Take A Leaf Out Of My Book – Emily Gale

Dictionary definition: take a leaf out of someone’s book: to imitate someone, esp in one particular course of action

Some people are very good with words without seeming to try. Some work hard at it and become brilliant with words that way. Some people have a natural way of telling a good story. Some work very hard at plotting and become brilliant that way. Some people can create convincing characters quickly and easily. Some work very hard at that and eventually create characters that are just as good.

The point is, storytelling is for everyone whether you feel like it comes easily to you or have to work hard at every single part of it. I can give you tips about how to approach writing a story – like I have in previous blog posts – but ultimately it comes down to you putting a unique stamp on your writing. And there is no way to “teach” that, there is only one thing you can do to nurture it: READ.

I’m always reading. I look closely at books to work out WHY they make me feel a certain way. I’m always trying to learn from other authors.

So for today’s blog post I’m going to share some of the books that have inspired me in recent years. I’m saying recent years because I want you to be able to find these books easily in your school library or public library in case you’d like to read them, too. I’ve given a key phrase to each book that indicates what I got out of reading them.

HOW TO BE FUNNY AND HEARTFELT AT THE SAME TIME: As Fast As I Can by Penny Tangey

CREATING A CHARACTER WHO FEELS LIKE A BEST FRIEND: The Secrets We Keep by Nova Weetman

USING TWO DIFFERENT VOICES IN ONE STORY: Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS ANIMALS: The Super Amazing Diary of Me, Pig by Emer Stamp

WRITING ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES BUT MAKING IT FUN, TOO: How To Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

MAKING HISTORY EASY TO READ AND EXCITING: Meet Poppy by Gabrielle Wang

HOW TO WRITE A HEARTBREAKING ADVENTURE: Pax by Sara Pennypacker