My advice to would-be young authors is to read a lot, write a lot, and not worry about creating a finished product. Keeping a journal is not a bad idea either.

If we expose kids to books and art, nothing but good can come from it.

When I'm looking for an idea, I'll do anything--clean the closet, mow the lawn, work in the garden.

(His) sadness grew; it became a rock inside him, pulling him down. He carried the sadness everywhere, morning, noon, and night. It hurt to breathe.

Try drawing or painting a scene you're working on. Often this will help free up you imagination.

Didn't it make sense that after something horrible happens, something better should follow?

Sometimes all you can do is say, 'Wow.'