For middle readers…and adults who never grew up: The Owl Motel by Chuck Mallory
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Author Archives: chuckmall
Transforming Fear into Fiction
How to use these strange times to propel your words Never have we seen such widespread fear in our society. Yet we were warned. Scientists have predicted a major pandemic. We all coasted along, visiting the world easily, indulging ourselves, … Continue reading
Rolling with Middle Grade Reading
Three “teaching” middle-grade books for writers After my last post I got emails and texts, asking me to talk about more middle-grade books I’ve read recently. So here are capsules of a few more. I don’t always read books in … Continue reading
Posted in fiction, Librarians, Library, Uncategorized, writing, writing for children
Tagged #childrensbooks, #kidlit, #middle grade, #middle reader, #writers, #writing
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Middle-Grader Road Grading
Why are middle-grade books my chosen writing genre? I’ve written middle-grade and young-adult fiction, and picture books (which I’ve tried to write; but can’t do it well). Somehow middle-grade plots, characters, and ideas are what populate my mind. Perhaps it’s … Continue reading
Posted in fiction, writing for children
Tagged diversity, kidlit, middle school, writing
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The Useful Cage
How the Storytelling Format Can Limit a Fictional Narrative Strategically As a writer who has created almost all of his fiction in third person limited, using a standard narrative format, I’m always exploring how established novelists use or misuse format … Continue reading
Posted in fiction, Librarians, writing for children
Tagged beverly cleary, books, diary, kidlit, Librarians, Library, reading, writing
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Love, a Dream, and a Theft
My Secret Relationship with Ursula K. Le Guin’s Mother by Chuck Mallory To understand, you need to know I grew up in a very small town in the 1960s. My mother was able to put me in first grade at … Continue reading
Posted in fiction, Librarians, Library, Ursula K. Le Guin, writing
Tagged books, fiction, Librarians, Library, Prodigy, Theodora Kroeber, Ursula K LeGuin, writing
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Laurapalooza
(Simultaneously published on Medium.com/chuckmall) “Half-Pint” is Gaining a Jesus-like Iconography Laura Ingalls Wilder and a Hmong woman on a mural in Walnut Creek MN. Did this ever happen? Doesn’t matter. Just believe. The first thing that stands out from all … Continue reading
It’s Time to Prove Ourselves
A young journalist’s insight on Gamergate when it occurred in 2014. Continue reading
Posted in videogames
Tagged Chris Hecker, Depression Quest, Framed, gamergate, gaming, indie, John Cimino, journalism, Kitfox Games, Max Mallory, Moon Hunters, PAX, Phil Fish, Polytron, Rami Ismali, Spy Party, videogames, Vlambeer, Zoe Quinn
