out my story before I put down a single word. Planning is everything. You can't say something properly unless you know exactly what you're trying to say. And you can't know that unless you plan.

It's also VERY important to make your story work. It must be foolproof, otherwise you'll get a lot of letters pointing out how your plot could never have happened. Or, worse, you editor will return your manuscript and reject it outright.

The basics, being grammar and spelling, and sentence structure. No publisher will read your work if it's full of grammatical errors, or poor spelling. That's why one of my biggest rules is that you should have someone close to you, someone you trust to tell you the truth even if it hurts, to read your work and give you a straight-from-the-heart opinion on it. A Mom, an Aunt, a special teacher -- your choice. And you have to be prepared for his/her opinion -- you might be discouraged, or even insulted! But you need the truth.

And the writing, the actual doing it, is what will tell you if writing is for you. Good luck!

-----Gordon Korman-----" when I asked him!
January 27, 2026 at 01:58 am Reply

Daniel Cheng

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Oh and Gordon I don't think you responded when I asked if you could just look at it for a second so I could say "Fantastic Story- Gordon Korman" on the cover I think it would look great with that final touch!

Daniel Cheng
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Oh and Gordon I don't think you responded when I asked if you could just look at it for a second so I could say "Fantastic Story- Gordon Korman" on the cover I think it would look great with that final touch!

Daniel Cheng
January 27, 2026 at 02:17 am Reply

Townsend

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That's awesome! Keep pushing forward with your book. It's great you're feeling proud of it at 14. Writing is all about momentum, so just keep going. For publishing, research different avenues – traditional, self-publishing, etc. When it comes to writing tips, I think staying focused on your story, finding your flow and keeping the momentum going is the key! Sometimes I find myself needing a short break to refocus though! When that happens, I like playing Slope Game for a few minutes. Good luck, and yes, I'd love to hear about it when it's done!

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That's awesome! Keep pushing forward with your book. It's great you're feeling proud of it at 14. Writing is all about momentum, so just keep going. For publishing, research different avenues – traditional, self-publishing, etc. When it comes to writing tips, I think staying focused on your story, finding your flow and keeping the momentum going is the key! Sometimes I find myself needing a short break to refocus though! When that happens, I like playing Slope Game for a few minutes. Good luck, and yes, I'd love to hear about it when it's done!
January 27, 2026 at 10:53 pm Reply

Sam

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Thanks Daniel, Thanks Townsend

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Thanks Daniel, Thanks Townsend
January 28, 2026 at 01:49 am Reply

Daniel Cheng

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Your Welcome!
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Your Welcome!
January 28, 2026 at 03:16 pm Reply

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SUCH a lot of conversation about what I think and what I recommend.

Hey, everybody --

Sam, good luck with your book. Daniel pretty much sumarized the kind of advice I give budding authors. The only thing I would stress is planning. You must plan your story and characters carefully before you ever put down a single word. That's key! As for reading it, sorry, but I've had to make it my policy not to read other people's work. I get so many requests that I would have to abandon my own work to complete them.

And Daniel, it would look even greater on your cover if it said William Shaespeare loved the book! But it's not the truth, right? So it won't happen. Sorry.

-----Gordon Korman-----
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SUCH a lot of conversation about what I think and what I recommend.

Hey, everybody --

Sam, good luck with your book. Daniel pretty much sumarized the kind of advice I give budding authors. The only thing I would stress is planning. You must plan your story and characters carefully before you ever put down a single word. That's key! As for reading it, sorry, but I've had to make it my policy not to read other people's work. I get so many requests that I would have to abandon my own work to complete them.

And Daniel, it would look even greater on your cover if it said William Shaespeare loved the book! But it's not the truth, right? So it won't happen. Sorry.

-----Gordon Korman-----
January 28, 2026 at 06:04 pm Reply

Fii🤪

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Hi Sam! That's so cool! Do you mind if I ask what your book is about? Good luck!!!!

Fii(Fiona)🤪
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Hi Sam! That's so cool! Do you mind if I ask what your book is about? Good luck!!!!

Fii(Fiona)🤪
February 2, 2026 at 03:56 pm Reply

Sam

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Sorry, It's a secret.

-Sam
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Sorry, It's a secret.

-Sam
August 12, 2026 at 04:30 am Reply

partridge55

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That's the strange charm of uno online. On the surface it's a cheerful, colorful card game everyone learned as a kid. But play it long enough against real people and you start noticing something else underneath: tension, paranoia, betrayal, and a creeping sense that everyone at the table is quietly plotting your downfall. It's a horror experience disguised as a family classic, and honestly, that's what makes it so fun.
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That's the strange charm of uno online. On the surface it's a cheerful, colorful card game everyone learned as a kid. But play it long enough against real people and you start noticing something else underneath: tension, paranoia, betrayal, and a creeping sense that everyone at the table is quietly plotting your downfall. It's a horror experience disguised as a family classic, and honestly, that's what makes it so fun.