READER’S FORUM

March 30, 2026 at 03:54 am Reply

N. J. Walejko

Hi, Gordon Korman!!

To start off, I've been a HUGE fan since I read "Restart" and "Ungifted" 4th grade. You made me into a reader, and I can never thank you enough for that!

I know you wrote "This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall!" when you were in 7th grade. That's so cool and inspiring! I've been working on a novel of my own at 14 years old, and I'd love any advice you can give me!

Thanks!

A Future Awesome Author 🔥
March 30, 2026 at 03:58 am Reply

N. J. Walejko

object(stdClass)#575 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "32417" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 03:58:43" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 03:58:43" ["post_content"]=> string(171) "
(P. S. I've recommended your books to so many of my friends, and we all love your writing so much!! Everything you write can bring a laugh out of even solid metal.)
" ["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-12049" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 03:58:43" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 03:58:43" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "32416" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-12049" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

(P. S. I've recommended your books to so many of my friends, and we all love your writing so much!! Everything you write can bring a laugh out of even solid metal.)
March 30, 2026 at 05:59 pm Reply

object(stdClass)#546 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "32423" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 17:59:51" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 17:59:51" ["post_content"]=> string(943) "
Hi, N.J.,

Thanks for posting and for giving me credit for so much in your life! I appreciate the support, and I'm glad my books have been going over so well with you..

Writing "advice": Start by reading a lot, and writing a lot too -- short stories, letters, diaries, anything that helps you develop a feel for language. And try to develop a respect for and reliance on planning. You can't say anything properly unless you know exactly what you want to say. And you can't know that unless you plan it first. I never put down a single word unless my whole story is planned out. In fact, when I start the first chapter of a new book, I'm already writing TOWARD my climactic scene and ending. I don't say you have to do it that way, but that's what works for me.

Good luck! I hope to be writing you a fan letter one of these days! -----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-12055" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 17:59:51" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-03-30 17:59:51" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "32416" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-12055" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

Hi, N.J.,

Thanks for posting and for giving me credit for so much in your life! I appreciate the support, and I'm glad my books have been going over so well with you..

Writing "advice": Start by reading a lot, and writing a lot too -- short stories, letters, diaries, anything that helps you develop a feel for language. And try to develop a respect for and reliance on planning. You can't say anything properly unless you know exactly what you want to say. And you can't know that unless you plan it first. I never put down a single word unless my whole story is planned out. In fact, when I start the first chapter of a new book, I'm already writing TOWARD my climactic scene and ending. I don't say you have to do it that way, but that's what works for me.

Good luck! I hope to be writing you a fan letter one of these days! -----Gordon Korman-----
April 30, 2026 at 07:26 pm Reply

object(stdClass)#578 (23) { ["ID"]=> string(5) "32669" ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2026-04-30 19:26:39" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-04-30 19:26:39" ["post_content"]=> string(708) "
Please forgive me, Lucy. I've had to make it my policy not to read other people's work. I get so many requests that I would end up doing other people's work instead of my own.

I'm sure you know a lot of people who can give you the kind of report you seek. After all, it's up to a reader, not another writer to pass judgement on something someone else has written.

For what it's worth, I gave it a cursory glance, and it seems very profssionally done. 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-12218" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2026-04-30 19:26:39" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2026-04-30 19:26:39" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> string(5) "32416" ["guid"]=> string(42) "https://gordonkorman.com/reply/reply-12218" ["menu_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_type"]=> string(5) "reply" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" }

Please forgive me, Lucy. I've had to make it my policy not to read other people's work. I get so many requests that I would end up doing other people's work instead of my own.

I'm sure you know a lot of people who can give you the kind of report you seek. After all, it's up to a reader, not another writer to pass judgement on something someone else has written.

For what it's worth, I gave it a cursory glance, and it seems very profssionally done. Good luck!

-----Gordon Korman-----