Dulee Paranavitana

  Middle grade fiction is fiction written for children between the ages of 8 to 12. Books like Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and the Famous Five series fall firmly under this category. While middle grade fiction is written for kids, it doesn’t mean that adults can’t read it or it is not worth your time if you are an adult. Middle grade is where some of the most poignant, powerful and transformative stories are shelved. Most middle grade books that children love end up having a monumental impact on their lives. As a child, I remember wishing that I was more like George and could relate to her tom boyish nature and her love for dogs. Without further ado, let’s leap right into what makes middle grade fiction magical below. Everything Seems Possible Middle grade is fiction for children and most stories are told from a child’s point of view. This means that the protagonists of these books are often more creative and curious than adult protagonists. There is a sense that everything is p...

  Britain has a plethora of tales that feature magical creatures in its folklore. From well known creatures like dragons to less known creatures like merrows, British folklore is rich with magical creatures that colour stories with magic and mystery. There are so many worth mentioning and this post will be looking at a few of these mysterious magical creatures from British folklore who have stood the test of time. This blog post will explore less known to well known magical creatures. Pixie  Pixies are tiny magical beings often seen in British folklore especially from areas like Devon and Cornwall. These beings are portrayed as mischievous rather than malevolent most of the time in British folklore. They are also said to lead travelers astray. These magical beings are linked to ancient sites and woodland paths. Pixies have found their way to fantasy stories from British folklore in stories such as Peter Pan and Harry Potter. Puca The Puca is a shape shifting spirit from Britis...

If you are starting out as a middle grade fantasy author, one of the first questions you get asked is, “what is your story about?” In other words, most people will ask this question if you tell them that you are writing a book. Coming up with a plot can be challenging. But here are some sources where you can draw on to begin, add to or expand the plot of your story. Your Experiences While the adage that you know can sometimes not be what we want to hear, you might want to dig into your personal experience to get inspired. While every moment of your life might not be story worthy, there are moments in our life that can spark a story, maybe something funny that happened to you like a toddler mistaking you for their dad or something outlandish and hilarious, or maybe you ran into a friend you thought you’d never see again. Incidents like these can be the start or have a story seed that can grow into a whole new story. Mythology and Folklore Yes, this is true even if you don’t write fantas...