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Hi, Amelia,

I hear you’re now 12, which is the age I was when I wrote THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING AT MCDONALD HALL. I also hear that writing is in your future. If that’s your ambition, here’s a tip or two from someone who’s been there:

Read a lot, and write a lot. That’s how you develop a facility for the use of language. Your writing will go more smoothly, and what you produce will read more smoothly too. And never put down a single word until your story is well-planned. Yes, you can make changes, add and subtract people and events. But the main story has to be there before you start. And always remember: anyone intelligent can write intelligently. The trick is to write something that someone else will want to read. The ability to do that is what some people call “talent.” I hope you have gobs of it!

                            HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!                                          —–Gordon Korman—–