Writing for young people has made me look back and examine my childhood and the influences that formed me. I guess I’ve learned to look back without blinking. I don’t reject any of those experiences now; they are the resources I can go to for challenging story ideas.
What advice do you have for young writers?
I have one answer: Read, read, READ! Read both fiction and nonfiction. That’s probably the most important! Make use of every opportunity to write, even if it’s an assignment that doesn’t particularly interest you. Read the works of many writers and ask yourself which you like the best and why—and don’t be satisfied with an easy answer. Try to decide what your favorite authors have done to make their books interesting. You’ll develop taste and judgment that will help you to do your best work when you sit down to write.
The Dollhouse Murders (35th Anniversary Edition) Page 12
