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Reader's Forum » Talking about Books » Help with my next book
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February 24, 2026 at 09:28 pm Reply
HenryDear Mr. Korman I am a 10 year old 5th grader from Tennessee and have wrote and published about 15 books and am making my next one right now and can't really think of any ideas for it and was wondering if you could give me some tips on what to write about I kinda want it to be like your book Swindle and like your book Restart and it at the moment I was wondering if you could give me any tips off of my idea about the main character is going to own some exotic pets
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February 25, 2026 at 04:19 am Reply
object(stdClass)#575 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31928" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 04:19:27" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 04:19:27" ["post_content"]=> string(1141) "Hi, Henry,
My goodness, "about" 15 books? That's amazing. Why don't I know you? What are the titles and what is your full name?
Idea are very personal, as you probably know, Henry. I've written and published 107 books at this point, and not duplicating my characters and ideas is a real problem too!
Ideas? Well, for one thing, I think exotic pets (and you don't mention how exotic they are) can get into a lot of trouble in a home and neighborhood atmosphere that is really foreign to them. How about keeping them a secret because he feels it might be illegal to be keeping them (dependng on what they are, and if they present any kind of danger to the community.) And there can be a lot of personality in certain exotic pets, like monkeys, for instance.
Sorry, but except for that vague observation, that's all I've got a the moment. Good luck!
-----Gordon Korman-----
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11698" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 04:19:27" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 04:19:27" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11698" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Hi, Henry,
My goodness, "about" 15 books? That's amazing. Why don't I know you? What are the titles and what is your full name?
Idea are very personal, as you probably know, Henry. I've written and published 107 books at this point, and not duplicating my characters and ideas is a real problem too!
Ideas? Well, for one thing, I think exotic pets (and you don't mention how exotic they are) can get into a lot of trouble in a home and neighborhood atmosphere that is really foreign to them. How about keeping them a secret because he feels it might be illegal to be keeping them (dependng on what they are, and if they present any kind of danger to the community.) And there can be a lot of personality in certain exotic pets, like monkeys, for instance.
Sorry, but except for that vague observation, that's all I've got a the moment. Good luck!
-----Gordon Korman-----
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February 25, 2026 at 07:46 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#550 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31936" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:46:05" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:46:05" ["post_content"]=> string(410) "I am not allowed to share my name and I can\'t honestly remember because I just had a appendectomy is what I think its called and it failed so they had to do a 2nd surgery for internal bleeding but in my book I am thinking that the people will not be bothered by the pets because there all babies and they live in Indiana and do you any more ideas and anything for the book name or plot
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11706" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:46:05" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:46:05" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11706" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }I am not allowed to share my name and I can\'t honestly remember because I just had a appendectomy is what I think its called and it failed so they had to do a 2nd surgery for internal bleeding but in my book I am thinking that the people will not be bothered by the pets because there all babies and they live in Indiana and do you any more ideas and anything for the book name or plot
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February 25, 2026 at 07:47 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#546 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31937" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:47:42" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:47:42" ["post_content"]=> string(85) "there will also be 2 relationships and there in middle school
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11707" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:47:42" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-25 19:47:42" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11707" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }there will also be 2 relationships and there in middle school
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February 26, 2026 at 03:01 am Reply
object(stdClass)#564 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31943" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 03:01:59" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 03:01:59" ["post_content"]=> string(525) "Sorry, Henry. But ... baby animals are the friskiest and the hardest to control sometimes. And I think you have some vague plans for this book, but I would never start a writing project on such flimsy material. You need a plot, and that's something I can't give you. Sorry. I don't know enough about the quality of your books, or your writing style.
My advice: take it easy, recover from your surgeries, and give it a lot more thought. --GK--
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11695" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 03:01:59" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 03:01:59" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11695" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Sorry, Henry. But ... baby animals are the friskiest and the hardest to control sometimes. And I think you have some vague plans for this book, but I would never start a writing project on such flimsy material. You need a plot, and that's something I can't give you. Sorry. I don't know enough about the quality of your books, or your writing style.
