Been There, Done That: Writing Stories from Real Life

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In this diverse collection of short stories by award-winning and bestselling authors, discover how writers turn their own real-life experiences into captivating works of fiction!

Kids are incredibly curious about where stories comes from. Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology gives readers an exclusive, “behind the scenes” look at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. Each author will contribute two pieces: A narrative nonfiction account, which then serves as the inspiration for an original fictional short story. Subjects include a broad range—from an alien invasion to the realities of living during World War II—but are tied together with universal concepts, like dealing with change, fitting in, self-esteem, and relationships with friends and family. This collection is sure to inspire a new generation of writers. The contributing award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors include Gary Schmidt, Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Matthew Kirby, Adam Rex, Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Karen Cushman, Caroline Starr Rose, Claire Legrand, Lisa Yee, Nathan Hale, Julia Alvarez, Kate Messner, Margarita Engle, Alan Sitomer, Tracy Edward Wymer, and Dee Garretson.