Writing Craft For Teens by a YA Author

Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book by Ally Carter Book Review

StoryGraph Screenshot of Dear Ally

Ally Carter, author of my favourite series ever, Heist Society, published a writing craft book in 2019 (though I had no idea it existed until recently). It was added to my hoopla favourites and read as soon as I finished my last book. Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book is a book on writing craft meant for teen writers and written by a YA author. Carter saw a gap in writing craft books considering most (if not all) are written by adult authors for adult writers. I didn’t have this book as a teen, but I have it now and I’m just as appreciative.

See, I love learning about other writer’s processes and craft. It’s why I loved every minute of V. E. Schwab’s No Write Way podcast, why I’m currently watching Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube lectures, and why I have a whole StoryGraph tbr tag dedicated to books on writing craft.

I believe there are three fundamental ways to grow as a writer:

1. Write a lot.
2. Read a lot.
3. Learn from those who came before you.

I have about a decade of creative writing experience and I still filled three journal spreads with notes while reading this book. This is why I love writing. It’s a craft, a practice, there…