Russell Hirsch

Kill your darlings! Get to the point! Plot over prose! How many times have you heard advice about simplifying your writing for middle...

Last post, I dove into an investigation of Middle Grade fantasy word counts using a random selection of novels from my own shelf. The...

Great writing has two main components: The “storytelling” component — big, structural things, like an exciting plot, good pacing, and...

We’ve all heard of writers grappling with the blank white page. But sometimes, writers leave readers grappling with a frustrating...

With 100 published books (and counting!) Gordon Korman has delighted generations of readers with his signature blend of humor, adventure,...

Ten years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing a great Canadian children’s author who described his books as full of “running and...

THE GIVER is one of the most successful children’s novels of all time. Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, Lois Lowry’s tale still...

The YAK features articles devoted to Education, Writing, Children’s Literature, and Speech Arts. It is published by The Bolton Academy of...

The Second Act is the middle section of a novel and usually the biggest chunk of a book. It spans from when a character is first thrust...

Last winter, I finished a polished draft of my first novel manuscript. Of course, “finished” and “polished” are words that automatically...

Today, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre announced its slate of fantastic finalists for the annual TD Canadian Children’s Literature...

Next month I finish my Master’s degree, so I thought it time to weigh in on a question many aspiring writers ask : should I get a degree...

Today is Harry Potter’s 37th birthday and in homage to the birthday boy-who-lived and the continuing summer festivities marking the 20th...

Well, we’ve turned the page on 2016 and are getting into the swing of the new year, but if you’re still seeking fresh inspirations for...

Further Resources on the Hero’s Journey I hope you’ve found my summary of hero’s journey plot lines useful, but there is really no...

Happy New Year to all! We have reached the 10th and final stage of a hero’s journey plot line and a fitting stage it is for January 1st...

Huzzah! We have reached the Climax, the grand hurrah, the big shebang, a moment so exciting that only funny-sounding words can express...

The beginning of THE END! We enter the third and final phase of a hero’s journey plot line. Act 3 Propelling Event Climax (aka Death &...

The Hero’s Journey – Reward Well that last post on the Ordeal was so frightening, I almost couldn’t go on! But after a bit of a break,...

Listen up, you! Yes—you! On we go to the 2nd stage of a Hero’s Journey plot line: the “Call to Adventure.” This is where the fun begins....