My advice: take it easy, recover from your surgeries, and give it a lot more thought. --GK--
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February 26, 2026 at 06:20 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#551 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31946" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:20:32" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:20:32" ["post_content"]=> string(170) "Dear Mr. Korman as soon as possible please answer and are you going to make a another book after Hyper gifted because its one of my favorite books
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11711" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:20:32" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:20:32" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11711" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Dear Mr. Korman as soon as possible please answer and are you going to make a another book after Hyper gifted because its one of my favorite books
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February 26, 2026 at 06:21 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#548 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31947" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:21:40" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:21:40" ["post_content"]=> string(207) "Dear Mr. Korman are you going to make a another book after Hyper gifted because its one of my favorite books and I just can't think of a plot its like I lost all of it after surgery
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11712" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:21:40" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:21:40" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11712" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Dear Mr. Korman are you going to make a another book after Hyper gifted because its one of my favorite books and I just can't think of a plot its like I lost all of it after surgery
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February 26, 2026 at 06:22 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#561 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31948" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:22:50" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:22:50" ["post_content"]=> string(111) "Dear Mr. Korman I just can't think of a plot It's like I lost all of it after surgery
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11713" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:22:50" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:22:50" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11713" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Dear Mr. Korman I just can't think of a plot It's like I lost all of it after surgery
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February 26, 2026 at 06:42 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#547 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31949" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:42:02" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:42:02" ["post_content"]=> string(76) "is there literally anything you can think of to help
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11714" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:42:02" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:42:02" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11714" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }is there literally anything you can think of to help
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February 26, 2026 at 06:46 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#579 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31950" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:46:43" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:46:43" ["post_content"]=> string(94) "Because you can change up part of the story so its not Flimsy material
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11715" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:46:43" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:46:43" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11715" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Because you can change up part of the story so its not Flimsy material
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February 26, 2026 at 06:52 pm Reply
object(stdClass)#543 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31951" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:52:57" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:52:57" ["post_content"]=> string(777) "Hi, Henry,
I think your creative juices will start flowing again once you've made more of a recovery. Don't worry about losing your style. It's there, and will always be there. As for coming up with a plot for your characters and animals, you're on your own. All authors are. Writing can be a lonely business. See? I see flimsy, and you see possibilities. That's how writing works. The story will be very much your own.
As for a 4th "Gifted" book, right now it's a no, but that could change. I'm glad you enjoyed HYPERGIFTED.
Hang in there! -----Gordon Korman-----
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11716" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:52:57" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 18:52:57" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11716" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Hi, Henry,
I think your creative juices will start flowing again once you've made more of a recovery. Don't worry about losing your style. It's there, and will always be there. As for coming up with a plot for your characters and animals, you're on your own. All authors are. Writing can be a lonely business. See? I see flimsy, and you see possibilities. That's how writing works. The story will be very much your own.
As for a 4th "Gifted" book, right now it's a no, but that could change. I'm glad you enjoyed HYPERGIFTED.
Hang in there! -----Gordon Korman-----
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February 26, 2026 at 09:02 pm Reply
Henryobject(stdClass)#577 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "31953" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 21:02:17" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 21:02:17" ["post_content"]=> string(35) "it could be about there kids
" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11717" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 21:02:17" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-02-26 21:02:17" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11717" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }it could be about there kids
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March 15, 2026 at 01:16 pm Reply
Elliot (I'm a girl)object(stdClass)#549 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "32224" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-03-15 13:16:16" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-15 13:16:16" ["post_content"]=> string(34) "Henry, wow you are living my dream" ["post_title"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(11) "reply-11917" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-03-15 13:16:16" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-15 13:16:16" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "31921" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-11917" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }Henry, wow you are living my dream